Win 10 changes the permission of .exe file after running it once?

In some cases, Windows 10 might change the permissions of an executable (.exe) file after it has been run. This behavior can occur due to the User Account Control (UAC) feature and the way Windows handles certain files to enhance security. Here's what might be happening:

1. Virtualization and UAC:
   Windows 10 employs a feature called Virtualization, which is part of the User Account Control (UAC) mechanism. When a standard user runs an executable that requires administrative privileges, Windows might create a virtualized copy of the file in a protected location. This copy is isolated from the original and has its permissions set to the user's context.

   This is done to prevent non-administrator users from modifying system files. When the executable is run, the virtualized copy is used, and any changes made to it are isolated from the original file.

2. Write Protection:
   Windows also employs write protection mechanisms to prevent unintended modification of system files. If you run an executable that Windows deems a system file or located in a protected directory, it might apply write protection to prevent changes. In this case, Windows might create a copy of the executable in a protected location, like the C:\Windows\Temp directory.

3. Temporary Files:
   When you run an executable, Windows might generate temporary files or cache data. These temporary files could have different permissions than the original executable.

If you want to avoid this behavior and ensure that the permissions of the executable remain unchanged, consider the following steps:

• Run the executable with administrative privileges if it requires them. This can help prevent virtualization.
• Avoid running executables from system directories or protected locations unless absolutely necessary.
• After running an executable, check if any virtualized or temporary copies have been created in protected locations.

Keep in mind that Windows' security mechanisms are designed to enhance system security and protect sensitive files. If you're experiencing unusual behavior with permissions, it might be worth investigating further to ensure that your system is functioning as expected.