Windows Vista Beta | WinVistaBeta.com - Message | Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver

October 07, 2008  
Subject: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/11/2008 8:10:00 AM
From: =?Utf-8?B?U1BFbnRodXNpYXN0?= [Email Address Protection]

Please take a look at this:
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2008/07/11/3541592.htm

Numerous articles like this have appeared on the Web about businesses and
government organizations not wanting to deploy Vista in their environments.
The one above is about the FAA not wanting to do so, and I read one article
recently about Intel not wanting to deploy Vista either.

It has become common knowledge that security features like UAC and Windows
Defender in Vista have put a lot of thieves out of business. Obviously these
people have a lot of influence, if they can convince the FAA, Intel, etc.
that Vista is bad for their employees.

And now the consensus that they want to reach that they'll keep XP and keep
ripping people off until Windows 7 is released.

So, here's my question: Is Microsoft being pressured to retract features
like UAC and Windows Defender from Windows 7? And will Microsoft cave in?

Thanks.


Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/11/2008 8:44:17 AM
From: "Carey Frisch [MVP]" [Email Address Protection]

You are asking a question relating to a future Windows operating system
that no one in this peer-to-peer newsgroup can answer. Try
back in about a year or so. In the meantime, here is some information
you can read and digress:

Inside Windows Vista User Account Control
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc138019.aspx

Understanding and Configuring User Account Control in Windows Vista
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/00d04415-2b2f-422c-b70e-b18ff918c2811033.mspx

User Account Control
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/aa905113.aspx


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

"SPEnthusiast" <SPEnthusiast@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:0D25230A-2D50-41FC-8FA1-E2421C83CE8D@microsoft.com...
Please take a look at this:
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2008/07/11/3541592.htm

Numerous articles like this have appeared on the Web about businesses and
government organizations not wanting to deploy Vista in their environments.
The one above is about the FAA not wanting to do so, and I read one article
recently about Intel not wanting to deploy Vista either.

It has become common knowledge that security features like UAC and Windows
Defender in Vista have put a lot of thieves out of business. Obviously these
people have a lot of influence, if they can convince the FAA, Intel, etc.
that Vista is bad for their employees.

And now the consensus that they want to reach that they'll keep XP and keep
ripping people off until Windows 7 is released.

So, here's my question: Is Microsoft being pressured to retract features
like UAC and Windows Defender from Windows 7? And will Microsoft cave in?

Thanks.


Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/11/2008 9:04:39 AM
From: Nonny [Email Address Protection]

On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:10:00 -0700, SPEnthusiast
<SPEnthusiast@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>So, here's my question: Is Microsoft being pressured to retract features
>like UAC and Windows Defender from Windows 7? And will Microsoft cave in?

Your guess is as good as anyone's here. We're all just commun Vista
users and don't work for MS.

Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/11/2008 9:56:31 AM
From: "Pete Delgado" [Email Address Protection]


"SPEnthusiast" <SPEnthusiast@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0D25230A-2D50-41FC-8FA1-E2421C83CE8D@microsoft.com...
> Please take a look at this:
> http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2008/07/11/3541592.htm
>
> Numerous articles like this have appeared on the Web about businesses and
> government organizations not wanting to deploy Vista in their
> environments.
> The one above is about the FAA not wanting to do so, and I read one
> article
> recently about Intel not wanting to deploy Vista either.

The reasons many govenrment institutions and businesses don't want to
upgrade are many and they don't all center around UAC.

For some, hardware budgets and training come into play. For others, legacy
applications that are critical to the business are the concern. For some,
waiting for Windows Server 2008 and all the related technologies so that all
the interrelated technologies can be implemented and configured is the
reason. Finally, for some the sage advice "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"
is at play.

To state that UAC is the reason many have not upgraded is an
oversimplification and completely ignores the history of such major
upgrades.

-Pete



Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/11/2008 11:41:56 AM
From: John Amendall [Email Address Protection]

On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:31:32 -0500, Fmjc001 <guest@unknown-email.com>
wrote:

>I hope they keep the UAC. It means you can feel safe on your computer.

