Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Windows, Seven, UAC | Themes: Windows Tech Talk, Software
- 1. Review of the UAC in Windows Version 7
- 2. The Role of UAC
1. Review of the UAC in Windows Version 7
An in-depth look at User Account Control in Windows 7
Guy Thomas
Guy Thomas is the writer and editor of Computer Performance, a site dedicated to computer hardware and software maintenance and troubleshooting since 1996. He currently resides in England.
In Windows 7 the UAC (User Account Control) dialog box is much less 'in your face'. Microsoft has re-thought when it's desirable for the UAC to leap into action and inform us of a significant change to the operating system settings. Furthermore, if you dislike Microsoft's default settings it's much easier to make the UAC even less intrusive.
How to Turn UAC Off in Windows 7
Just click on the Start orb, and navigate to the Control Panel, User Accounts, and select: Change User Account Settings.
Windows 7 Security Vs Ease of Use
The Windows 7 screenshot above illustrates the trade-off between security and the annoying UAC interface interrupting your configuration work. Adjusting the computer's clock is a case study of Microsoft's re-design of the UAC. The crucial issue is that changing the system time is a security concern, and it should require the UAC. However, a user changing merely the time-zone does not compromise any of the operating system's audit time-stamps, and thus there is no need for the UAC to annoy a user trying to adjust to a new time-zone.
Windows 7 also allows standard users to view the firewall settings, and even use Windows Update to install optional updates and drivers. Unlike Vista, you don't need elevated rights to adjust the display DPI, and refresh the IP address, hence clicking on these settings no longer attracts the UAC dialog box.
Setting the Windows 7 UAC with Local Security Policy
In addition to the control panel method above, you can also fine-tune the UAC behavior via the Local Security Policy. Here is how to make the Windows 7 UAC changes:
- Click on the Start Orb.
- In the search box type: Policy. Launch the Local Security Policy snap-in.
- Click on Local Policies and the expand the Security Options.
- Scroll down, at the bottom of the list you will find 10 UAC policies.
- Check out the 'Explain tab' to understand the policy, and make sure that you and the Windows 7 are in synch with the Enable or Disable UAC settings.
- Next page The Role of UAC
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I don't think that should be there
Do you guys get to drink on the job? Every article is littered with errors...
UAC has always seemed pointless to me, but maybe that's because I have (not-so-)common sense. Just by actually looking at what I'm installing and realizing that a website can't be, "scanning my computer for viruses," I haven't been infected by a virus in years. Litterally. Years.
And my anti-virus has only popped up a few times - and only when I was wary of the file(s) to begin with. Heck, I could uninstall my AV and just use one of the well-known online file scanners (I don't think I'm allowed to say name).
99.9% of malware can be blocked with common sense.
"Guy recommends:"
You cannot even say it was an accident...
99.9% of malware can be blocked with common sense.
Don't stick your mouse pointer where you wouldn't stick your unmentionables. That bit of advise has kept my family clean for years.
I've been annoyed by the Windows 7 UAC for months now, and will turn it off once I get a full copy. There is no point whatsoever in asking me EVERY SINGLE TIME I open up CCleaner (and most other programs I use frequently) if I want to allow that program to make changes to my computer. If I've already said, "Yes", and the program hasn't changed, what is the point except to persistently annoy me, like that stupid paper clip used to in Word?
ZoneAlarm warns that a particular program is trying to access the internet, but only if the program has changed. Why can't Microsoft, with all its trillions of dollars of resources, figure out how to do this too?
Don't you guys just yearn for the days of Dr Thomas Pabst running this site with decent ground-breaking reveiews before these ad-centric piles of crappola became all the rage. Come back Dr Tom, all is forgiven.