Tuesday, May 27th 2008
Windows Vista UAC 'Nails' Rootkits
Most would agree that Windows Vista's most obvious security feature, UAC, which asks a user for confirmation every time the computer decides to perform an administrative task, can become quite annoying. However, past whatever annoyance a user might perceive, it does have some very useful features. When a security firm pitted seven anti-virus suites against roughly 30 rootkit infections. Unfortunately, none of the programs found all of the rootkits. However, when tested on a Vista platform, Windows Vista's UAC actually prevented the rootkits from getting terribly mangled into the system, which made removal and detection a little easier. If nothing else, UAC kept the system more stable while the rootkit did its thing, and prevented a lot of damage from happening. In fact, when the security firm pitted the rootkit against Windows Vista UAC by itself, all of the rootkits were stopped right in their tracks.
Source:
Neowin.net
40 Comments on Windows Vista UAC 'Nails' Rootkits
Im sure its super great at security but thanks to its mega annoyance ill just use Kaspersky n my router for security.
You only have to perform one extra mouse click to allow a program to run, and then only on programs that could be (potentially) problematic.
What's annoying, is when the UAC popup takes AGES to pop up. Some sort of freeze or bottleneck, some times it takes ages compared to what it'd take just starting the app.
it's comparable to Ubuntu's way of asking root password whenever you perform administratifs or potentially harmfull actions.
in the end, the regular joe (i'm one of them) ends up desactivating UAC and/or log himself as root and kiss the annoyances goodbye
Vista goes like this:
Install
Turn off disney style start menu (same with XP)
Turn off UAC
Turn off the security centre telling me I'm not secure...
finally start to use it.
You know its true.
JAmes.
The internet is not safe, and I prefer to have my main PC as secure as possible.
If Vista is truly safer to use, I might have to consider upgrading my main PC...
90% of the applications on my computer do not popup a UAC dialog box for verification.
It is only programs that do something at a lower (or questionable) level such as ATITool, CCleaner, CoreTemp, etc.
Of course, if 90% of what you do involves programs like these, then yes, I can see it getting a bit tedious.
After reading this post, I thought I would try UAC again to see how often it pops up.
Not very often actually.
I think that it would be prudent to leave it on unless you are using programs repeatedly that cause a popup. If I was going to run some benches I would turn it off for the duration of my testing and then turn it back on when just doing regular work.
Just my 2 cents. Whatever works for you is what you should do.
I have no doubt that UAC promotes more trouble then it resolves.
blah, it drove me crazy when i was using vista.........i dont need asked every 20sec if im sure i want to do something.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDiaQrZviyc
saddly this mac vs pc video is more true then any of the rest.........
I wonder if that's because it's an extravagant, over-bloated, selfish rootkit itself, and doesn't play nicely with others :wtf:
I hate UAC, but I recently insalled Ubuntu on my laptop and to be fair, tha is probably even worse from an "annoyance" point of view (i.e. you need to enter a password.. not just click "ok".)
However, I actually have confidence that Ubuntu is secure.. I don't really feel that UAC makes Visa any more secure.... it just annoys me when I'm trying to delete something and I have to click an exra time.
Allow / Deny ? ' You frickn just asked me!