The VIPRE quarantine is a safe, isolated storage space where VIPRE moves potential threats. You should review items in quarantine and delete, disinfect, or restore them; you can also add them to the Ignored Files list.
What is the VIPRE quarantine?
When VIPRE detects a threat, either through a scan or with Active Protection, one of the ways it can protect you is to place the item in quarantine. When a file is in quarantine it cannot be accessed by the system, and therefore cannot harm your Mac.
Occasionally, VIPRE may quarantine files that you need. To protect you VIPRE will err on the side of caution: if an application or file behaves in a way that indicates it could be malicious it will be quarantined.
You can also choose to manually quarantine an item any time VIPRE detects a threat; either through a scan or by Active Protection. The item will remain in quarantine until you take action or it is automatically deleted on schedule.
It is a good idea to be aware of what items are in quarantine. This is where VIPRE temporarily stores threats it has detected, and it is in your best interest to occasionally review the files and threats shown here.
To view items in quarantine
Choose one of the following
- Click the Quick Menu (gear button) > Quarantine
- From the menu bar, click Window > Quarantine
- Use the keyboard shortcut (⌘4)
Actions for items in quarantine
When VIPRE moves files into quarantine, they remain there for a period of time — until you take action on them, or they're automatically deleted by VIPRE. Here are your options:
| Action | Effect |
| Delete | Select this if you believe that the file is malicious in nature. VIPRE will immediately and permanently delete the item from your Mac. |
| Disinfect & Restore | This will attempt to remove the threat from the file, and if successful, return the file to its original location on your Mac. If the file cannot be disinfected, VIPRE will ask you to choose another option. |
| Restore & Ignore | Select this if you trust the file and it comes from a reputable source -- and you don't want to be notified about it again. VIPRE will allow this file to exist without considering it a threat. This option should only be selected if you’re sure the item is a non-threat. See add items to the Ignored Files list. |
| Restore | This will return the file to its original location — until VIPRE encounters it again. Select this option if you trust and recognize this application, but still want to be alerted if it acts suspiciously. |
What does VIPRE recommend?
Regardless of your selection, take a moment to review each file in quarantine and determine what it is and where it came from.
We recommend choosing Disinfect & Restore first to try cleaning the file. If disinfect fails, you have a few other options:
- If you're absolutely certain a file is safe, you can choose to Restore it
- If the file is safe and you never want to be notified about it again, choose Restore & Ignore
- If you determine it is indeed malicious in nature, you can Delete it
Files that remain in quarantine will eventually be deleted. See Automatic removal of quarantined items.