New Windows Vista Security Feature

[Sylo-X-]

This was an article i found kind of interesting...

SEATTLE — An annoying surprise awaits 2 million consumers expected to enthusiastically step forward in the next few weeks to help Microsoft test its new Windows Vista PC operating system.
Volunteers will test Vista Beta 2, a near-final version of the much-hyped upgrade of Windows. The testing is the last step leading up to Vista's broad consumer release, scheduled for January.

Beta 2 testers can expect to encounter an obtrusive security feature, called User Account Control (UAC). Designed to prevent intruders from performing harmful tasks, the feature grays out the computer screen, then prods you to confirm that you really want to do certain functions.

In early test versions, the queries crop up so often that they interrupt routine tasks, such as changing the time clock or deleting shortcuts. And UAC sometimes triggers an endless loop of dialogue boxes that can be curtailed only by rebooting, says Paul Thurrott, news editor of Windows IT Pro magazine.

"Microsoft completely botched UAC," Thurrott says. "It's almost criminal in its insidiousness."

Microsoft counters that refinements are being continually made. "The final product will be very usable and have a good balance of security," says Windows senior product manager Alex Heaton.

Once scheduled to arrive in 2004, Vista has been beset by delays, the latest nudging its public launch from fall to early 2007. Vista improves on Windows XP; it is the cornerstone of the software giant's push to extend its products deeper into the workplace and home. Yet Microsoft has struggled to infuse Vista with tighter security, partly because of a decision to let older software applications run on it, says Michael Cherry, tech security analyst at Directions on Microsoft.

Most Windows applications are written to take advantage of the fact that the operating system treats users as "system administrators" with carte blanche to alter basic system configurations. Trouble is, this has opened the door for cybercrooks to infect Windows with malicious programs that steal data and use infected PCs to carry out cyberfraud.

Microsoft should have set stricter parameters for Vista, Cherry says. But it hasn't required software developers to retool system administrator access.

Instead, it devised workarounds. The result: UAC's labyrinth of dialogue boxes. "Windows historically has been wide open," says Andrew Jaquith, senior analyst at the Yankee Group. "By trying to restrict what people can do, it's going to cause a lot of pain."

Security experts worry that Vista users will dismiss the dialogue boxes, clicking through them rapidly and undermining any security benefit. Or they will figure out how to turn off UAC. "Consumers, sadly, are probably going to disable it," Thurrott says.

[url=\"http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2006-05-15-vista-security_x.htm?POE=TECISVA\"]Source[/url]

[Tami]

While the added security is a good idea, the way they've implemented it isn't. If Windows goes to a system using all these pop-up dialogues, the average home user will end up becoming very frustrated most likely not be a happy camper. Average users want something that is easy, understandable, and fast. They don't want to have to become security experts or act like IT admins to run their home computer. I think Microsoft has found themselves between a rock and a hard place - the need to make their O/S more secure, but also the need to remain friendly to the average user.

[Sylo-X-]

Well I don't really see a need for added security. Ive been running on this coumputer for about 6 months with no firewall. I havn't had any problems. But of course im not the average computer owner either. What I think they should do is just upgrade the windows firewall, and make their own anti-virus software that comes pre installed with no subscription.

[Tami]

I dunno about their own av software, microsoft isn't exactly up there on the release of fast patches and whatnot, although they could prove to have a reliable av application if they so chose to. Either way, they have to remember that their biggest market are not the power users we see rattling around here, but rather the "average joe" who just wants to turn their puter on, do what they need to do and not worry about learning a bunch of technical stuff they may not understand.

[Endo]

Well they do have an antivirus software, OneCare has one along side a antispyware, firewall (back up tasks and other maintainence jobs). If anything they would be better off working this Vista and *not* having a subscription fee. Personally, with dialup at least, If i was to be able to get all that already in my OS for free, I'd stick with it. Microsoft could easily take a chunk of the AV market if they were to make it reliable and actually worth the freeness, but i doubt they'd ever consider that. I can see why they would create such an annoying tool, with all the zombie computers out there, but thats even more reason to offer such a comprehensive tool for free. Blegh.