I turned it completely off. I feel safe AND I don't get all those
damned popup screens every time I try to do something more complicated
than surf the web or do email.

Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/11/2008 3:30:32 PM
From: Charlie Tame [Email Address Protection]

SPEnthusiast wrote:
> I don't think a company like Intel is restrained by any kind of budget that
> would not allow an OS upgrade across the enterprise.
>
> These "legacy applications that are crtical to the business" that you've
> mentioned are engineered to spy on people and rob them, which is why these
> businesses and government organizations can't deploy Vista. UAC would break
> those apps.
>
> I'm using Vista with Windows Server 2003 as my domain controller, and
> everything works fine. I'll soon deploy Windows Server 2008, but it's no
> excuse to not deploy Vista.
>
> Like I said, Vista exposes a lot of thieves.
>


How the hell does UAC expose thieves?

Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/11/2008 3:35:09 PM
From: Charlie Tame [Email Address Protection]

Fmjc001 wrote:
> I hope they keep the UAC. It means you can feel safe on your computer.
>
>


But you're not safe, you are no safer than you were before, there is
nothing new about UAC, it just used to be called common sense.

If you answer yes to everything UAC has done nothing, you are infected.
Very similar safeguards were possible with XP, almost nobody used them.

So all it has done is make you "Feel" safe, and if that is what it takes
you make you feel safe you likely never will be.

Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/11/2008 5:40:10 PM
From: "Beoweolf" [Email Address Protection]

It's a common misunderstanding - what you don't see can't hurt you. Similar
to an outdated image of an Ostrich with his head in the sand, thinking if he
can't see you - you can see him.

Vista UAC, security exposes many of the "hidden" (surreptitious) uses/users
of administrator level rights and/or attempts to access network resources.
As mention, if you know what you are doing, if you take the time to
study/research/learn your system and most importantly - if you care...you
can be just as "safe" using XP. What Vista does is makes secure, the default
option. This is in line with any Security professional training, not to
mention common sense.

The average user, those that have enjoyed the benefits of blissful
ignorance, have also enjoyed the ability to blame the Evil Empire for
leaving so many holes in Microsoft Clients and servers. Generally speaking,
the absence if page upon page of complaints about Microsoft security have
come at the expense of numbers of users, companies and Govt's now
complaining that Vista is somehow flawed as a result of it being built to
insist on security, from installation thru production use.

Thou dost protest too much? There obviously is a learning curve, for
hardware vendors - who chose to ignore years of warning, reams of documents
explaining how this OS would not allow "shortcuts" which expose the Kernel
to compromises. Software vendors and users were and are painfully made aware
of the same issue Business as usual - Ain't no more.

Take the time (better use, just use pre-configured policy and templates) to
configure your system (do yourself a favor - give those 8, 16 and off brand
32 bit cards a fitting funeral, they earned it); yes, become the informed
user who has complained about security for so long - now that it is here ...
whining about "It's too good" just doesn't make sense.


"Charlie Tame" <charlie@tames.net> wrote in message
news:err97W64IHA.1420@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> SPEnthusiast wrote:
>> I don't think a company like Intel is restrained by any kind of budget
>> that would not allow an OS upgrade across the enterprise.
>>
>> These "legacy applications that are crtical to the business" that you've
>> mentioned are engineered to spy on people and rob them, which is why
>> these businesses and government organizations can't deploy Vista. UAC
>> would break those apps.
>>
>> I'm using Vista with Windows Server 2003 as my domain controller, and
>> everything works fine. I'll soon deploy Windows Server 2008, but it's no
>> excuse to not deploy Vista.
>>
>> Like I said, Vista exposes a lot of thieves.
>>
>
>
> How the hell does UAC expose thieves?


Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/12/2008 5:15:04 AM
From: f/fgeorge [Email Address Protection]

On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:35:09 -0500, Charlie Tame <charlie@tames.net>
wrote:

>Fmjc001 wrote:
>> I hope they keep the UAC. It means you can feel safe on your computer.
>>
>>
>
>
>But you're not safe, you are no safer than you were before, there is
>nothing new about UAC, it just used to be called common sense.
>
>If you answer yes to everything UAC has done nothing, you are infected.
>Very similar safeguards were possible with XP, almost nobody used them.
>
>So all it has done is make you "Feel" safe, and if that is what it takes
>you make you feel safe you likely never will be.

