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Is it possible to run a virus or other type of malware scan over multiple computers at once?

For example if there are ~30 computers in a network that I need to run Spy-Bot Search and Destroy on at once without logging into each of them individually how would I do this?

Additionally can this be done while another user is logged in or if no users are logged in (sort of like as a background process?) The machines are running Windows XP.

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So from what I understand is that I can only scan shared folders/files -- not the entire machine (system memory ect). Would I be able to schedule a virus scan as a task but with admin privileges and have it run in the background? – 에이바 Apr 19 '11 at 16:30
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There's no actual way to scan a whole network of computers. If you have mapped network drives, you can scan through those yes. So basically if you have a large amount of roaming profiles/network profiles, you can run a scan for those individual profiles all at the same time.

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So you're saying I could go to "My Network Places" and view all of the computers that way and scan them? – 에이바 Apr 19 '11 at 15:58
If they contain items that can be scanned like a shared My Documents, My Pictures, etc. – BioXhazard Apr 19 '11 at 16:03
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SuperAntiSpyware/Malwarebytes might allow you to do it. – BioXhazard Apr 19 '11 at 16:04
Nice thanks! So from what I understand is that I can only scan shared folders/files -- not the entire machine (system memory ect). Would I be able to schedule a virus scan as a task but with admin privileges and have it run in the background? – 에이바 Apr 19 '11 at 16:29
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Symantec Endpoint Protection would be best suited for that. It's what we use at the college I work at and it allows for a scan even though the user has no admin privileges. – BioXhazard Apr 19 '11 at 16:43
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You can use any number of Anti-virus apps like Symantec Endpoint Protection to do this. I belive Adaware has a version that will do network scans. With 30 systems a maanged product would be an excellent choice.

Any non-retail AV solution should be able to do this easily. Not free but easily managed,updated and monitored which is important.

Since all systems should have AV protection, a managed solution fits perfectly

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