Have you disabled UAC

Have you disabled UAC

  • Total voters
    145
  • Poll closed .
It improves security so for now I am leaving it on. I'm mostly under XP in a limited user account so haven't even used Vista very much anyway. UAC is a bit annoying but people complained that XP wasn't secure enough so it is a step in the right direction. I think UAC is a good thing for the noobs who are always getting spyware dumped on their computers when browsing the web. If you know how to avoid all that crap without UAC then it's no big deal if you turn it off.
 
Gatticus said:
It improves security so for now I am leaving it on. I'm mostly under XP in a limited user account so haven't even used Vista much yet anyway. UAC is a bit annoying but people complained that XP wasn't secure enough so it is a step in the right direction.
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^^ Same as that dude
 
No, I haven't, and I see no reason to.

Learn how it works and you will understand why you should leave it alone.
 
i turned off the flashing screen when UAC asks you. it makes a HUGE difference
 
I still have it enabled but I may turn it off.

It gets tiresome pretty quicky.. If you have a router with a hardware firewall then what's the problem with security anyway.
 
I leave it on for my end users who have Vista but it is Off for me. I install and un-install to test and I know it is not to bad but I still just like it off. Personally I have never got a virus or installed mal-ware on my own PC's for all the years I have been using them. But my end users well they need all the protection they can get so everything is left on for them. :)
 
spicey said:
I still have it enabled but I may turn it off.

It gets tiresome pretty quicky.. If you have a router with a hardware firewall then what's the problem with security anyway.
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If you're serious about that question then I suggest you leave it on.

Hopefully those of you who work on friends and family computers will make sure it is ON.

If it really bugs you you can tweak UAC settings via local group policy so that it doesn't nag you quite so much.
 
I leave it on. I can't quite figure out what people are doing that cause it to "bug" them? Once you get your system built and configured, you rarely see if anymore.
 
I'm using the UAC with my Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit. I have no problems with it, I should be more secure but I still run my desktop under Admin too. So when the UAC does pop up, most of the time I just click allow button or was it the continue button? :D
 
I got annoyed by it, for me it's an annoying net nanny. For less computer savvy people (like my parents) it's beneficial and should be left on.
 
Sovereign said:
I got annoyed by it, for me it's an annoying net nanny. For less computer savvy people (like my parents) it's beneficial and should be left on.
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How could it be annoying? What are you messing with so often that it pops up? I use Vista all day at work, and at night on my home computer, and I see the prompt, maybe, three times. And before you ask, both of those computers are used extensively.

All it takes is some simple common sense and reasoning. Why is it so difficult for people to understand basic security principles? Isn't it ironic that the people who claim to "know how to avoid malware" are the ones who don't really know why they need the protection.
 
djnes said:
How could it be annoying? What are you messing with so often that it pops up? I use Vista all day at work, and at night on my home computer, and I see the prompt, maybe, three times. And before you ask, both of those computers are used extensively.
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I see it on a daily basis. I'm sure I'm not alone. Many games still require admin access to run correctly. EQ2, WoW, and the Battlefield games all trigger the UAC. Taxcut (not that it's a problem anymore) triggered it. But, it really was/is an extra mouse click. As game devs become more complaint to Vista security it will be less and less of a problem.

That said, I have UAC turned on. Once I finished setting up my machine I decided to live with it. I know when to expect a prompt. It's pretty predictable. It's not random and it will be obvious to me if it ever comes up for something real.
 
griffinhart said:
I know when to expect a prompt. It's pretty predictable. It's not random and it will be obvious to me if it ever comes up for something real.
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Which I think it a great point, and why UAC should be on. You know when to expect it. So, when it's not expected, that pop-up is your sign that something you didn't authorize is attempting to happen.
 
djnes said:
How could it be annoying? What are you messing with so often that it pops up? I use Vista all day at work, and at night on my home computer, and I see the prompt, maybe, three times. And before you ask, both of those computers are used extensively.

All it takes is some simple common sense and reasoning. Why is it so difficult for people to understand basic security principles? Isn't it ironic that the people who claim to "know how to avoid malware" are the ones who don't really know why they need the protection.
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Well, I'd like to make a comment, but no doubt some people would throw a fit if I did...

To the point, and on topic. UAC is NOT a security measure... MS can certainly market it as such, but that marketing is wrong. It has already been compromised, and it does not secure you.... At all... in any way.... ever....

With that said, it does have a use, and that is to inform the user of what they are doing.... The question needs to be asked.... Do I know what I'm doing? The answer to that is yes I do, and I dont need UAC to tell me about it.