It has also started to create an awareness by the causual user to some
of the things that spyware, etc can do to our machines that in the
past we have had no clue about. NO it is NOT going to stop an
infection! BUT hopefully it is a first step in getting users to stop
being Admins on their pc's and to just be Users like on the Mac's.
Sure Mac's have viruses etc, but they are not a problem because they
can't self install because the indivual is logged on as a User not an
Admin by default. Sure the User can say yes and the viruses will
install, but for some reason people don't do that. Education by MS
would solve alot of the problems they are seeing!

Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/12/2008 5:32:52 AM
From: Fmjc001 [Email Address Protection]


Charlie Tame;773818 Wrote:
> Fmjc001 wrote:> > >
> > > I hope they keep the UAC. It means you can feel safe on your
> > computer.
> > >
> > > > >
>
>
> But you're not safe, you are no safer than you were before, there is
> nothing new about UAC, it just used to be called common sense.
>
> If you answer yes to everything UAC has done nothing, you are
> infected.
> Very similar safeguards were possible with XP, almost nobody used
> them.
>
> So all it has done is make you "Feel" safe, and if that is what it
> takes
> you make you feel safe you likely never will be.

I have it prompting for my password, so even if someone killed me
before i locked my computer they still cant do anything without the
password. Full drive encryption (256-AES), 3 firewalls. Only one on but
have 2 backups just in case. Have 2 AV one on realtime other is for
backup. Network Intrusion Detection, fingerprint USB and Local Security
Policy is set to disable any sort of security flaw that i can see. GP
disabling USB drives and CD drives for standard users and to top it all
off if you click one of my Icons that i made it will do an emergency
force shutdown. For eg, Registry or Local Security Policy have been
renamed and if you click on something saying "Regedit" You get a
"shutdown /s /f /t 1" command. Then you need my encryption codes. Oh i
have memory firewalls and Auto backup sync that updates every 5 hours.

Thats why i feel safe :). But the thing is, I dont have any sensitive
data on my computer lol. But, i feel like i could keep CIA secrets for
them :)


--
Fmjc001

::*Regards,*::
::*Fmjc001 *::

Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/12/2008 10:50:47 AM
From: "Tom Allen" [Email Address Protection]


"Fmjc001" <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
news:e3026f3496ec7c2c453480c47456a588@nntp-gateway.com...
>
>
> . . . 3 firewalls. Only one on but
> have 2 backups just in case. Have 2 AV one on realtime other is for
> backup. >
> . . .
> --
> Fmjc001

I'm puzzled by your term 'backup' here. Are they just alternatives or is
it something more subtle ?
When would you go to the backup of each ?
I also tend toward belt plus braces myself.

Regards
Tom



Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/13/2008 2:14:15 AM
From: "SG" [Email Address Protection]

"John Amendall" <jamend@spaceout.com> wrote in message
news:v9af74pk7cj62of9f782ljn0hdp4uv0goo@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:31:32 -0500, Fmjc001 <guest@unknown-email.com>
> wrote:
>
>>I hope they keep the UAC. It means you can feel safe on your computer.
>
> I turned it completely off. I feel safe AND I don't get all those
> damned popup screens every time I try to do something more complicated
> than surf the web or do email.


Safe? well I hope something like this never happens to you.
Quote from Ronnie Vernon MS-MVP

It it only annoying until you run into something unexpected. Right after
Vista was first released, we went through all of the debates about users
getting to the point where clicking on the prompt became an 'automatic'
response.

