What are the recommended antivirus exclusions for Empower? - WKB16341

ENVIRONMENT

• Empower
• Antivirus software, all vendors

ANSWER

Waters recommends that you exclude the following folders from real-time scanning (if given the option, also include subfolders):

• C:\Empower
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Waters Instruments
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Oracle
• C:\Program Files\waters instruments
• Refer to the Empower System Administration Guide for your Empower version

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For systems with ACQUITY QDa / SQD / SQD2 / TQD exclude C: \Windows > System32 > drivers > etc > hosts - This will allow the Instrument DHCP IP address to write/update the "hosts" file so the Empower node can communicate with the QDa EPC.

For further information about Empower Software and Security Software Interactions see the following technote  "Empower Software and Security Software Interactions"

https://www.waters.com/waters/support.htm?lid=134790604&type=TECN

If you cannot exclude the entire Oracle folder, then you need to exclude all the files that reside within that folder. Those are all Oracle/Empower related therefore if they are not excluded then these could be either blocked, removed and/or cause slow down by the anti-malware solution.

Those folders only contain inventory and only used when installing and upgrading Oracle CPU Patch, so it isn't necessary apply those exceptions (in case of IT Security Team complaint about those folders)

C:\Program Files\Oracle

C:\Program Files (x86)\Oracle