The Revolving Blue Ball: Avast scanning of .exe files slows computer?

[system]

It seems my Avast Blue Ball is frequently revolving. So here are some questions:

For suffecient security, is it necessary for Avast to scan every program that is opened, expecially non-internet related programs that are installed on one’s hard drive?

Is security compromised if .exe files are not scanned when opened? It seems like this slows my computer. Setting a path mask in the Exclusions settings doesn’t seem to work at excluding some programs from being scanned.

Can programs be excluded by using the “Resident Protection: Standard Shield - Advance - List of excluded areas”?

Is it even possible to exclude programs from being scanned? I have the free edition. If it is possible to exclude programs from being scanned, is this only possible in the “Pro” edition?

[Lisandro]

@dustov post:1

For suffecient security, is it necessary for Avast to scan every program that is opened, expecially non-internet related programs that are installed on one’s hard drive?

Programs (executables) must be scanned always.
You can decrease the security (improving performance) if you disable open/created/modified files to be scanned.

@dustov post:1

Is security compromised if .exe files are not scanned when opened?

Yes, very deeply indeed.

@dustov post:1

Setting a path mask in the Exclusions settings doesn’t seem to work at excluding some programs from being scanned.

It’s not good to do that… but a mask like *.exe should work…

@dustov post:1

Can programs be excluded by using the “Resident Protection: Standard Shield - Advance - List of excluded areas”?

Yes, but you will need to uncheck the options for executables into Standard Shield settings (first page). You’ll severe decrease your protection.

@dustov post:1

Is it even possible to exclude programs from being scanned?

Using the exclusion list of Standard Shield, yes.