Scanned a .png file on my desktop, but the out put indicated 2 items were scanned. How possible?
Log attached.
The log you shared from your Bitdefender scan shows that only one file was scanned. Below is the breakdown:
The Bitdefender scan report (in XML format) that you shared shows the results of a contextual scan performed on a single file: C:\Users\Ida\Desktop\20250725_062642.jpg.
Summary of the Scan:
Detailed Analysis:
Now, as to why you saw 2 files scanned instead of 1 — it requires some technical knowledge. Below is the explanation:
A single JPG file can appear as “scanned twice” in a Bitdefender scan report if it is analyzed under multiple detection categories during the scanning process. This doesn’t mean two separate files were scanned — rather, it means the same file was evaluated for different types of threats.
Here’s how it works:
Bitdefender assigns a “type” to each category of threat detection — for example:
Type 0: regular files Type 6: potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), adware, spyware, etc.
If your scan settings include checks for multiple threat types, one file can be counted under more than one type. This is exactly what happened in your report:
<TypeSummary type="0" scanned="1" ... /> <TypeSummary type="6" scanned="1" ... />
Both lines refer to the same JPG file:
It was scanned once as a standard file (Type 0) And again under the PUA/adware/spyware category (Type 6)
This is expected behavior.
According to Bitdefender's own documentation: https://www.bitdefender.com/business/support/en/77209-88549-report-types.html
“A file may be used in multiple types of attacks. Therefore, GravityZone reports it for each type of attack it was involved in.”
This behavior is the same in both consumer and business/enterprise versions of Bitdefender products when it comes to scanning a file.
So even though only one physical file was scanned, Bitdefender logs it under multiple categories if it was analyzed for different threat types. This can make it look like more than one file was scanned — but that’s just how the reporting is structured.
Regards
Thank you.
I think someone needs to remind Bitdefender that the vast majority of the population doesn't possess such "technical knowledge", and has no desire for it given other life priorities. So if they wish to grow their product, they need to dumb it (user interface) down to our level rather than expect us to smarten ourselves up to their level.
Thanks for your reply — and fair point.
To be honest, we haven't seen many users raise this particular question recently in the community, which is likely why it's not more widely addressed. That said, your comment about simplifying things is completely valid.
At the same time, some topics — like the one you brought up — can’t be fully explained without going into technical detail. If we tried to put it simply and said, “Bitdefender scans the same file using different technologies,” the next question might naturally be:
“Okay, but why does it still show as two files scanned instead of one?”
And once again, we’d end up back in the technical explanation.
That’s the tricky part: some behaviors in security software aren’t straightforward, and simplifying them too much can mean skipping over critical details.
Still, your feedback is important — and it's a reminder of how valuable it is for software makers to balance technical accuracy with user-friendly communication. Hopefully, Bitdefender continues improving that balance over time.
Thanks again for bringing it up.
@camarie, @dvsls— could you provide your insights or correct my reasoning given to the user?
Thank you, i appreciate your answer. And yes, i appreciate technology can be complicated. And i comprehend your answer and now know why the issue occurs. Why it's not a topic of regular discussion, who knows? Why didn't anybody ask for the details behind Trump's campaign promise to reverse prices on the stuff we buy? (Hint: there were none. At least none that a five year-old couldn't poke holes thru.) As a society, it's pretty much a given we have the attention spans of a toothpick.
Regardless, the UI is the problem. When screen says it found 1 document and will scan it, and output says 2 documents scanned, that begs further explanation. A glaring incongruity deserves an equally glaring explanation. We shouldn't have to bother an expert for it.
Nevertheless, I greatly appreciate your final sentiment regarding user-friendly communication. At least someone's giving it some thought. But you wouldn't know it from the strategy emerging among the tech community of late: "Something's gone wrong, so try again later". What? Not even a hint!? And how long is "later", 1 minute, 1 hour, 1 day…?!
