What does it mean when the "Scan engine failure: File corrupt" Sophos error message is received?

Issue

What does it mean when the "Scan engine failure: File corrupt" Sophos error message is received?

Solution

This error message means either:

• The file is corrupt (bad zip file, malformed uuencode, etc.).
• The scan engine itself has actually failed (this occurs in rare cases).
• The scan engine has failed in scanning one particular email, for the previously stated file corruption reasons given in the first point (this is a more common meaning).

If the particular email that received this warning message contains attachments, try scanning the attachments on the desktop.

Make sure to use antivirus software with an up-to-date pattern file.

Some desktop applications such as WinZip and Microsoft Office 2000 support having desktop antivirus software act as plug-ins to scan files upon decompression or opening.

If possible, an administrator may choose to have the Sophos software quarantine not only files that are found to be infected, but also to quarantine files where scanning failed.