[to@ds]

It certainly sounds like a good idea this new alert system, but from what was said about the constant alerts for things your doing, and how it said sometimes a reboot is needed to stop the messages kind of makes me wonder.
Its true Microsoft form though, I think sometimes they get abit lazy, because they know that people are still going to buy their O.S.'s simply because people already know how to use XP, 98 etc. I'd say generaly XP and Windows were generaly quite easy to use and thats all people want like you guys have allready said. I know I always use Microsofts O.S.'s because I find them easy to use and so I cant really comment on other O.S.'s. I think for Microsofts short comings, they do usualy do a good job for your average user but sometimes they treat us like we are brain dead. Im not really anti-Microsoft or pro, I do use some of their products so the chances are I will probably end up getting Vista, even if it does have a silly name

Everyone point and laugh at the silly name <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... ntlaf2.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(laf)\' /> Vista

[Sylo-X-]

Well i can say that i will have to stick with XP. Vista just dosnt seem like much of an upgrade to me. and yeah..i dont want an operating system with a funny name...we should make our own operaing system and call it Doors (instead of windows)

<img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... ntlaf2.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(laf)\' /> Vista

[Sylo-X-]

I needed another post so i could play blackjack...so here it is

[Josh]

When I said go comment on a thread, I didn't mean spam :\

[R4PTOR]

I think the whole UAC thing is quite stupid. Not so much the idea - but the way they are implementing it. Like.. Dialogue boxes? My mother (for example) always calls me to the computer when there is almost any dialogue box asking if she wants it to do something. This uac system will just confuse a computer illiterate person and they will most probably just lose sales because of it. I for one will probably sticking with xp. Vista just isn't appealing to me. <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... ictory.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':victory:\' />

[Sylo-X-]

I agree. Ill probobly be with XP for a long time. Microsoft is just going down hill with their operating systems in my eyes.

[to@ds]

Well no offence Sylo, your only 16 and werent around in the days of using a DOS prompt, or the basic layout and uglyness of Windows 3.1. When new OS's came out like 95 and 98, they were huge leaps forwards. Granted Windows ME wasnt all that big of a success, but still, Microsoft have more operating systems on home computers around the world. To say "Microsoft is just going down hill with their operating systems in my eyes" is not at all fair really. Youve just admited that you use XP, and the chances are you may have used 98 and there is a big leap on usability on these two operating systems. XP is a much more user friendly system that trys to help the user as much as it can (even if a little to much sometimes), and seen as Vista is the newest OS since XP, and is currently only in testing it seems silly to say that Micrsoft are going down hill on the OS side of things. Have you used Vista? How can you make that judgment until you have? I personaly think that for all its short comings and security issues, XP is the best about at the moment. You dont have to be a technicaly minded person like you do to use Linux or Unix, I cant really comment on the Mac operating system as I've never used it.

I know this is a cliche, but if you think that you can create a better operating system that millions of people can use in a simple way, and with little experince of computers (my grandma has learnt how to use XP after only 6 months, and had never used a PC before in her life), not only that but market it to your customers, then please dude, do it! You should be so thank full for what you've got, because back in the days of DOS, and Windows 3.1, it was a whole differant ball game matey <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... igwink.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\';)\' />

[Sylo-X-]

I see your point. But I have used windows 3.1...I did have to learn Dos and not the easy way either. And I understand what your saying completley, I shouldnt have made that judgment if ive never used the OS. But from what I've read so far it just dosnt appeal to me a whole lot. And as for the "going down hill" thing. To alot of people Microsoft is the only company people have really heard of that make an operating system. I know alot of people who have never heard of Linux or they think that Mac still uses windows. So to alot of people thats all they have and that could explain why its on so many computers. because people are used to the windows interface and are afraid to switch and try something else. The reason why I use windows is because of the compatability. So many people use Windows that thats the only operating system that companys make their software on. But in the end its all a matter of oppinion.

[Maya9]

Hi <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... lleyes.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':rolleyes:\' />

Its really a gud one...