User Account Control, Security

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I am the only user of my computer - do I really need UAC enabled?
With Windows Defender and firewall protection do I really need third-party
antivirus and firewall?
 
I am the only user of my computer - do I really need UAC enabled?

Yes. It has nothing to do with protecting you from other users on your
computer. It is about ensuring that you do not have to be an administrator
all the time. When you run as an admin the slightest misclick can spell
disaster.
With Windows Defender and firewall protection do I really need third-party
antivirus and firewall?
Click to expand...

Anti-virus, yes. Firewall, no. The firewall in Windows is perfectly
adequate, but Windows has no built-in anti-virus.
 
CJ Rom said:
I am the only user of my computer - do I really need UAC enabled?
With Windows Defender and firewall protection do I really need third-party
antivirus and firewall?
Click to expand...

I may be committing a "mortal sin" according to many other users, but I
haven't used any antivirus product on my XP and Vista PCs since I got them!
I don't click on email attachments, I only download files from known,
reputable web sites (CNet, MS, etc), and I don't go to web sites that might
be problematic. Vista Defender is a good product and I do an online virus
scan every week or so (from Symantec). I run Spybot and AdAware. The
result is that both systems run fast and smooth. AND............. I always
download Windows Updates when they arrive.

EW
 
Jesper said:
Yes. It has nothing to do with protecting you from other users on your
computer. It is about ensuring that you do not have to be an administrator
all the time. When you run as an admin the slightest misclick can spell
disaster.
Click to expand...

Or no misclick.
Your software might contain a vulnerability which can be attacked. If
it's not running as an administrator, you don't have serious problems.

Alun Harford
 
I may be committing a "mortal sin" according to many other users, but I
haven't used any antivirus product on my XP and Vista PCs since I got
them!
Click to expand...

To be honest, I have often run without antivirus and been problem-free
myself, however that would be very poor advice to give out to others who
from the fact they're asking about basic things are clearly not going to be
in the same position of awareness to judge risks for themselves properly.
I don't click on email attachments, I only download files from known,
reputable web sites (CNet, MS, etc), and I don't go to web sites that
might be problematic.
Click to expand...

It's worth pointing out that the thing about trusted sites is that you trust
them not to *intentionally* send you infected downloads. Same with email
attatchments from friends (I assume you'll concede that while you don't have
to open these apparently, you are not the entire world and some of us *do*
have to open some sometimes).

You can trust someone not to hurt you intentionally, and that trust might be
very well placed, but even the best have accidents and bad days. Microsoft
have offered virus infected documents for download before now, for example.
 
I'm Sorry but I can't find where to post a question but this is related to
user account. I have had 3 user accounts for some time now but suddenly when
I click on switch user nothing happens. when I use short cut 'windows+L'
I get this message Computer is in use and has been locked. User name is ok
Then it asks for password but doesn't accept any. When I "restart" and get
back to main page I click on a different user account and it works
 
CJ Rom said:
I am the only user of my computer - do I really need UAC enabled?
Click to expand...

Not if you're confident that you know what you're doing.

With Windows Defender and firewall protection do I really need third-party
antivirus and firewall?
Click to expand...

Most definitely on the anti-virus, as Windows Defender has no anti-virus
capability. I'd also suggest using 3rd-party AntiSpyware applications, as
Windows Defender really isn't "ready for prime time," yet. Same for the
firewall.


--
Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
<grin>

Did you know that even Microsoft pushed out an update a few years back that
contained a virus.

How about the Symantec antivirus update that contained a trojan (about a
year ago).

You just "think" you are safe.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Richard Urban said:
<grin>

Did you know that even Microsoft pushed out an update a few years back
that contained a virus.

How about the Symantec antivirus update that contained a trojan (about a
year ago).

You just "think" you are safe.
Click to expand...

You're correct, and I should probably talk myself into installing AVAST, or
something like it. However, I've read many times that none of the AV
programs can catch ALL "in the field" viruses and only a minority of
zero-day types, heuristics used or not. But the odds are better with an AV
app running -- and slowing the system down, etc. However, in any case, I
will NEVER use anything made by Symantec (Norton)!!! Ever. I once did and
it still haunts my XP registry despite many attempts to uninstall it, even
with Symantec's own cleaning tools.

