Vista UAC - On or Off?
- Thread starter corny
- Start date
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nextbillgates
Guest
I keep it on, because I run as a restricted user, and UAC makes it easy to elevate my permissions when necessary.
Another benefit of UAC is that software that doesn't follow the security conventions of a multi-user OS will get a bunch of UAC nag screens, which will finally push the software developer to fix it.
Another benefit of UAC is that software that doesn't follow the security conventions of a multi-user OS will get a bunch of UAC nag screens, which will finally push the software developer to fix it.
caveman-jim
New member
On. I know what I'm doing, so I don't trust the internet/random applications to do so as well.
nycdarkness
New member
UAC is just fing annoying. 2nd most annoying to turn off in vista, is the dumb notification you get for having UAC off.
Jokerzwild
New member
At first I thought off was the best choice since as many people here have said, "I know what im doing"
but then, I started using linux and began having a deeper understanding on why UAC is a good thing.
Thing is, by default, windows systems were more vulnerable than linux ones for different reasons, but one of the most important reasons is, the root account.
In linux, in order to change system files (say, what your windows folder is, and other stuff like that) you need root rights, to install/ uninstall programs, you need root as well.
This means that if you get infected by a virus, the virus can not access these files because there is a wall between its code and the files that wouldnt be there if root didnt exist, or in windows case, UAC.
This can be understood more easily from the debian distributions of linux, or more precisely, Ubuntu.
In ubuntu, in order to do administrative system tasks, you need to use the sudo command, which basicly is a more efficient way to getting root privileges.
UAC is what you could call, a way of implementing that sudo functionality windows-style.
If you indeed know what you are doing, specially if you share your pc with other people, the best way to go is to set up your system as admin, but then use a normal account for every-day use, and if you ever need to elevate your rights, UAC will be there to easily help you do it without having to log in as admin.
By doing this, your computer will be much safer from any new unknown threats, stupidity of other users and so on, all in all, its a more solid system of doing things.
Just as in linux anyone will tell you running as root all the time is dumb, running as admin on windows, specially without UAC, is dumb as well, in fact, quite dumber since the virus /worms/trojan threats are significantly larger in windows, and even tho you know what you are doing, sometimes, it can still get by.
but then, I started using linux and began having a deeper understanding on why UAC is a good thing.
Thing is, by default, windows systems were more vulnerable than linux ones for different reasons, but one of the most important reasons is, the root account.
In linux, in order to change system files (say, what your windows folder is, and other stuff like that) you need root rights, to install/ uninstall programs, you need root as well.
This means that if you get infected by a virus, the virus can not access these files because there is a wall between its code and the files that wouldnt be there if root didnt exist, or in windows case, UAC.
This can be understood more easily from the debian distributions of linux, or more precisely, Ubuntu.
In ubuntu, in order to do administrative system tasks, you need to use the sudo command, which basicly is a more efficient way to getting root privileges.
UAC is what you could call, a way of implementing that sudo functionality windows-style.
If you indeed know what you are doing, specially if you share your pc with other people, the best way to go is to set up your system as admin, but then use a normal account for every-day use, and if you ever need to elevate your rights, UAC will be there to easily help you do it without having to log in as admin.
By doing this, your computer will be much safer from any new unknown threats, stupidity of other users and so on, all in all, its a more solid system of doing things.
Just as in linux anyone will tell you running as root all the time is dumb, running as admin on windows, specially without UAC, is dumb as well, in fact, quite dumber since the virus /worms/trojan threats are significantly larger in windows, and even tho you know what you are doing, sometimes, it can still get by.
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Mmm_Beefy
New member
but an even bigger point is knowing what your doing. i'm a linux user, i dont run in root obviously, but with windows its a PITA to run as a limited user account. true in XP and in vista its getting better, but its no where near what it is in linux.
first and foremost is knowledge, all the safeguards in the world wont help you with out it, even the placebo UAC installed in VISTA.
amount of virus i've had on my boxes..2. one in the old dos days, and one back when i was using win2k. one was a dos boot sector virus, the other was a badly coded java applet.
and your average noobie, and uninformed are still going to allow malicious content to be installed even with UAC, because they wont know what their doing, and just click ok so they can get back to using their (now b0rked) pc.
cheers
nomore
New member
QFT. plus if you keep it on, the computer slows down at the startup and your harddrive works nonstop for awhile.First thing that went off, Talk about annoying!
what a corny poll.
LMAO.
one of you doesn't know what you are doing.
hahaOff. I don't know what I'm doing.
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mad
New member
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=574234
Pretty good thread explaining why you shouldn't turn off UAC.
Pretty good thread explaining why you shouldn't turn off UAC.
