Smart UAC Replacement 1.0

  • Thread starter Thread starter Victek
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Victek

I just discovered a program called "Smart UAC Replacement 1.0". It's
supposed to, well, replace regular dumb UAC. I haven't tested it yet and I
don't know if it has anything to do with the true UAC mechanism in Vista.
FWIW it claims to also work with XP and Windows 2000. I'd be interested to
know what others think about this (once you get over the revulsion and
disgust <g>) Here comes the link:

http://www.replaceuac.com/
 
I especially liked this gem.

"...and finds both known and unknown malicious programs
and prevents their activity."

Finally - we can all relax. :o)
 
Hmm?
I don't know if I want to trust.
------------------
Registrant:
KONSTANTIN ARTEMEV
28 Army Street 16/1, flat 69

Astrakhan, ASTRAKHAN 414056
Russian Federation
 
Wouldn't touch it with a 40' barge pole!
It is a Reg cleaner/Anti-spyware/Anti-virus all rolled into one!
I don't think so!
 
Replaceuac looks like snake oil to me.
Did you read what it is supposed to do?
If you downloaded it, you'd be scanning with with your anti-virus!
Not for me!
 
In general, it's a bad idea to use third-party "replacements" for critical
parts of the operating system. While I'll never claim that our software is
bug-free, I feel pretty certain that some shady no-charge download that
tries to replace or improve on some aspect of the security subsystem hasn't
gone through any kind of testing like we do: the SDL, automated fuzz and
penetration testing, and threat modeling. My advice: stay away from stuff
like this.
 
Steve Riley said:
In general, it's a bad idea to use third-party "replacements" for critical
parts of the operating system. While I'll never claim that our software is
bug-free, I feel pretty certain that some shady no-charge download that
tries to replace or improve on some aspect of the security subsystem
hasn't gone through any kind of testing like we do: the SDL, automated
fuzz and penetration testing, and threat modeling. My advice: stay away
from stuff like this.

--
Steve Riley
(e-mail address removed)
http://blogs.technet.com/steriley
http://www.protectyourwindowsnetwork.com
Click to expand...


Quote:
Our fifth product - Smart UAC Replacement - was developed to help Windows
Vista users get rid of irritating User Account Control alerts while raising
the overall level of computer protection up to new height. We combined five
years of computer security experience with one year of development to bring
you this state of art product which will make your work and entertainment
really pleasant. With help of Smart UAC Replacement you don't need to worry
of your computer security anymore.
End Quote

WOW they combined five years of computer security experience with one year
of development. Look out MS, looks like you have competition here :>)
They also raised the overall level of computer protection up to new height.
Well now, isn't that just wonderful. How high is this new protection, can't
seem to find any comparison with their product. I find it amazing 3 people
can come up with such software and expect most users to believe it is better
than what MS has developed and spent many hours and dollars on. They also
want people to believe they created a way to put UAC in the so called silent
mode so their software can take over.

Quote:
Once installed, Smart UAC will automatically disable standard UAC, or,
better to say, turn it into special "silent mode".
End Quote

They better clarify exactly what they mean here because there is a big
difference between disabling UAC completely or changing a Registry Key to
not prompt the user. A small quote from Ronnie Vernon MS=MVP
Quote:
If UAC cannot notify the user that a program is trying to
gain global access to the system, then it is effectively 'disabled'. This so
called 'quite mode' setting just changes a UAC registry setting to
'automatically elevate everything without prompting'. This means that when
you click to open a file, it is 'assumed' that you already know that the
file will have unrestricted access to your computer.
End Quote:

If all they do is the Registry hack then UAC is still running and their
software as well, that sure don't seem to be a smart way of programming.
Also reading over their site I see they have a integrated antivirus and anti
spyware scanner included. Just what we all need, another CrapWare Suite.

BTW Steve, couldn't agree with you more and that my nickels worth on this
thread.

--
All the best,
SG

Is your computer system ready for Vista?
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/
Want to keep up with the latest news from MS?
http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&topic=t
Just type in Microsoft
 
Steve said:
In general, it's a bad idea to use third-party "replacements" for critical
parts of the operating system. While I'll never claim that our software is
bug-free, I feel pretty certain that some shady no-charge download that
tries to replace or improve on some aspect of the security subsystem hasn't
gone through any kind of testing like we do: the SDL, automated fuzz and
penetration testing, and threat modeling. My advice: stay away from stuff
like this.
Click to expand...


Hmm. Linux is built on the philosophy of using third-party replacements
for badly written components of the OS. Often times, those third party
replacements get incorporated into the OS itself.

Come to think of it, MS has done it in the past. (Defender anyone?)



And no, I am NOT suggesting that the programs mentioned here are in
anyway reliable or even not virii/spyware themselves. As other people
have suggested, the origin gives a significant pause for concern. I am
only saying that the suggestion that "third party replacements are
defacto bad" is a suspect ideology.
 
Chris Barnes said:
Hmm. Linux is built on the philosophy of using third-party replacements
for badly written components of the OS. Often times, those third party
replacements get incorporated into the OS itself.
Click to expand...

Submission, peer review, and acceptance may play a part. Then,
what exactly does "third party" mean in the GNU/Open Source
arena.
Come to think of it, MS has done it in the past. (Defender anyone?)
Click to expand...

GUI anyone?
And no, I am NOT suggesting that the programs mentioned here are in anyway
reliable or even not virii/spyware themselves. As other people have
suggested, the origin gives a significant pause for concern. I am only
saying that the suggestion that "third party replacements are defacto bad"
is a suspect ideology.
Click to expand...

It is not the third party ideas that are security risks as much as the
actual
code used to implement them. When the idea is adopted and implemented
by the OS writers it may actually be a good thing, but no longer a third
party thing.

People shouldn't be too hard on Vista and UAC for the way it is
set up by default - it is configurable enough to be made as insecure
as almost any previous OS from Microsoft.
 
I DLd this and it worked like a champ for about 3 days. Suddenly, I started
getting BSOD crashes at boot-up, and the only thing I could decipher from
the blue screen readout was a mention of Smart UAC. Booting in Safe Mode
and uninstalling it fixed the problem. Too bad, because I really liked it a
lot better than the stock UAC.

Buddha
 
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