Is it ok to update the virus definitions and program if you are under a limited user account on win XP home sp2? And if not what happens if you already did update the virus definitions and program update under such a limited user account status? Plus if the antivirus product catches some virus while under screen saver mode under a limited user account is it able to delete/move items to chest etc. considering most limited user accounts are very restrictive? Anyone…?
I believe it is OK to update the VPS (try doing a manual update and see) but I don’t believe you can’t do a program update using a limited user account as that would effect all users.
You should be able to deal with detected infections and send them to the chest the main restriction I would say would come from windows if you didn’t have enough permissions to move a file from say the system folders. Even in a user account with admin permissions files in the system folders are protected by windows and you need to take additional measures, like scheduling a boot-time scan and that can’t be launched from a limited user account.
This you could test by downloading the eicar virus test file, you would need to pause the web shield to allow it to be downloaded first (leave it enabled and see how it reacts). Depending on the eicar file type, com, zip, and the standard shield settings, etc. it should alert on saving to the HDD.
The auto updates are started by the avast service. The service runs under the LocalSystem account, i.e., not under the account you’re currently logged on.
The ‘avast iAVS4 Control Service’ is used only when invoking manual updates from non-administrative accounts…
In few words, you can update manually and automatically the virus database.
The program can only be updated by the automatic way while you’re on the common user account.
If it can detect, it can manage it I suppose. If you got an error (like David said about permissions), well, you’ll need to boot as an administrator to clean the infection or to schedule a boot time scanning.