Once you get past all the eye candy of Vista, will start to get annoyed by all the warning messages. When you start installing your programs and customizing your settings, Vista’s UAC will kick in and warn you before you install or change any settings.
UAC, User Account Control, is a security measure to protect your settings from changing by malware or unauthorized users. Unauthorized users can be guests, kids, or even protection against you.
If you are an administrator on your Vista computer, then you can disable the the warnings and prompts. (Prompts are request for the admin ID and password, do not give this to normal users or they will have free reign). Once again, I don’t recommend disabling UAC in normal user accounts, only yours.
Here is how to turn off UAC
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click User Accounts.
3. In the User Accounts window, click User Accounts.
4. In the User Accounts tasks window, click Turn User Account Control on or off.
5. If UAC is currently configured in Admin Approval Mode, the User Account Control message appears. Click Continue.
6. Clear the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer check box, and then click OK.
7. Click Restart Now to apply the change right away, or click Restart Later and close the User Accounts tasks window.
You can disable the Admin Approval Mode completely. You must be logged in as the local administrator.
Important: This procedure is not supported on Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, or Windows Vista Home Premium.
1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Run, type secpol.msc in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue..
3. From the Local Security Settings console tree, double-click Local Policies, and then double-click Security Options.
4. Scroll down and double-click User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode.
5. Select the Disabled option, and then click OK.
6. Close the Local Security Settings window.
You can always go back and change any of the settings. The UAC is a good idea and is useful, so think first before disabling the UAC, especially for other users on your computer.
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March 20th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Disabling UAC also disables a big chunk of Vista’s security. By doing so, you give malicious programs the ability to run without you even knowing.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
@Mike,You are correct; disabling the UAC opens the possibility of security risks. I should have made my post a little more clear. I will restate that I do not recommend that the average user disable the UAC. Furthermore, Microsoft recommends that the UAC not be disabled.
Every user should make a determination whether they need to turn the UAC off or not, taking their situation, level of comfort, and other security measures in place.
I have decided to disable the UAC on my Vista computer based on the following:
I am the only user
I use the following security programs:
Symantec AntiVirus, full version, v10.1.7.7
Routinely run ad Aware and SpybotUse
cCleaner
Keep Vista and other programs up-to-date
Download only from trusted sites
Install only those programs that are known to be safe
Have firewall on
Have my network secured
Filter email and block attachments from unknown users
I also have my system backed up with Norton Ghost so in the event my system becomes infected beyond repair, I can reimage my system and be back online in about an hour.
Once again, I don’t recommend that the average user disable the UAC.
Thanks Mike for bringing this up so I can clear this matter up.pcguy
June 28th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I always think Vista’s UAC look like a stupid solution come from Microsoft, so thanks for your tip. Cos i know where is the danger place, i’m also using other comfortable security method.