Possible stupid question about antivirus programs...

[MaxDSP]

When an AV program scans .zip (or other archive files) is it possible that it may not be able to see a zipped up virus, so that the virus starts its rampage after its unzipped? I download a lot of mods and stuff from fan sites but never really thought about this.

 

[morkinva]

Your AV program may have a checkbox to examine zip files. When it examines them it expands them and looks at each unzipped file within.

 

[bandXtrb]

Another question:

Is it good enough to leave Norton AV on its default settings, or should they be made "higher"?