One user told us about a utility that he downloaded and installed and he got
the expected 'security warning' about the file not having a digital
signature. He clicked to run the file anyway and the utility installed. He
then got a message to 'click here' to configure your personal settings. He
then received this prompt.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa86/rvmv/UACPrompt2.jpg

Without UAC, he never would have been aware of the second file being
installed, since he had already permitted the program to run. Needless to
say, he decided that he would leave UAC on.
End Quote

--
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


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Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/13/2008 2:47:17 AM
From: Nonny [Email Address Protection]

On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:14:15 -0400, "SG" <sorry@nomail.com> wrote:

>> I turned it completely off. I feel safe AND I don't get all those
>> damned popup screens every time I try to do something more complicated
>> than surf the web or do email.
>
>
>Safe? well I hope something like this never happens to you.
>Quote from Ronnie Vernon MS-MVP

[snip]

I have been online since late '90 and have yet to have my system
infested with either a virus or even the simplest form of malware. So
I install Vista two months ago and suddenly I need UAC to keep me
safe?

Bull.

That said... I have so many freakin' backups of my system it would
make your head explode trying to figure out how I keep track of all of
them.

I'm safe.

Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/13/2008 3:07:52 AM
From: "Daniel Petri [Email Address Protection]" <daniel@petri.co.il.removethis>

If I may add my $0.02 here, UAC is good for most "lame" or
"security-insensitive" users. You could argue till the sun sets down on the
question is the OS is "supposed" to prevent idiots from acting as such, with
many to argue that if someone wants to act as an idiot, they should be
allowed to do so.

The fact that companies don't adopt Vista easily has nothing to do with UAC
or with a bunch of influential "theives" as SPEnthusiast put it. There are
many more reasons for not adopting Vista, and this is not the right thread
for it.

In my opinion, in next OS versions, UAC should be left on just like it is in
Vista. Meaning it could be on by default, and if needed, it could be EASILY
disabled while giving all the right warnings and informing the users of the
result of their actions. I would even go further and create a "stealth" UAC
mode, or perhaps some sort of "auditing" UAC mode by allowing the user to
disable it, but still keep track of the activity that would have required
the user's input. This way the user could be able to track what processes or
actions required UAC interaction, and thus could be persuaded into
re-enabling it.

I know I would use such an option if it was available, and I don't see how
it could place an extra performance penalty on the computer, not more that
was required to run UAC in the full mode.

--
Sincerely,

Daniel Petri
MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer
www.petri.co.il

"Nonny" <nonnymoose@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:9jjj74pt8fiv076r0tadsaithhbv0er472@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:14:15 -0400, "SG" <sorry@nomail.com> wrote:
>
>>> I turned it completely off. I feel safe AND I don't get all those
>>> damned popup screens every time I try to do something more complicated
>>> than surf the web or do email.
>>
>>
>>Safe? well I hope something like this never happens to you.
>>Quote from Ronnie Vernon MS-MVP
>
> [snip]
>
> I have been online since late '90 and have yet to have my system
> infested with either a virus or even the simplest form of malware. So
> I install Vista two months ago and suddenly I need UAC to keep me
> safe?
>
> Bull.
>
> That said... I have so many freakin' backups of my system it would
> make your head explode trying to figure out how I keep track of all of
> them.
>
> I'm safe.


Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/13/2008 4:44:44 AM
From: "Michael D. Ober" [Email Address Protection]