EW
 
Symantec/Norton and McAfee act very much like a virus in that they can never
be completely removed. Same goes for AOHell.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Please, How do I post a new question. I click new then question but there is
no where to write. I did this by clicking reply
 
oisky said:
Please, How do I post a new question. I click new then question but there
is
no where to write. I did this by clicking reply
Click to expand...

<snip>

Don't use the awful web interface to access what are actually Usenet
newsgroups. If you are posting from Vista, use Windows Mail to access these
newsgroups directly under Microsoft Communities. If using XP Outlook
Express can be configured for newsgroup access. Here is a link on how to do
that.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

The setup is similar for OE and Windows Mail.

Another option is to use Google Groups:
http://groups.google.com/grphp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wg&q=

Here is a list of Vista newsgroups:
microsoft.public.windows.vista.administration_accounts_password
microsoft.public.windows.vista.file_management
microsoft.public.windows.vista.games
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_devices
microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup
microsoft.public.windows.vista.mail
microsoft.public.windows.vista.music_pictures_video
microsoft.public.windows.vista.networking_sharing
microsoft.public.windows.vista.performance_maintenance
microsoft.public.windows.vista.print_fax_scan
microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
 
I have three user accounts. everything has been fine for twelve months.
Suddenly, when I click on switch user, nothing happens. I click on window
plus L and get a message saying
"
, This computer has been locked. Only adminitratore can unlock.
Click to expand...

Type name- ----------------
Password What password. I have tried this but nothing happens
Can anyone please help me
 
Just recently, after I got my system set up and running stable. I was surfing
on the net and some website tried to install some kind of ActiveX control
that I didn't need or want. UAC picked up on it and warned me to either
accept it or deny it access and I denied it and when I had a friend go to the
same site, it was a virus. So it does help.
 
AVast picks up on a few trojans that Norton doesn't and a few other viruses
that norton doesn't until you perform a complete system scan in norton that
is. AVast warns me before the file even opens up. Don't ask me, just every so
often when I was using XP, AVast caught websites that contained a trojan on
it or had at least some code that was of questionable origin.
 
Sasha said:
AVast picks up on a few trojans that Norton doesn't and a few other
viruses
that norton doesn't until you perform a complete system scan in norton
that
is. AVast warns me before the file even opens up. Don't ask me, just every
so
often when I was using XP, AVast caught websites that contained a trojan
on
it or had at least some code that was of questionable origin.
Click to expand...


And Avast doesn't screw up the computer and Windows Mail like Norton and
McAfee do.
 
At least a virus can be completely removed; unlike Norton, which wants to let
Symantec keep their hand in your wallet
 
Sasha said:
Just recently, after I got my system set up and running stable. I was
surfing
on the net and some website tried to install some kind of ActiveX control
that I didn't need or want.
Click to expand...

i doubt ou'd have known about that bad ax if you were usig ff or opera or
mac browser,etc.

if ou search the web, you might find a bookmarklet that allows you to [with
a click] report suspected nasty websites.



siteadvisor? (a mcaffee effort)
http://www.google.com/search?&q=report++bookmarklet+siteadvisor+

http://informationgift.com/2006/04/reputation_management_siteadvi.html

javascript:(function(){win=open('','','resizable,scrollbars');with(win.document.location='http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/'+self.location.hostname);})()

[but it's unresponsive in bonecho 2004pre]



further up this thread someone said avast found a trojan, but ime there's a
good chance that was a false positive.


UAC picked up on it and warned me to either
accept it or deny it access and I denied it and when I had a friend go to
the
same site, it was a virus. So it does help.
Click to expand...

going to post UAC post soon, maybe, aaaAAAARRRRGGGGgggg. it and similar
popups are blocking *too many* deliberate actions. [such as pasting a
no-install app, either in zip or in extracted state.]
 
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