A system, method and computer program product are provided for on-access computer virus scanning of files in an efficient manner. If no identifier is assigned to a process for accessing files, virus detection actions are selected based at least in part on the identification of the process. Further, an identifier is assigned to the process. Thereafter, virus detection actions may be selected based at least in part on the identifier for accelerating the selection process. In operation, the selected virus detection actions are performed on the files.