"Daniel Petri <MVP>" <daniel@petri.co.il.removethis> wrote in message
news:%23abvRBN5IHA.4988@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> If I may add my $0.02 here, UAC is good for most "lame" or
> "security-insensitive" users. You could argue till the sun sets down on
> the question is the OS is "supposed" to prevent idiots from acting as
> such, with many to argue that if someone wants to act as an idiot, they
> should be allowed to do so.
>
> The fact that companies don't adopt Vista easily has nothing to do with
> UAC or with a bunch of influential "theives" as SPEnthusiast put it. There
> are many more reasons for not adopting Vista, and this is not the right
> thread for it.
>
> In my opinion, in next OS versions, UAC should be left on just like it is
> in Vista. Meaning it could be on by default, and if needed, it could be
> EASILY disabled while giving all the right warnings and informing the
> users of the result of their actions. I would even go further and create a
> "stealth" UAC mode, or perhaps some sort of "auditing" UAC mode by
> allowing the user to disable it, but still keep track of the activity that
> would have required the user's input. This way the user could be able to
> track what processes or actions required UAC interaction, and thus could
> be persuaded into re-enabling it.
>
> I know I would use such an option if it was available, and I don't see how
> it could place an extra performance penalty on the computer, not more that
> was required to run UAC in the full mode.
>
> --
> Sincerely,
>
> Daniel Petri
> MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer
> www.petri.co.il
>
> "Nonny" <nonnymoose@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:9jjj74pt8fiv076r0tadsaithhbv0er472@4ax.com...
>> On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:14:15 -0400, "SG" <sorry@nomail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>> I turned it completely off. I feel safe AND I don't get all those
>>>> damned popup screens every time I try to do something more complicated
>>>> than surf the web or do email.
>>>
>>>
>>>Safe? well I hope something like this never happens to you.
>>>Quote from Ronnie Vernon MS-MVP
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>> I have been online since late '90 and have yet to have my system
>> infested with either a virus or even the simplest form of malware. So
>> I install Vista two months ago and suddenly I need UAC to keep me
>> safe?
>>
>> Bull.
>>
>> That said... I have so many freakin' backups of my system it would
>> make your head explode trying to figure out how I keep track of all of
>> them.
>>
>> I'm safe.
>
The real problem with the UAC is that it pops up when not needed. This is
the same problem the Recycle bin has had for years. People get used to
clicking the "go ahead" button without realizing the file they are deleting
is too big for the recycle bin and won't be recoverable. The UAC pops up
when you simply need to review your configuration - heck - it even pops up
when you are attempting to start perfmon, which doesn't make changes to the
system.

MS - fix the overzealousness of the UAC, but don't get rid of it.

Mike.



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Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/13/2008 5:58:41 AM
From: "Little Charlie" [Email Address Protection]

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Cg==


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Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/13/2008 8:28:06 AM
From: "Ken Blake, MVP" [Email Address Protection]

On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:47:17 -0500, Nonny <nonnymoose@yahoo.com>
wrote:


> I have been online since late '90 and have yet to have my system
> infested with either a virus or even the simplest form of malware. So
> I install Vista two months ago and suddenly I need UAC to keep me
> safe?
>
> Bull.


The purpose of my reply is not to address the question of whether you
need UAC or not, but rather to address the implication that because
you haven't been infected in 28 years, the protection and care that
you've used over those past 28 years are adequate to protect you
today.

That's simply not true. The threats today are *much* greater than they
were 28 years ago.

Whether you specifically need UAC or not (I'm not a big fan of the way
it works either), you need much more care and stringent protection
that you used to, and to protect yourself adequately in the future,
you will need still more. The world changes, and we need to change
what we do to keep up with it.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

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Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next ver
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/13/2008 8:33:57 AM
From: "Ken Blake, MVP" [Email Address Protection]

On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:44:44 -0600, "Michael D. Ober"
<obermd.@.alum.mit.edu.nospam.> wrote:


> The real problem with the UAC is that it pops up when not needed. This is
> the same problem the Recycle bin has had for years. People get used to
> clicking the "go ahead" button without realizing the file they are deleting
> is too big for the recycle bin and won't be recoverable. The UAC pops up
> when you simply need to review your configuration - heck - it even pops up
> when you are attempting to start perfmon, which doesn't make changes to the
> system.


You took the words out of my mouth. I was just going to write a very
similar message. The way UAC presently works, most people get into the
habit of allowing the program to run. Once they are in that habit, the
risk of allowing any program, even a malicious one, to proceed is
magnified, and UAC loses any protection it's supposed to provide.


> MS - fix the overzealousness of the UAC, but don't get rid of it.


