Vista UAC and a smarter alternative, Smart UAC
Nikhil Rastogi, Nov 02, 2008 0800 hrs IST
A look into the UAC concept, particularly Smart UAC, whose approach is the same but with a full-blown application, unlike Norton's beta version.
I had begun writing this as a Smart UAC review, but it quickly transformed into looking at UAC concept as a whole rather than just a simple software review.
I've written in the past regarding Vista UAC (User Account Control) and praised third-party developers such as Norton for coming up with a solution to a better UAC, read Watch out Vista here comes Norton's UAC.
Today, we yet again look into the UAC issue but from a different developer whose approach is the same but with a full blown application unlike Norton's beta version that lacked some features.
Truth about Vista UAC
The less said the better of Vista's nagging UAC feature. As a matter of fact Microsoft designed UAC to 'Annoy Users', don't believe me, click on the link to read. David Cross a product unit manager at Microsoft who was part of the team that developed UAC is quoted saying "The reason we put UAC into the platform was to annoy users. I'm serious".
To know the truth behind UAC, read UAC quiet mode from the developer(s) who programmed Tweak UAC. I quote "So what is the point of the 'Windows needs your permission to continue' messages then, if they don't protect you from the malware, you might ask? They are there to protect you from yourself. They are there to alert you that you are about to make some change that may have more or less significant effect on the system."
Why did Microsoft do this?
1.To make the user aware, though I'm not sure nagging the user to death is the solution. In fact it's counter-productive after a point.
2. To force software vendors to change their approach to developing software, this you'll catch if you read Microsoft designed UAC to 'Annoy Users' article.
I must say I do empathize with Microsoft's tough situation where you have a looming deadline to release Vista (which had been delayed many a times) and also try and change the way users think about what they are doing and to make developers rethink the way they write a program. They came up with a half-baked solution to buy themselves some time till Windows 7 perhaps. Do I agree with it, of course not, but I do understand the situation.
The real question
Whatever may be the case, the real question comes down to what can I do now that I know this? Assuming that you are aware of what's going on in your system there are only three solutions as stated before,
1. Turn UAC off completely, not too bad a solution; Windows XP never had it. Besides UAC is only a safeguard from yourself and if you know what you are doing (most people don't) then you don't need UAC nagware.
2. Elevate prompts for administrator by putting UAC in quiet mode, a simple way to do this is using the Tweak UAC tool.
3. Try third-party resolutions such as Smart UAC from Security Stronghold, Norton UAC, or other security programs such as firewalls or spyware programs that warn about certain changes in the system.
What Smart UAC can do for you
Just like Norton's UAC Tool, Smart UAC too takes over Vista's UAC process.
Here is what it does...
1. Biggest thing going for it, it's made by a security focused company which has brought security in UAC itself. That is it scans each program with large database of 400,000+ threats. That is what Vista UAC and Norton UAC Beta lacks. And no, it's not a replacement for anti-virus or anti-malware software, but it is certainly great to have an extra layer of protection running.
2. Remembers user choice for allowed and denied programs. This is a great feature but also one which must be used with care. If the wrong program is allowed, it now has admin rights to run around unchecked unless your anti-virus/malware software thwarts its plans.
Vista UAC doesn't have this feature, Norton UAC Beta does, however even if you click "Allow" in Vista UAC, the same result would occur, just that you'd have to click multiple times if the application asks for those rights multiple times.
3. Provides Online Updates to latest detectable threats, neither Vista nor Norton UAC Beta have this feature.
4. Works on Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 2000 too. If you have this on earlier versions of Windows, do you really want to bother about Vista security then? Norton UAC Beta doesn't work on XP/2000 either.
Now this application is starting to sound smart isn't it? Not only does it have UAC protection but also does an additional check with known threats, though it does lack Heuristics protection, but your security software should take care of that.
USER COMMENTS
Windows 7 build 6801 presented at PDC 2008 features UAC control incorporating a slider with four level settings. That's what eveyone wanted...
by rk_bakshi, New Delhi, on Nov 02, 2008 08:04 PM, Report abuse Reply
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Hay Nikhil no offence but stop Nagging so much :-) & be patient till next year when Windows 7 will launch... You start nagging again after trying it.
by Gadget Guy, Hyderabad, on Nov 03, 2008 06:05 AM, Report abuse Reply