why is the file count so low?

[Pete]

I'm a newbie to MSAS and I've probably a lot to learn about
its workings yet, but why is the file count on a Full
System Scan so low?

In the context of looking for spyware, does file count hold
much relevance?

When I run a Full System Scan, it finds no known spyware
and reports that roughly 13,000 files were scanned and
roughly 9000 Registry entries also scanned. However, I do
know that there are at least 39,000 files on my PC, because
my antivurus client tells me so when it does its scan for
viruses and it takes about 14 mins to do so. MSAS's Full
Scan takes only 4 mins. So, if MSAS looks for spyware
file-by-file, it appears to be only scanning about one
third of the total.

What's going on?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

This question has been asked a number of times in the course of the beta.

I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone else attempt to answer it, except me.

I don't have an answer based on any insider knowledge or deep technical
analysis of what is happening. What I can say is that comparative reviews
consistently rank Microsoft Antispyware among the top applications of its
kind.

So, I infer that sufficient files are being looked at to maintain that
performance.