Vista popups help.

  • Thread starter Thread starter kraut
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kraut

Me and the wife both got new boxes. I got XP and she got Vista about
week ago.

Thing is she keeps getting these "popups" about programs trying to
run and to click on Cancel or Continue I guess. She has learned to
click on continue but then another comes up and she clickes on run I
think it is.

Thing is that I am worried that where she automaticaly clicks contine,
run, ETC that some of these web site give popups about needing this or
that that she will just click on OK or whatever and end up DLing a
virus or some unwanted programs.

Anyway around this??

I know nothing about Vista other then she runs as administator. I am
just learning XP and that is bad enough!!

Oh 98 I miss you!! :-(
 
kraut,

The idea is that you only click in the affirmative when you have
intentionally done something to install software or change system settings.
The idea of UAC (User Access Control, those pop-ups she gets) is that if a
Web site tries to do a drive-by install of some malware, then you say "Hey,
I'm not trying to install anything!" and click "No!" If a site says some
plugin or other is needed, open another browser window and Google (or
Yahoo!, or whatever) the plugin. Read what you find on four to six sites;
that should give you a good idea of whether you really want it or not.

Where it really gets annoying is if you have old programs that require you
to "Run as Administrator." (1) Then you get UAC everytime you start the
program. There are many old programs that just need to be "Run as
Administrator" once (2), and then are OK from then on.

1) Right click icon & choose "Properties." Then click on the
"Compatibility" tab and click the "Run as Administrator" check box.
2) Right click icon & just choose "Run as Administrator."
 
kraut said:
Me and the wife both got new boxes. I got XP and she got Vista about
week ago.

Thing is she keeps getting these "popups" about programs trying to
run and to click on Cancel or Continue I guess. She has learned to
click on continue but then another comes up and she clickes on run I
think it is.
Click to expand...

It's a dangerous situation for your wife, as she cannot make the
determination as to what is safe and what is not safe to click on. It's
one thing when one knows he or she is going to be prompted for approval
based on predetermined and expected actions. It's a whole different
situation to click on something not knowing what is about to happen or
the ramifications of such actions.
Thing is that I am worried that where she automaticaly clicks contine,
run, ETC that some of these web site give popups about needing this or
that that she will just click on OK or whatever and end up DLing a
virus or some unwanted programs.
Click to expand...

Well, someone needs to educate her on what is happening and realize what
it is she is about to point and click on, because if she is pointing and
click on something not knowing what it is, that's pure trouble.
Anyway around this??

I know nothing about Vista other then she runs as administator. I am
just learning XP and that is bad enough!!
Click to expand...

She is not admin on Vista with UAC enabled as the admin user on Vista
with UAC enabled is only a Standard user with Standard user rights. The
admin user needs its rights escalated to admin full-rights when called
for, and the admin user is returned to being a Standard user after the
approval is completed, thus the prompts for approval.

You should think about what's happening on XP if she was using that O/S
as user-admin with full-rights. There is not a prompt anywhere to be
found with serious damage that can be done, if the click was on
something dubious. At least with Vista, the damage would be less as UAC
mitigates damage to the O/S, if it's malware that she is pointing and
clicking on.

Nothing is bullet-proof, but the buck stops with user using the computer.

This link may help in someway to educate her, maybe you too.

http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
 
It's a dangerous situation for your wife, as she cannot make the
determination as to what is safe and what is not safe to click on. It's
one thing when one knows he or she is going to be prompted for approval
based on predetermined and expected actions. It's a whole different
situation to click on something not knowing what is about to happen or
the ramifications of such actions.

Well, someone needs to educate her on what is happening and realize what
it is she is about to point and click on, because if she is pointing and
click on something not knowing what it is, that's pure trouble.

She is not admin on Vista with UAC enabled as the admin user on Vista
with UAC enabled is only a Standard user with Standard user rights. The
admin user needs its rights escalated to admin full-rights when called
for, and the admin user is returned to being a Standard user after the
approval is completed, thus the prompts for approval.

You should think about what's happening on XP if she was using that O/S
as user-admin with full-rights. There is not a prompt anywhere to be
found with serious damage that can be done, if the click was on
something dubious. At least with Vista, the damage would be less as UAC
mitigates damage to the O/S, if it's malware that she is pointing and
clicking on.

Nothing is bullet-proof, but the buck stops with user using the computer.

This link may help in someway to educate her, maybe you too.

http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for reply whatever you mean.

I am trying to get a box made up with Windows 98 on it for her but
until then I guess I have to hope she does the right thing.

She wants a system that she can start up and just run and I guess I
would too but I'll settle for XP which is not near as bad as Vista in
my opinion. I just have a feeling that down the road I will be taking
it in to repair shop to be straightened out a few time what with her
OK everything and the kids using it also.

Thanks again.
 
(Snipped a bit)
Thanks for reply whatever you mean.

I am trying to get a box made up with Windows 98 on it for her but
until then I guess I have to hope she does the right thing.

She wants a system that she can start up and just run and I guess I
would too but I'll settle for XP which is not near as bad as Vista in
my opinion. I just have a feeling that down the road I will be taking
it in to repair shop to be straightened out a few time what with her
OK everything and the kids using it also.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

98 is worse than ever in terms of security, the reason you don't get
warning pop ups with 98 is because it just accepts being infected :)

Unless you are installing programs or changing settings (When Vista will
ask you for permission) you should not be seeing the UAC pop ups much at
all, if anything keeps popping up permission requests then you need to
find out what it is. If they pop up for no apparent reason it's probably
already infected with something, however you need to be a bit more
specific about what the prompts say.
 
kraut said:
Thanks for reply whatever you mean.

I am trying to get a box made up with Windows 98 on it for her but
until then I guess I have to hope she does the right thing.
Click to expand...

Windows 98 a root based admin O/S that's wide-open to attack no security
none whatsoever is the right thing?
She wants a system that she can start up and just run and I guess I
would too but I'll settle for XP which is not near as bad as Vista in
my opinion.
Click to expand...

Oh, XP is worst than Vista security wise, because you're root based
admin on XP as you are with Windows 98 with the machine being wide open
to attack.
I just have a feeling that down the road I will be taking
it in to repair shop to be straightened out a few time what with her
OK everything and the kids using it also.
Click to expand...

The only thing going for Win 98 is that it's so outdated that no one is
attacking it anymore.
 
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