While I have UAC off the computer is not connected to the Internet and
programs are installed from known malware free CD's. How is this dangerous?
Where did I admit UAC is a bow-wow? Of course UAC has some flaws. I am sure
that exploits for it will be found. It's part of a computer program. That's
the current state of programming.
Actually it is all about programming or lack of it. You know what a
rules list is? I'm guessing no, or you wouldn't have said what you
just did. Actually its a simple device where a software application
"learns" as it goes. It is employed in better firewalls for example.
When you first install such a program its a real nag, like UAC is. But
as you do your routine activities it shuts up over time.
Why?
Because when it pops up it ASKS you the user, not decide by itself how
to handle a particular event. So the first time your browser wants to
have access to the Internet such a firewall pops up a warning and asks
if you want to allow it. If you say no, dont give my browser Internet
access, it won't let it and it won't ask you again, it just will block
it until again YOU decide to let it have access. If you say yes
instead, again, it won't ask anymore. It remembers, because it builds
a "rules" list based on what you tell it. So instead of nagging
everytime you click on your browser it simply lets it go on the
Internet based on a "rule" it remembers. So the more your use it the
smarter it gets. UAC should have a rules list. Then it may ask do you
want to delete a shortcut on your desktop or drag a file to the
Recycle Bin ONCE, then it remembers what you taught it about desktop
shortcuts.
It even gets better. A good rules list also knows a application's DNA
so to speak. So if you have application X already installed on your
system and you upload a new improved update or new version it will pop
up again and tell you, hey this don't look like application X, are you
sure you want to allow it. This is good since malware often tries to
mimic looking like a trusted application you may already have
installed. So it correctly will challenge anything that looks suspect.
This is good. That is what I thought UAC would do. It is what it
should do. It seems so far with my admitted limited experience with it
that it is mainly just an annoying brain dead nag that goes right on
asking the same question over and over again. Ten times, a hundred, a
thousand times.
For me the good it does outweighs the
inconvenience. For you obviously it doesn't. We have differing opinions. I
don't think I can convince you to change your mind and I know you won't
convince me to change my mind. Sometimes that's the way things work. I've
learned to deal with this. It appears you haven't. You constantly feel a
need to put words in other people's mouths to prove your point. You make
arguments for someone then answer your own made up point to prove your real
point. I don't mind debating you but please don't try to put words in my
mouth or make your point by saying what think may be my next point. Wait
until I state what my opinions are before trying to disprove them.
You HAVE stated your opinions and I am simply responding to them. As
far as opinions they gain creditability when you can back them up with
factual evidence. I have. Now please give me one example where turning
on UAC actually PREVENTS anything bad from happening aside from it
just nagging about it with the usual result the user simply clicking
through and doing what he/she intended in the first place. I'm
listening.
