Do Avast DeepScreen and Hardened Mode only work for executables that I open?

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi, Would Avast DeepScreen or Hardened Mode catch a virus that started in another way than clicking on something I shouldn’t?

  • Do DeepScreen and Hardened Mode only work for executables that I open myself?
  • Would a program be checked if it was opened by another program?
  • Do these features work if the program is scheduled to start later?
  • Do they work for executables opened automatically without clicking to open anything?
  • If a program is changed or updated would it get checked again?
  • If something gets through Hardened Mode would it then be checked by DeepScreen?

Many Thanks

2

Good questions.
On XP, stuff like that can easily be handled by a good HIPS program.
On Windows 7, 8, 10 - there are no good HIPS programs, so I also wonder and would like to hear some answers.

I think the answers to your last two questions would be

  • changed - yes, unless you’ve set the scanner to be persistent and not scan again. I maybe wrong here - if Avast calculates some checksum, then an updated program is new and should be checked again.
  • I think deep screen(ing) will kick in on applications unknown to Avast.

If I’m wrong I’m sure the experts here will soon correct.