Administrator Privileges a Danger?

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Guest

Dear Group,

I have read that running a PC connected to the Internet as the
administrator increases he risks of infection with malware.

Is there anybody out there who can speak to this subject in a
practical and not argumentative way?

Thank you
GR.
 
Dear Group,

I have read that running a PC connected to the Internet as the
administrator increases he risks of infection with malware.

Is there anybody out there who can speak to this subject in a
practical and not argumentative way?

Thank you
GR.
Click to expand...

Running a computer with a lower level of permission reduces the risk of
infection on the Internet. I seldom expose my Windows admin account to
the Internet. Some people find it too much trouble. But I spend less
time worrying and find it well worth it.
 
NoSpam said:
Dear Group,

I have read that running a PC connected to the Internet as the
administrator increases he risks of infection with malware.

Is there anybody out there who can speak to this subject in a
practical and not argumentative way?
Click to expand...
It's called Limited User Account, Google for it.
 
NoSpam said:
Dear Group,

I have read that running a PC connected to the Internet as the
administrator increases he risks of infection with malware.

Is there anybody out there who can speak to this subject in a
practical and not argumentative way?

Thank you
GR.
Click to expand...

imho not in any significant way. basically what you are looking for is the
chances that your system is attacked, AND your primary prevention methods
have failed (very important), AND the threat is stopped because of the fact
that its not an administrator account but would have delivered its payload
if it were.

but to simply answer your question, yes you are more at risk.

randy
 
xrongor said:
imho not in any significant way. basically what you are looking for is
the chances that your system is attacked, AND your primary prevention
methods have failed (very important), AND the threat is stopped because of
the fact that its not an administrator account but would have delivered
its payload if it were.

but to simply answer your question, yes you are more at risk.

randy
Click to expand...

ps: sometimes you need to consider the person sitting in the seat as
malware. whether its a curious child, or a malicious employee. if you do,
its probably best not to give them admin privleges <g>.

i assumed thats not the sort of thing you are referring to though.

randy
 
NoSpam said:
Is there anybody out there who can speak to this subject in a
practical and not argumentative way?
Click to expand...

The risk is higher because Admin is the level that allows installing.
Anyone that gets past your protections can pretty much do as he likes to
your computer.

If you run as User, then Admin is part of your protection against
malware. Not real good protection, if it's Windows, but every little bit
helps.
 
NoSpam said:
Dear Group,

I have read that running a PC connected to the Internet as the
administrator increases he risks of infection with malware.

Is there anybody out there who can speak to this subject in a
practical and not argumentative way?
Click to expand...

the risk of infection is usually linked to the risk of encountering
malware (and possibly doing something dumb with it if it doesn't use
exploits to autoexecute) in the first place... applying the principle of
least privilege doesn't affect your risk of encountering malware, rather
it minimizes the potential impact that malware can have...

that said, it can minimize the impact to the point where the malware
just can't operate properly and 'infection' (whatever that means outside
of proper viruses) fails to occur...
 
NoSpam said:
Dear Group,

I have read that running a PC connected to the Internet as the
administrator increases he risks of infection with malware.

Is there anybody out there who can speak to this subject in a
practical and not argumentative way?

Thank you
GR.
Click to expand...

One of the few improvements in Vista, is the incorporation of a limited
administrator account, you only have admin privleges for a short period of
time, as and when you need them. A very powerful tool that should have been
in Windows to begin with.....

Gaz
 
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