First, make sure you have a reputable Malware Scanner. Then, go to about:config in the address bar, and search for browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone

ensure that pref is set to "True"

Thank you for stopping my entering multiple threads(newbie) Again, My about:config

browser.download.manager.resumeOnWakeDe.. next line browser.download.panel.firstSessionComplete

Am I missing browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone I ask Or how do I know when a download is scanning or has scanned,that is, if at all?

I use Norton and have it set to scan all downloaded files automatically. After the scan is done, Norton opens a small windows with the results. BTW, Norton runs independent of Firefox. I would think the auto scan of downloads is in most anti-virus programs.

Yes there is an address bar. Didn't see it at first. Copied and pasted browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone. Result was one empty page. I just checked and my other computer is same. No joke.

That's not how you edit prefs.

Type about:config into the address bar, press Enter. Accept the warning In the filter view, search for "browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone" (without quotes)

Oh, Edit prefs Got it. I use mse and malwarebytes free and recently Privatefirewall Quotes removed.

I think the old feature of Firefox manually calling your virus scanner to check a file was removed because most people have "real time" antivirus protection that automatically checks the file when the download is completed. So there is no longer a need for a scanWhenDone preference to enable/disable that old feature.*

To see whether MSE catches a bad download, you can download the EICAR test file. This is a non-malicious file that all antivirus software is supposed to detect, so you can use it to verify that your real-time protection is running. It's available from several security companies:

• EICAR - f-secure
• What is EICAR test virus? - Kaspersky
• How to use the EICAR anti-malware test file with McAfee products - McAfee

* Correction: This preference might still have some effect if set to false. If it's missing, it is considered to be true.

Thanks jscher2000. A good suggestion. I will look into it after Tyler confirms command line, browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone, no longer required.

I see that jscher2000 appears to have modified an answer. "If it's missing, it is considered to be true."- means to me- it is there even if not stated as such. Well done jscher2000!!!

If everyone is happy can we all (all us superheros) solve the next big problem wherever and whatever it is.

One last item for future, just in case someone misses the modification it would be helpful to also make a separate reply.