Scanning profiles in action

Scanning your local computer with the 'Default Scanning Profile'

1. Go on File } New } Scan single computer...

2. Select the `This computer' option.

Screenshot 62 - New Scan dialog

3. Set the value of the 'Scan Profile' combo box to 'Default'.

4. Click on OK to start the scan.

TIP: Take note of the time it takes to complete the scan as well as the information range it returns.

Scanning your local computer with the 'Applications Scanning Profile'

1. Go on File } New } Scan single computer...

2. Select the `This computer' option.

Screenshot 63 - New Scan Dialog: Selecting the `Applications' vulnerability scanning profile

3. Set the value of the 'Scan Profile' combo box to 'Applications '.

4. Click on OK to start the scan.

As you can see the time it takes to complete a vulnerability scan using the 'Applications' scanning profile is considerably less than that of the `Default' scanning profile previously performed. This is because the `Applications' scanning profile only performs specific vulnerability checks which analyze and report the applications that are installed on the scanned target computers. Hence no other unrelated vulnerability checks are run against the target(s) and no extra data is retrieved from the target computer(s).

On the other hand, the `Default' scanning profile is more generic and performs vulnerability checks on almost all vulnerable areas of your network. Hence it takes more time to complete the scan as well as more information is retrieved from the scanned targets and reported in the scan results.