It's not a matter of understanding... It's a matter of treating people like idiots.
 
djnes said:
How could it be annoying? What are you messing with so often that it pops up? I use Vista all day at work, and at night on my home computer, and I see the prompt, maybe, three times. And before you ask, both of those computers are used extensively.

All it takes is some simple common sense and reasoning. Why is it so difficult for people to understand basic security principles? Isn't it ironic that the people who claim to "know how to avoid malware" are the ones who don't really know why they need the protection.
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Vista's UAC doesn't help users identify what is a "good" program that is trying to install and what is a "bad" program, it simply says "An unknown program, SETUP.EXE, needs your permission to continue." SETUP.EXE could be the install wrapper for an older program that isn't digitally signed (and thus throws up the "unknown" part) or it could be an executable for a porn downloader/dialer. Does UAC tell you which? No. All it does is to be more explicit about what the computer is doing.

You are a very presumptuous person, Mr. Djnes. Apparently, anyone who operates their computers differently than you do knows nothing. I've dealt with more malware downloaded by parents, friends, co-workers and the like than I care to think about. I know where it comes from. I know how to avoid it. Obviously, though, I'm asking for too much credit from you.

In short, please think in the future before making such sweeping generalizations and assuming that everyone who has a different view on computer security than you is an imbecile. Good day to you sir.

@duby229 - I couldn't agree more.
 
I certainly have no issues with people thinking differently than me. Thank you for that ASSumption. What I do have an issue with is a total and complete lack of logic and common sense, and a total and complete disregard for any and all good computing habits.

I'm not presumptious, but I am very logical and rational. If something doesn't make sense, nor has any real reason to doing it...I won't do it. Until someone can provide a good solid reason why UAC isn't necessary, you aren't going to have people like myself agreeing with you. The very things you are accusing me of, you are guilty of, as usual on these boards.

As for your own comments above, if UAC prompts you for a program called setup.exe, and you didn't just manually try to install something, it's a pretty clear example of how it's doing its job.

Instead of trying to sound like the innocent victim here, how about you provide is with some links to some security websites, where they recommend disabling UAC.
 
You are just as bad as you accuse me of being. You ASSume that the only way for your computer to be secure is for UAC to be enabled. How did I get this when you didn't say it? I quote: "provide is with some links to some security websites, where they recommend disabling UAC."

You're not going to find any. Why? Because these sites all cater to Joe Average, not the poweruser types that hang around here. Before you pop open the champagne and declare victory, you should think, again you are presuming the only logical option is to leave UAC on. You claim to be logical and rational but under that is still the core ASSumption that UAC must be on for a computer to be secure!

If it weren't for dumb users, we would not have nearly as many problems. Read this thread about UAC: bbz_ghost really knows his stuff. Even though he recommends leaving UAC on, that's not the point. The point is that the ultimate reason for UAC is to protect Windows from users who do not know what they are doing.

If you don't want to read the whole post or you choose to conviently skim it to support your own point of view, then at least read this:

"[T]he new OS "protects" itself from not only the common malware that has plagued previous versions of Windows but also the biggest reason for most problems by and large:

You.

Let's face it, the type of person I end up defending or just being the Devil's advocate for most often - Joe Average, consumer that happens to own a computer - tends to be the biggest single factor in the spread of malware, spyware, adware, viruses, trojans, worms, etc. outside of the computer itself. It's your fault, so deal with it."

I don't consider myself "Joe Average" with computers. Therefore, I don't feel the need to use UAC. My argument isn't to make you turn off UAC or recommend that other people do so, but rather for you to recognize that some who make this choice are qualified enough and intelligent enough to NOT fall into the category of "the people who claim to 'know how to avoid malware' [and] are the ones who don't really know why they need the protection" as you put it.

You're right on one thing, my computer is technically "less secure" with UAC off, but since the root of most security problems is the person behind the keyboard, it really doesn't matter as much now, does it? Unless I do something monumentally stupid, I'm not going to have a problem. Most of my LAN friends think I'm weird for even having Anti-Virus software. They don't have AV, AS, FW or UAC. Yet their machines don't crash and burn. So the argument that one NEEDS UAC for security really is dependent on the user, not the mere presence of UAC itself.
 
Stealing a quote from someone, sorry I forgot which user said it.

Those who know enough that they probably don't need UAC, also know why it needs to be left on.
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I leave it on since I rarely get prompted during normal use.

If it does come up unexpectedly thats a good sign to me that something I may not want to get into my computer is trying to install etc.

It can be a bit intrusive when you first setup the PC. Installing drivers, applications etc will all cause it to prompt. It may be ok to turn off UAC during that initial setup then enable it to keep yourself safer.
 
