Concurrent and delayed processing of malware with reduced I/O interference

A system for scanning files for malware, comprising:

• an anti-malware component configured to request access to files to enable the files to be scanned for malware;
• a file system management component that determines if the files to be scanned for malware reside in a cache memory, scans, when the files reside in the cache memory, the files for malware while higher priority requests to access a storage medium are carried out, and delays, when the files reside in the cache memory, the anti-malware component from accessing the files while the higher priority requests to access the storage medium are carried out;
• and
• an anti-malware filter driver component in communication with the anti-malware component, the anti-malware filter driver component preventing applications from accessing the files until the files are scanned for malware, wherein preventing applications from accessing the files comprises delaying access to the files until the files are scanned for malware.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, encoded with processor readable instructions to perform a method for scanning files for malware, the method comprising:

• requesting access to a first file so as to enable the first file to be scanned for malware;
• determining if the first file to be scanned for malware resides in a cache memory;
• scanning, when the first file resides in the cache memory, the first file for malware while processing Input/Output (I/O) activity relating to a storage medium;
• delaying, when the first file does not reside in the cache memory, scanning of the first file for malware while there is at least one I/O operation directed to the storage medium that has a higher priority level than a priority level of the request to access the first file;
• and
• preventing, except to enable the first file to be scanned for malware, access to the first file until the first file has been scanned for malware, wherein preventing applications from accessing the files comprises delaying access to the files until the files are scanned for malware.