Antivirus - Is there really a need to quarantine?

[isasir]

The default behavior for the antivirus scanner in our office is to try to clean an infected file, and if it can't, to quarantine it. I have yet to come across any file in the Quarantine that would be of use.

Is there a reason to quarantine instead of outright setting it to delete viruses?

(I realize that it's theoretically possible for a file that's not a virus to be labeled as one, but I have yet to ever see this scenario.)

 

[SonnyDaze]

For further study of signatures.....

 

[nweaver]

what if the virus is a macro virus that infects your payroll departments spreadsheet?

Delete...oops, nobody gets paid this week.

 

[FoBoT]

anti-virus software sucks, they have had no innovation in ten years

the anti-virus software companies should be brought up on charges of fraud by the Justice Dept

anti-virus software hasn't changed, it should be able to remove and clean and fix your system, not just "quarantine" a single file

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: nweaver
what if the virus is a macro virus that infects your payroll departments spreadsheet?

Delete...oops, nobody gets paid this week.

How common is this though? (knock on wood) I haven't experienced it. Every virus I've seen detected has been in the IE cache, or through e-mail.