Does virus scanning require administrator privileges?

Virus scanning may or may not require administrator privileges, depending on the scope of the scan and the security software being used.

Basic User-Level Scans: Many antivirus programs allow users to perform quick scans or scans of specific folders without elevated permissions. These scans typically check common areas like the user's home directory or downloaded files, which do not require admin rights. For example, scanning a user's Downloads folder for malware can often be done without administrator privileges.
Full System Scans: A full system scan, which examines all files, system directories (e.g., Windows system folders, registry, and boot sectors), usually requires administrator privileges. This is because accessing certain protected system areas is restricted to admin-level accounts. For instance, scanning the C:\Windows\System32 directory for rootkits or deeply embedded malware necessitates elevated access.
Real-Time Protection: Real-time virus monitoring, which continuously checks for threats as files are accessed, may require admin rights to function effectively. This ensures the antivirus can intercept and block malicious activities system-wide, including in protected system processes.

Example:

If you're using a personal laptop and want to scan your Documents folder, you likely won’t need admin rights.
However, if you’re scanning the entire system for deep-seated malware or configuring real-time protection, the antivirus will prompt you to run it as an administrator.

In enterprise environments, IT administrators often deploy antivirus solutions with centralized management, allowing them to perform scans across all devices without individual users needing admin privileges.

For cloud-based security solutions, such as those integrating with virtual machines or containers, services like Tencent Cloud Security provide managed antivirus and threat detection, often handling privilege requirements automatically. These services can scan virtual environments without requiring manual admin intervention on each instance.