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Microsoft defender identified Virus and put it in the quarantine area then delete entire dirctory

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  • Last reply by Don Morc

Don Morc
Don Morc

I appear to have lost the entire folder !!! Is it really lost and why was entire directory removed when 1 file only was suspect? Is this Thunderbird problem or Microsoft ???

I appear to have lost the entire folder !!! Is it really lost and why was entire directory removed when 1 file only was suspect? Is this Thunderbird problem or Microsoft ???
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Chosen solution

All messages in a folder are stored in a single file, an mbox file with no file extension (unless maildir storage is used, instead of mbox). So, if a single message is flagged, the entire folder is quarantined, in this case I assume a folder named RAA.

See if you can select an action that removes the folder from quarantine. If not, you may lose the folder, and since it's in a POP account, the messages may not be retrievable if they are deleted from the server after download, or you don't have a backup.

It's generally recommended to add the TB profile folder as an exception or exclusion to the antivirus program (Exclusion in the case of WD), but leave the real-time background scanner in place.

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sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 25 Contributor

Chosen Solution

All messages in a folder are stored in a single file, an mbox file with no file extension (unless maildir storage is used, instead of mbox). So, if a single message is flagged, the entire folder is quarantined, in this case I assume a folder named RAA.

See if you can select an action that removes the folder from quarantine. If not, you may lose the folder, and since it's in a POP account, the messages may not be retrievable if they are deleted from the server after download, or you don't have a backup.

It's generally recommended to add the TB profile folder as an exception or exclusion to the antivirus program (Exclusion in the case of WD), but leave the real-time background scanner in place.

Don Morc
Don Morc Question owner

Thanks. Was able to restore deleted folder, deleted suspect message and then rescanned the computer and all came up well. Thanks for guidance.