Excluding Websense Files from Antivirus Scans

Excluding Websense Files from Antivirus Scans

Applies to

Websense Web Filter 7.6

Websense Web Security 7.6

Websense Web Security Gateway 7.6

Websense Web Security Gateway Anywhere 7.6

Websense Data Security 7.6

Websense Email Security Gateway 7.6

Websense Email Security Gateway Anywhere 7.6

In this topic

Overview

Web security

Data security

Email security

Overview

Antivirus scanning can degrade the performance of Websense components. This article lists folders and files that should be excluded from antivirus scans.
Please note:

Websense is not aware of a risk in excluding the files or folders that are mentioned in this section from your antivirus scans. However, it is possible that your system would be safer if you did not exclude them.

When you scan these files, performance and operating system reliability problems may occur because of file locking.

Do not exclude any files based on the filename extension. For example, do not exclude all files that have a .dit extension.

All the files and folders that are described in this section are protected by default permissions to allow only SYSTEM and administrator access, and they contain only operating system components. Excluding an entire folder maybe simpler but may not provide as much protection as excluding specific files based on file names.

Refer to your antivirus vendor's documentation for instructions on excluding files from scans.

 

Note  During installation of Websense products, disable antivirus software altogether. After installation, be sure to re-enable antivirus software.

Websense installation folder

On Windows, Websense products are installed in subfolders of the Websense installation folder, by default *:\Program Files or Program Files (x86)\Websense. It is a best practice to exclude this folder and its subfolders from antivirus scans.

Web security

It is a best practice to exclude the installation directory from antivirus scans. By default this directory is:

Windows: Websense installation folder (see Websense installation folder above)

Linux: /opt/Websense/

Data security

It is a best practice to exclude the following from antivirus scans.

Websense installation folder (see Websense installation folder above)

*:\Program files\Microsoft SQL Server\*.*

C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Temp\*.*

%WINDIR%\Temp\*.*

The forensics repository (configurable; defaults to Websense folder)

On non-management servers, such as Data Security analyzers, exclude the following directories from antivirus scanning:

The folder where Data Security was installed: *:\Program Files or Program Files (x86)\Websense\*.* by default.

*:\Inetpub\mailroot\*.* - (typically at the OS folder)

*:\Inetpub\wwwroot\*.* - (typically at the OS folder)

C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Temp\*.*

%WINDIR%\Temp\*.*

The forensics repository (configurable; defaults to Websense folder)

Note  Regarding the default installation folder locations in the list above, you can configure the software to install to other locations. The FP-Repository folder is usually located inside the installation folder, but can be configured to other locations. On endpoint installations, excluding the installation folder is sufficient.

The following directories should be excluded from the antivirus software that is deployed to endpoint clients:

Endpoint processes: DSER.EXE and DSERUI.EXE

EP adapter processes: EndPointClassifier.exe and kvoop.exe

Email security

It is a best practice to exclude the Websense installation folder (see Websense installation folder above) and any Data Security folders that apply (see Data security above).

Excluding Websense Files from Antivirus Scans