Warning: Why you should not use a ‘tweaking UAC’ software utility
Silent Mode tweak….
Simple. Number one the software utility is not a Microsoft Windows product which is what these “hacker” utilities will be making changes to – YOUR Windows Operating System. Just because they can create software (anyone can) does not mean it is safe and secure and will not corrupt Windows in some manner (and How to undo changes to the Registry ?)
The bottom line is some programmer runs out and buys the Vista manual from Microsoft and finds some hidden setting or creates one (just like with XP for years) and runs out and opens their “donateware” on some free blog which is illegal or even at Yahoo Groups or Microsoft News Rooms which is also illegal – see the Federal Trade Commission, these areas are not legally commercial – to get hopefully rich at any expense of the Users with the all too familiar “As IS”…. (happens everyday of the week in the ‘XP Years’ and is migrating to Vista, but seems the majority of these type products do a fair and safe operation, to be fair – but this type utility is circumventing Vista security which you do not want to do and is why anti-malware products like antivirus and antispyware have been manufactured to prevent malicious malware applications from doing that)…..
Consider the following rather then these type hacker “tweaks” ….
You may want to consider this article information (below) before
‘hacking’ the Windows system …. a Windows Vista empowered computer
is too pretty to “deface”:
Techworld.com – Vista’s UAC spots rootkits, tests find
http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsid=101583
Do you know what a rootkit is ? (Certainly one of the most dangerous
malware threats aside from a ‘blended threat’ attack). Do you know
what notifications you are turning off ? Are they malware alerts you
should attend for a stable and secure system ?
An easy way to wade through this is simply if you have ever had a
personal firewall installed that is quality and a tad “aggressive” and
you get the several alerts. You go through them one by one and off to
the search engine to see if the process is part of Windows or trusted
software to give permission to.
What you may turn off with some hacker tweak is an actual alert to
malware much as the same as turning off firewall protection to a port
malware is communicating through – or allowing malware by clicking
“OK” to allow it internet access and defeating the purpose of the
security software (antivirus, antispyware, firewall).
I would investigate with extreme prejudice before proceeding in changes not recommended in today’s crimeware environment – see the following:
MORE:
Is Limited User Account enough? Not really…
http://www.prevx.com/blog/83/Is-Limited-User-Account-enough-Not-really.html
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August 29, 2008 at 12:48 am |
Here was a reply to “Chris” …..
Hi Chris….. this post was actually miscued to the wrong address here not
intended. Too late now. I thought it might be a bit hefty and so on as why I
did not post this here intentionally, but I actually own a vista google and
yahoo group and we don’t pull punches. Many destinations don’t need that
type edge in a general setting perhaps – but we mean nothing un-civil
anywhere. I guess I am saying I play hard ball and perhaps many just want to play softball socially and that’s okay, but the rest of the crimeware world plays hardball for keeps and are bullies invading the playing field – to put it lightly. From a security standpoint – the world Netizens need a swift kick in the butt to wake them up and take action to protect themselves.
You asked… <<<>>
ANSWER…. Did you read what you are replying to ?
Read this:
Vista’s User Account Control (UAC) spots rootkits, tests find
http://bluecollarpc.net/smf/index.php/topic,378.0.html
Did you just read that ? Did you understand what was said – did you read
between the lines ? Do you know what a rootkit is ? Are you aware that it
is a top threat to ALL computer systems ?
If you missed – and exactly speaking of antivirus and antispyware protection as you mention – Trend Micro Internet 2008 security suite is the ONLY one with a perfect score in this season’s lab tests and awards. THIS is what UAC MATCHED in rootkit detection – PERFECT SCORES !
Did you understand that ? Again, Vista UAC User Account Control scored
perfect along side the world wide security industry’s top software in the
worldwide security industry’s top testing and awards – the professional and
now independent lab tests and results.
And you asked does UAC really protect the system….. now I would ask, “What did you miss?” Yes it does !!!
I can assume in your post that we are somewhere in the same ballpark in PC security as far as apparently we both are believers in security shareware softwares are the solution. So for consumers in the know using the products (antivirus and antispyware, firewalls and other utilities and so on) – here is our Windows Operating System for the first time actually exceeding these in rootkit detection. In the very least, Vista UAC acts the same as having installed the best known anti-rootkit software known.
