SYMANTEC Anti-Virus False Positive? How To Set Program/Folder Exclusions In SYMANTEC Anti-Virus

Correcting SYMANTEC Anti-virus False Positives

If you know that a software program is safe, this page shows you how to set file exceptions in SYMANTEC antivirus.

How to Set File Exceptions within SYMANTEC AntiVirus Security Program

Although Symantec Norton antivirus is better than it use to be, it is still way too heavy on the commercialism (within 24 hours of installing the trial version we have been hit with 2 or 3 system tray pop ups prompting us to pay for an upgrade) and the processing of whitelisting or adding file exceptions in case of false positives is more complicated than any of the other anti-virus programs we have tested and worked with so far. Uninstalling it is going to be fun to see who many pop ups and pleadings there are to keep the antivirus program and don't uninstall it.

To set an exception to whitelist or safelist a file or program within Symantec antivirus:

1. Double click on the tray icon for Symantic Norton anti virus. This will make the programs main window visible.
2. In the upper right corner of Symantec Norton main screen, click ⚙ Settings.
3. Click on the tile labeled Antivirus. This will open the dialog window that allows you to change/edit settings related to anti-virus.
4. At the top, click the tab with the text Scans and Risks.
5. Scroll down the window until you see the row/tab with the text Exclusions / Low Risks Click that to open its sub menu.
6. Look for the list item Items to Exclude from Scans. On the right side of that listing click the link with the text Configure [+]. Click that. This will open the Scan Exclusions window in Symantec.
7. Click the Add Files button. This will open a small Add Item box.
8. On the right side of the Add Item box, click the small button with the image of an open folder on it 📂. This opens the find file dialog box. (Symantec Norton antivirus has always been a bloated pain in the ass)
9. In the find file dialog box, find and select the file or program you want to whitelist in Symantec. Then press the OK button.
10. The find file dialog box will close bringing you back to the Add Item box. You should see the full path to the file you just selected in the textbox. Click the OK button.
11. The Add Item box will close and bring you back to the Scan Exclusions window.
12. Click the Apply button, then click OK button, then uninstall Symantec Norton anti-virus and find a better one the is less commercial and easier to work with. (refer to this page for a large list of many other antivirus programs, many of them free and much better)

1 Symantec Antivirus Main Screen Settings.

1 Symantec Antivirus Main Screen Settings.

2 Symantec Antivirus Click Antivirus Tile.

2 Symantec Antivirus Click Antivirus Tile.

3 Symantec Antivirus Click Scans Risks Tab.

3 Symantec Antivirus Click Scans Risks Tab.

4 Symantec Antivirus Click Items To Exclude From Scan.

4 Symantec Antivirus Click Items To Exclude From Scan.

5 Symantec Antivirus Click Add Files Button.

5 Symantec Antivirus Click Add Files Button.

6 Symantec Antivirus Click To Open File Navigation Dialog.

6 Symantec Antivirus Click To Open File Navigation Dialog.

7 Symantec Antivirus Select File To Exlude Click Ok.

7 Symantec Antivirus Select File To Exlude Click Ok.

8 Symantec Antivirus Excluded File Selected Click Ok.

8 Symantec Antivirus Excluded File Selected Click Ok.

9 Symantec Antivirus Excluded File Added To Exclusion List Click Apply Click Ok.

9 Symantec Antivirus Excluded File Added To Exclusion List Click Apply Click Ok.