Why is my file being checked?

Every upload waits for the scan

A file uploaded anywhere in the system, a licence, a CPD certificate, an identity document, a conflict waiver, a bank statement, a template or letterhead, a matter document, or one arriving by email, is checked for viruses on the firm's own deployment before anyone can open it.

While it is checked, the file reads Checking beside its name and cannot be downloaded or viewed. Most files take a few seconds. Try again in a minute.

What the words mean

• Checking: the scan has not finished yet.
• Scan failed: the scanner could not be reached. The file is tried again after one, five, fifteen and sixty minutes, then every hour, and is never opened until it is clean. If it fails for a day the security administrators are told.
• Held back: the scanner found something that may be harmful. The file is kept aside, you are told, and the security administrators decide what happens to it. See Quarantine.

A clean file shows nothing extra.

Files with macros

Office files with macros are refused at the door: .docm, .xlsm, .pptm and their template kinds, and any Word, Excel or PowerPoint file carrying a macro. Save it as .docx, .xlsx or .pptx and upload again. A firm that genuinely needs macro files can allow them under Settings, General, Documents.

Bank statements

A bank statement is read only once it is clean. If the scan takes more than half a minute, the import says it is being checked and finishes by itself.