Sovereign said:
I don't consider myself "Joe Average" with computers. Therefore, I don't feel the need to use UAC. My argument isn't to make you turn off UAC or recommend that other people do so, but rather for you to recognize that some who make this choice are qualified enough and intelligent enough to NOT fall into the category of "the people who claim to 'know how to avoid malware' [and] are the ones who don't really know why they need the protection" as you put it.
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It's not just about qualifications or backgrounds. And, I'll be the first to admit I'm on edge because of reading the several resurrected threads where some people are actually dumb enough to think knowledge and computing habits make them 100% immune to viruses. As an IT Manager in charge of a company's security, this type of thinking infuriates me. I'll also admit UAC isn't about security in the same manner AV software is. But the point is, considering many people have been bitching about Windows for years, and clamoring for it to be more like OSX and/or Linux in the way it handles user accounts etc, now the very same are throwing a hissy because MS listened to them and took the appropriate measures.

As it's been said several times, much of the blame should be on software vendors for requiring certain rights for software to be installed. That being said, I still go back to the point of why? It's not really intrusive at all, so why disable something that's supposed to be there? I like to think I know what I'm doing behind a computer as well, but I don't want to get into disabling features that were put there for my benefit. If this was something that prompted me every couple of minutes, and really became a hassle, I'd be looking to disable it as well. But it's really not.
 
jtzako said:
I leave it on since I rarely get prompted during normal use.

If it does come up unexpectedly thats a good sign to me that something I may not want to get into my computer is trying to install etc.

It can be a bit intrusive when you first setup the PC. Installing drivers, applications etc will all cause it to prompt. It may be ok to turn off UAC during that initial setup then enable it to keep yourself safer.
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Those are exactly the points I was trying to make. In regular everyday usage, you barely see it....so why are people calling it a nusance?
 
Anyone who thinks they are computer savvy enough to do without things such as anti-virus, regular anti-spyware scans, firewalls and such aren't as smart as they think they might be. If you surf the internet, your computer can be infiltrated without your knowledge. If you argue that point, then you have no knowledge what-so-ever as to what kind of malware is floating around on the internet. End of argument. Case closed.

I don't think UAC is the answer, but maybe it'll help. The problem with UAC is you have to click YES when prompted. I can see anyone clicking YES when prompted without even realizing what they are clicking YES to. People need to be told to answer NO to computer prompts unless they know what they are doing.
 
Of course... Were not stupid.

But UAC is not in the same league as a Virus Scanner, or any other security measure. UAC does NOT secure your system.... In any way.... Period.

Its already been compromised. Hacks already exist to bypass it. Whether it is enabled or disabled your security is EXACTLY the same. But what makes it a pain in the ass is that primarily it breaks compatibility, and secondarily it prompts for everything. I always wanted a computer that could wipe my ass, but I never wanted a computer that I had to ask permission to wipe my ass, before I found out it broke the toilet paper.........
 
I left it on. It really doesn't bother me too much, and I'd rather deal with it to keep things secure.
 
It's off, but I'm currently using Vista only to test new stuff, so it is annoying as hell for me. If it were my primary OS, I would probably leave it on.
 
I turned it off. Too annoying when running older apps or programs.

Then again I am security minded and running corporate AV on my home systems so I am a bit more secure than your average bear. ;)
 
If I log in as administrator, I want to be admin. I usually run as non-privileged user anyway, so I do not need UAC.
 
duby229 said:
Of course... Were not stupid.

.......
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I didn't say you were. But there are a lot of computer users who are dumb as posts when it comes to using a computer. It's mind boggling for some of us here to know that there are a lot of people have no idea how to react to an on screen prompt even when it is a simple yes/no question. I see it nearly everyday.
 
griffinhart said:
I see it on a daily basis. I'm sure I'm not alone. Many games still require admin access to run correctly.
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That's what the "runas" command is for. Even on XP under a limited user account I use the runas command to run MP games that use Punkbuster or VAC. And on XP I have to enter the admin password. On Vista you just click continue for admin privileges.
 
Sovereign said:
In short, please think in the future before making such sweeping generalizations and assuming that everyone who has a different view on computer security than you is an imbecile. Good day to you sir.

@duby229 - I couldn't agree more.
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That's par for the course for both him and bbz_ghost. They are easy to wind up though. ;)
 
djnes said:
Those are exactly the points I was trying to make. In regular everyday usage, you barely see it....so why are people calling it a nusance?
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Probably because it is more obtrusive compared to something like Ubuntu. UAC prompts for continue/deny a hell of a lot more than Unix OS's.
 
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