Again, this was just the one part of the whole scenario of the content and a most important part – UAC detects rootkits that most security softwares do not. This is proven scientific fact or “imperical data” , I believe is the
term and the results of all that testing by the experts as all known world
knowledge. Vista User Account Control is a centerpiece of the Vista security innovations for world computers. As they say in the security areas – it is a major “layer” of security – layers meaning traditionally the several softwares and security settings employed as layers of protection against malware and here, actually, not a security software to install for
protection of the system, but is actually part of the system.
The vista-bashing environment will never tell you about these things and
even attempt to say it is all lies even. Why ? Medically perhaps we – are –
talking sociopaths and psychotics perhaps, who knows ? I mean with
“imperical data” like that (and that is some of their hackers lounge
favorite words) – with “imperical data” like that, who among them is able to credibly and sanely deny it ? The “bi-polar” phenomenon comes to mind as not diagnosed yet. Possible ? You bet. One of Webroot’s Spysweeper inventors had just committed suicide tragically this year in Hawaii – and it was after bi-polar was diagnosed there. That’s an opposite – a believer – who suffered these type mental ills.
You wrote <<>>>
No, they did not – and content was posted, meaning the testings, and whereas Trend Micro beat like the top 28 world products that failed. This was the whole one magic moment in computer security with the Trend Micro Internet 2008 suite testing results. For one magic moment as a snapshot in time – here was a typical seasonal testing by the world security industry independent labs. Trend beat all with perfect scores. Trend Micro beat the most aggressive known antivirus – Kaspersky – that put Symantec Norton to shame several times for several years. This includes antispyware (suite is all three) and Trend Micro is like Webroot in that they added rootkit scanners to their antispyware product – free as an additional utility that is paid for as shareware by other products. And my comments are not to “push” Trend Micro. My point is that for this one snapshot in time we as consumers have a reality in front of us. The reality that the world is full of crimeware (malware – virus, worm, trojan, spyware, rootkit, all) and the reality that one defense product faced them all and passed as 100 percent protection. That is what I am pushing – that here is reality beyond all words as actual fact that there is a product that protected against everything known to everyone in the world. THAT is what Vista User Account
Control (UAC) equaled – 100 PERCENT. THAT is what is incredible about Vista UAC among all its other features. So in the very least to the worst skeptic the resounding answer is “Yes” UAC protects the system and again in the very least adds that extra layer of protection against rootkits as in the very least for the worst skeptic is worth activating and using like installing a rootkit detector software program. UAC not only works – it has been tested and is the WORLD’S BEST ! And all the rest with the exceptionof Trend Micro DID NOT !
I think the answer to your question is very clear and I will add some may
say “Well, your whole premise is based on installing a quality rootkit
detector – what do we need UAC for as an extra layer since it is so
annoying”.
And I say to that you did not listen to the experts ….. did you not read
this – “The results for Vista products were harder to access because only
six rootkits could run on the OS, but the testers had to turn off UAC to get
even this far. Vista’s UAC itself spotted everything thrown in front of
it…..” ? ? ?
Are you NOT seeing what was just said ? It is not just UAC that is being
praised here as defense against rootkits – the experts of the world are
talking about Vista itself. Again they said of all known threats ….. they
could only get 6 (of all known rootkits and simulations) to even install on
Vista – AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET A ROOTKIT ON THE VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM WAS TO TURN OFF USER ACCOUNT CONTROL (UAC)…..
Guy, I appreciate everything you said and my reply is that your question
should be reworded to “Does Vista protect us” which you do not need to do because that was just answered. In other words ROOTKITS ARE NOT ABLE TO RUN ON VISTA….. again rootkits are not able to run on Vista. WHAT did you miss – do you see the point ?
honestly
gerald philly pa usa
I love my Vista
Webmaster http://www.BlueCollarPC.Net
PS…. NOW DO YOU GET WHY I POSTED AT MY SITES TO NEVER – NEVER – NEVER INSTALL ANY TWEAKWARE TO TURN OFF VISTA UAC ? ? ? IF YOU DO YOU JUST OPENED THE DOOR TO THE CYBER CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD …… ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE IN SECURITY ? ? ? THEN CONSIDER THIS YOUR FIRST LESSON IN VISTA SECURITY and
you’re welcome …. it was free.
All the best and let’s work together to KEEP the public educated about safe, stable, and SECURE Vista empowered computers worldwide. The community thanks you.