My sentiments exactly.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

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Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/13/2008 11:54:31 PM
From: Charlie Tame [Email Address Protection]

Kerry Brown wrote:
> "Charlie Tame" <charlie@tames.net> wrote in message
> news:OYbbM0F5IHA.1192@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>>
>> So UAC is NOT a security feature, it is simply an advisory feature, as
>> were the IE settings before it. For many it is a false sense of
>> security, because even if the software is malware UAC will still
>> permit it's installation if told to. Many expect it to "Know", just as
>> they expect Norton (or whatever) to "Know".
>>
>
> I agree UAC by itself is not a security feature. Some of the things that
> rely on UAC like IE protected mode, locked down ACLs. etc., are.
>


Indeed, it is a matter of the "User" realizing what is going on, and
many do not. This is no different than any other OS really, but at least
default behavior that "Warns" is better than no warning at all.
Unfortunately it does get frustrating.

Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/14/2008 12:02:13 AM
From: Charlie Tame [Email Address Protection]

Well, nice to know I am protected from my own IT department and other
legitimate sources, so if I have auto updates turned on and thus
"Implicitly" trust Microsoft what is to stop their updates getting, er
"Hacked" as you put it? UAC doesn't even ask about those.

SPEnthusiast wrote:
> I'm sure you know the answer to your question, but I shall explain for the
> benefit of those on these forums that don't know that answer.
>
> UAC protects you from software that you implicitly trust. So, this software
> could be from your IT department, or even from well known vendors. In both
> cases, there are malicious developers, i.e. hackers, that reengineer that
> software in a way so that it can spy on you and rob you.
>
> Does that outline what you do?
>
> "Charlie Tame" wrote:
>
>> My question was how does UAC expose thieves? I see no answer to how it
>> exposes thieves.
>>
>> Numerous people are fooled into downloading and installing malware that
>> masquerades as security software. They "Think" Vista is more secure, but
>> in those circumstances it is not. UAC asks are they sure, of course they
>> are, it is an anti spyware / anti virus program - the website / spam
>> email told them so.
>>
>> So UAC is NOT a security feature, it is simply an advisory feature, as
>> were the IE settings before it. For many it is a false sense of
>> security, because even if the software is malware UAC will still permit
>> it's installation if told to. Many expect it to "Know", just as they
>> expect Norton (or whatever) to "Know".
>>
>> That does not say there is anything wrong with UAC, only that there is a
>> lot wrong with the perception people are given that "Somehow" they are
>> safer.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Beoweolf wrote:
>>> It's a common misunderstanding - what you don't see can't hurt you.
>>> Similar to an outdated image of an Ostrich with his head in the sand,
>>> thinking if he can't see you - you can see him.
>>>
>>> Vista UAC, security exposes many of the "hidden" (surreptitious)
>>> uses/users of administrator level rights and/or attempts to access
>>> network resources. As mention, if you know what you are doing, if you
>>> take the time to study/research/learn your system and most importantly -
>>> if you care...you can be just as "safe" using XP. What Vista does is
>>> makes secure, the default option. This is in line with any Security
>>> professional training, not to mention common sense.
>>>
>>> The average user, those that have enjoyed the benefits of blissful
>>> ignorance, have also enjoyed the ability to blame the Evil Empire for
>>> leaving so many holes in Microsoft Clients and servers. Generally
>>> speaking, the absence if page upon page of complaints about Microsoft
>>> security have come at the expense of numbers of users, companies and
>>> Govt's now complaining that Vista is somehow flawed as a result of it
>>> being built to insist on security, from installation thru production use.
>>>
>>> Thou dost protest too much? There obviously is a learning curve, for
>>> hardware vendors - who chose to ignore years of warning, reams of
>>> documents explaining how this OS would not allow "shortcuts" which
>>> expose the Kernel to compromises. Software vendors and users were and
>>> are painfully made aware of the same issue Business as usual - Ain't no
>>> more.
>>>
>>> Take the time (better use, just use pre-configured policy and templates)
>>> to configure your system (do yourself a favor - give those 8, 16 and off
>>> brand 32 bit cards a fitting funeral, they earned it); yes, become the
>>> informed user who has complained about security for so long - now that
>>> it is here ... whining about "It's too good" just doesn't make sense.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Charlie Tame" <charlie@tames.net> wrote in message
>>> news:err97W64IHA.1420@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>> SPEnthusiast wrote:
>>>>> I don't think a company like Intel is restrained by any kind of
>>>>> budget that would not allow an OS upgrade across the enterprise.
>>>>>
>>>>> These "legacy applications that are crtical to the business" that
>>>>> you've mentioned are engineered to spy on people and rob them, which
>>>>> is why these businesses and government organizations can't deploy
>>>>> Vista. UAC would break those apps.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm using Vista with Windows Server 2003 as my domain controller, and
>>>>> everything works fine. I'll soon deploy Windows Server 2008, but it's
>>>>> no excuse to not deploy Vista.
>>>>>
>>>>> Like I said, Vista exposes a lot of thieves.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> How the hell does UAC expose thieves?

Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/14/2008 7:33:32 AM
From: "Kerry Brown" [Email Address Protection]

"Charlie Tame" <charlie@tames.net> wrote in message
news:%233m%2345X5IHA.5052@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Kerry Brown wrote:
>> "Charlie Tame" <charlie@tames.net> wrote in message
>> news:OYbbM0F5IHA.1192@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>
>>> So UAC is NOT a security feature, it is simply an advisory feature, as
>>> were the IE settings before it. For many it is a false sense of
>>> security, because even if the software is malware UAC will still permit
>>> it's installation if told to. Many expect it to "Know", just as they
>>> expect Norton (or whatever) to "Know".
>>>
>>
>> I agree UAC by itself is not a security feature. Some of the things that
>> rely on UAC like IE protected mode, locked down ACLs. etc., are.
>>
>
>
> Indeed, it is a matter of the "User" realizing what is going on, and many
> do not. This is no different than any other OS really, but at least
> default behavior that "Warns" is better than no warning at all.
> Unfortunately it does get frustrating.

I find UAC very similar to sudo, especially as implemented in Ubuntu. It
let's you know when you're doing something that may affect the system. The
prompt itself is not really a security barrier. With an up to date Vista
install I don't see UAC prompts any more than I get prompted for a password
with Ubuntu while doing day to day tasks. If anything it's less intrusive if
you run Vista with an administrator account with UAC on.

I realise they are very different underneath. I'm saying from the user's
perspective they seem similar.

--
Kerry Brown
MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience: Systems Administration



Back
Subject: Re: Is MS being pressured to retract the UAC feature from the next
Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
Date: 7/14/2008 8:41:41 PM
From: Charlie Tame [Email Address Protection]

Kerry Brown wrote:
> "Charlie Tame" <charlie@tames.net> wrote in message
> news:%233m%2345X5IHA.5052@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Kerry Brown wrote:
>>> "Charlie Tame" <charlie@tames.net> wrote in message
>>> news:OYbbM0F5IHA.1192@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>>>
>>>> So UAC is NOT a security feature, it is simply an advisory feature,
>>>> as were the IE settings before it. For many it is a false sense of
>>>> security, because even if the software is malware UAC will still
>>>> permit it's installation if told to. Many expect it to "Know", just
>>>> as they expect Norton (or whatever) to "Know".
>>>>
>>>
>>> I agree UAC by itself is not a security feature. Some of the things
>>> that rely on UAC like IE protected mode, locked down ACLs. etc., are.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Indeed, it is a matter of the "User" realizing what is going on, and
>> many do not. This is no different than any other OS really, but at
>> least default behavior that "Warns" is better than no warning at all.
>> Unfortunately it does get frustrating.
>
> I find UAC very similar to sudo, especially as implemented in Ubuntu. It
> let's you know when you're doing something that may affect the system.
> The prompt itself is not really a security barrier. With an up to date
> Vista install I don't see UAC prompts any more than I get prompted for a
> password with Ubuntu while doing day to day tasks. If anything it's less
> intrusive if you run Vista with an administrator account with UAC on.
>
> I realise they are very different underneath. I'm saying from the user's
> perspective they seem similar.
>


Yes, Ubuntu does not want you to sign in as root at all, in fact you can
but I suspect that so doing can break things, it seems to be assumed you
will always use Sudo. You need to type a password (Usually) so I think
it is more secure in a way, if someone else has taken your seat they
cannot just click okay and install something, but then it does not nag
you twice for effectively the same thing.


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