Proof that UAC is useless.....

Someone once said:
"Only two things are certain in life - death and taxes".

There's something that's guaranteed ;

 

And no point in running without a firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware. And no point in some people, like cloud962, running around boasting about doing so as if it were something to be proud off.

Gary

 

Am I running around "Boasting about it"? No. I simply made a statement which for some reason your trying to start an argument with me about. Did I say I was "proud" of not using an anti-virus? No.

So why don't you stop assuming stuff like an ignorant child.

 

Then tell me, what WAS your point in telling all of us that you don't use a firewall, anti-virus or UAC? Which, by the way, I would say is pretty much a textbook definition of ignorance.

Gary

 

My dear. >.< No need to be so extreme on advising or arguing with someone.
Each human have his/her freedom to do something they like.
They have their own responsible for everything they do.
All you can do is just give some advices and don't push or force the person.

Ignorance = Being Ignored (my own definition LOL)
The point he was telling us about about he didn't use any security tools was, he don't have any problem without security tools but I am sure if I install an AV into his System, I will detect some viruses though. >.<

 

Ah, fun fun. Maybe you are lucky.

Maybe you are not.

Who knows? Which is why posts like these are irrelevant.

Q happens after P, therefore P caused Q ???????????

You know, I shop at BestBuy and I don't get viruses either. Shopping at BestBuy must protect my computer!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well first off if you had actually read through my post you would have noticed why I said it.
And the "textbook definition" of ignorance is not installing an anti virus? Not sure thats what my dictionary says

 

After reading that all I can say is "ummmm...what?"

Your post is riddled with fallacies and false assumptions.

(P.S. your attempt at sarcasm was terrible)

 

Of course it's riddled with fallacies. When you show someone what a duck is, you expect to hear a quack......

Some people can talk the talk, but can they walk the walk?

 

I smell flame war.
Please don't fight too much>.<!
A system without protection of security tools and surfing around the internet might infected by viruses/spywares. However, some viruses/spywares are not used to slowdown your system. So, you don't notice there is virus/spyware in your System.

 

If you don't see the ignorance of having no firewall, Anti-virus or UAC running, we have nothing further to talk about. Let me guess, your windows user account also has admin rights too, right?

Gary

 

Me thinks we are beating our heads against the proverbial brick wall. If he doesn't see the ignorance in what he is doing, there is no way he will ever understand that logic.

Gary

 

See? more assumptions.

You assume that I think anti-viruses are usless.
You assume that I'm not using an anti-virus because I have an haughty attitude and believe that my computer is immune to viruses.
You don't know the first thing about me yet you continue to assume stuff because of your own hardheadedness.
(honestly every single post you have made in this discussion consists solely of blatantly assuming stuff about me)

Your points are pathetic and poorly thought out.

 

I disagree.

And by the way - I do agree with DarkSilver - this smells of "fighting"...

 

Or a true debate!!!

I miss the good ol debate forums in school.

every week, a specific view was posted, and people would volunteer to take the affirmative and against.....

I was one of the few conservatives, so talk about a hostile crowd While our school is conservative, debate forums like such tend to be stacked to the brim with liberals. Helps you get an edge does it?

The funny thing is, I don't run a real-time antivirus as well, but I do keep a scanner handy. But I've been running my computer like this for years, even under XP (that was risky!). For someone who's never run their computer in that configuration I always highly recommended against my style. Simply because, like someone without a belay, one slip and it is a long way down.

 

"...because I have an haughty attitude..."

If not for anything else, you need to be commended for being frank, upfront and self-aware for saying that!

 

Ok I won't assume anything and just plain ask.

What was the point of your initial post in this thread? And by "point", I mean what did it bring to the discussion, not "I was merely stating my own experience", because we all know that each person's mileage may vary so it contributes little to the discussion's overall point.

 

Can someone explain to me what UAC is? I have no idea what the OP is talking about and why should the UAC be turned off?

 

UAC stands for "User Account Control" and it's that little poppup Windows Vista and Windows 7 generate to prompt you to confirm your actions when said actions(or applications) involve a change in certain files or registrie entries.

Reasons for turning it off: It's annoying since for some people, it pops up quite often and requires you to confirm actions you already wanted to do.

Reasons for leaving it on: it serves as a protection(haven't fully read how though) and it also forces you as a user to pay attention to what's happening in your computer.

 

Actually, it is as simple as you said. But they fight like non-stop. LOL.
UAC = Protection that can be turn on/off by yourself and offered by MS itself.
Generally, if you want to have better protection and you're not familiar with Computer stuffs. Turn it on will be better.
However, for some users(included me) which think himself/herself are good and clever(proud?? LOL. NO) will turn UAC off to avoid nagging messages.
Yet, some users I mentioned(included me) will have good AV and some security tools(such as SAS, MBAM and SB) as well as Windows Firewall and Defender to increase protection. However, some users seems to be more advance, they turn-off UAC and didn't use any security tools and without Firewall too. So, the debate war arise. Honestly, with nothing protecting the System, it is very dangerous.

