At a computer system, the computer system including a processor and system memory, the computer system communicatively coupled to a synchronized distributed storage system, the computer system having a sync client (306, 308A, 308B), the sync client configured to synchronize files at the computer system with files at the synchronized distributed storage system, a method for scanning files for inappropriate content during synchronization, the method comprising: requesting a file from the distributed storage system; notifying an intermediary server of the download request; the intermediary server initiating download of one or more portions of the file; receiving, at the client system, the same one or more portions of the file from the synchronized distributed storage system, the file being a newer version of a file to replace an existing version of the file at the computer system; identifying a storage location at the computer system to store the portions of data; storing the portions of data for the newer version of the file at the storage location at the client system; scanning, by a scanning module at the intermediary server, and the intermediary server preventing the client system to complete the download until the scanning module scans the portions of the file for inappropriate content and the scan is completed; subsequent to and based on the results of the scan: when the scanning module detects inappropriate content in the file, the intermediary server notifying the client (306, 308A, 308B) that the client is not permitted to complete downloading the file; deleting the portions of data stored at the storage location and retain the current version of the file as the new current version of the file; and when scanning module detects inappropriate content in the file, the intermediary server notifying the client that the client is permitted to complete downloading the file; deleting the current version of the file and retain the new version of the file as the new current version of the file; deleting any data of the file from the intermediary server. requesting a file from the distributed storage system; notifying an intermediary server of the download request; the intermediary server initiating download of one or more portions of the file; receiving, at the client system, the same one or more portions of the file from the synchronized distributed storage system, the file being a newer version of a file to replace an existing version of the file at the computer system; identifying a storage location at the computer system to store the portions of data; storing the portions of data for the newer version of the file at the storage location at the client system; scanning, by a scanning module at the intermediary server, and the intermediary server preventing the client system to complete the download until the scanning module scans the portions of the file for inappropriate content and the scan is completed; subsequent to and based on the results of the scan: when the scanning module detects inappropriate content in the file, the intermediary server notifying the client (306, 308A, 308B) that the client is not permitted to complete downloading the file; deleting the portions of data stored at the storage location and retain the current version of the file as the new current version of the file; and when scanning module detects inappropriate content in the file, the intermediary server notifying the client that the client is permitted to complete downloading the file; deleting the current version of the file and retain the new version of the file as the new current version of the file; deleting any data of the file from the intermediary server. when the scanning module detects inappropriate content in the file, the intermediary server notifying the client (306, 308A, 308B) that the client is not permitted to complete downloading the file; deleting the portions of data stored at the storage location and retain the current version of the file as the new current version of the file; and when scanning module detects inappropriate content in the file, the intermediary server notifying the client that the client is permitted to complete downloading the file; deleting the current version of the file and retain the new version of the file as the new current version of the file; deleting any data of the file from the intermediary server.