 

UAC also allows the user to conveniently run as a standard user, yet selectively promote tasks to admin rights.

It brings Windows more into line with other multi user systems.

 

You are absolutely right. I am hardheaded. This forum prides itself in providing information to thousands of users every day many of whom are novices. So I am VERY hardheaded when I see someone make the claim that they use no firewall, anti-virus or UAC, without so much as one scintilla of rationale as to WHY they would do so or warning of the consequences. Just "I do it, there is no problem". Such naked assertions do a major disservice to this community, plain and simple. If you have some rationale state it.

What is pathetic about this discussion is that some novice would have come across your statement and taken it at face value if left unchallenged and you don't seem to recognize, or care about, the damage that might have done. I could not give a rat's behind what you do to your computer. I do care what INFORMATION is presented here for others to use.

Forever_Melody has asked in this thread and I will repeat the question. What WAS your point in posting the message that you run without any of the protections? Other folks who state this and have a reason for running that way are careful to elaborate on why and how. A case in point is surfasb, who is running no antivirus but in telling us that is clear to point out the dangers of doing so and the recommendation that no one else should use that as a model. You don't see me taking surfasb to task do you? Did you provide ANY such disclaimer, warning or concern for novice users. Nope. Not one word.

Yes, you are right I am hard headed. And will remain so in the face of such foolishness.

Gary

 

In addition to the other benefits that folks have mentioned there are two others.

1. It implements protections within Internet Explorer as well, disallowing web pages, javascript and other tools access to critical files in your system.

2. It protects the program files directories from direct access by applications. It does this through virtualization of those directories so older apps can still store user data, settings files, INI files etc. but cannot over write the program files. (A favorite trick for worms and viruses to hide themselves.) This has a side benefit of allowing settings, INI files and saved games to be stored for EACH user on a machine that is shared by more than one person.

There is very little reason to turn it off. Especially since Microsoft has provided a way (convoluted I admit but apparently better in Win7) to turn it off for specific applications if you have some old legacy app that clashes with it. That's not to say there are NO cases where it might be turned off completely, but they are rare and should be thoroughly thought out. Not just, "The popups annoy me, I am turning you off. Go way."

Gary

 

Gary don't scold me again. LOL.
I am turning it off ^^! I know I am killing the system myself but don't you think it's fun to do so. LOL.

I know many people are viewing this forum. But don't you think those people around will be stupid enough to just read HIS post? Probably, NO. They would read a few pages or a few post definitely. Even a newbie like my brother will read a few posts/pages before deciding to do something.

 

You are correct, and that is precisely why I posted my initial reply to his post.

Gary

 

At the end of the day I think we agree UAC actually does something useful and therefore is not "useless". You can choose whether or not to put it on/off just as you can choose anything else on your computer really.

 

You're as persistent as a King Cobra.
So, I think there is a conclusion now as mentioned by Forever_Melody.
I do agree with Forever_Melody.

 

Humm, so why is this thread back again? Like the horse & carriage, running an admin account is history.

 

I made a simple conclusion on what we discussed for so long here.
UAC is very important to protect your System but it can be turned on/off by the user.

 

That's more of a "stating the obvious" rather than a conclusion lol

A conclusion would be something you'd derive from the thread like for example, that most users want or don't want it on, or that most users don't feel the need to have it on/off.

But I digress, we've more or less answered the original thread statement anyways.

 

I think we should make a poll here?
For example:
You turn UAC ON or OFF?
What do you think of UAC? Important? Moderate? Crap?

Basically, minority should follow majority. Simple.

 

I think you are continuing to beat a dead horse. Let it go.

Gary

 

I think you both are.

 

I was suggesting it only. LOL.
Honestly, it will be more convenient with a poll.
But none shall discuss about how important and the abilities of UAC on that Poll Thread. Just purely a thread with poll.
I sense the result will be 50/50.

 

I find that UAC is useful to me, because I have only one laptop as my desktop crashed beyond repair and my two young kids use the l/top. Now as we all know kids(on the net) sometimes can be wreckless and like to click and click till (a page loads) or something happens,(so in this respect YES it comes in handy because it has to ask permission to change something simple.
But if I want to change something simple it can be annoying.
so I would have to say that UAC is not useless as it comes in handy for me.
(it lets my kids use my desktop and not waste space by opening new accounts)

because everytime a box pops up on the screen my kids shout" DAAAAAAAAD something come uuuuup"!