For those of you who have recently updated to the new and wonderful world of Windows 7 you might want to check those security settings or at least be sure to renew your antiviral security program(s) before going too astray online. Daily Tech has reported on some testing by internet security firm Sophos in reaction to early builds of Windows 7 drastically altering the default UAC settings in comparison to the much-maligned ones of Windows Vista.
If you’re not clear, UAC refers to User Account Control or, the annoying alerts and questions from Windows Vista asking the user for permission for many functions, updates, etc. While there was much to get frustrated with Vista over, ironically the default security settings shouldn’t have been one of them. We all know that Windows is the default whipping bitch of most professional and amateur hackers, and the default UAC settings of Vista were a step in the right direction for Windows users.
Unfortunately, responding to the complaints of the masses, Microsoft has played with the default security settings of the UAC to the point where Sophos has found that; “Of the ten pieces of malware tested, Windows 7 wouldn’t install two of them. Of the remaining eight only one generated a UAC warning, allowing the user to disallow its installation”. So if you’re keeping track at home boys and girls any system using the default UAC settings of Windows 7 on a rig with no supplementary antiviral protection has a success ratio 2:10 when it comes to malware. These are not numbers that I’m particularly comfortable with when it comes to internet security. Oh for the love of Vista!
I don’t bother running any antivirus software. If you’re clever and don’t go clicking on dodgy links then you’ll be fine and even if you do get caught, most of the time AVG or Avast etc won’t be able to help.
I have all my files on a separate partition, meaning that I can just bomb my system and start again, saves fucking around or even paying for some Norton bloatware. Loving Windows 7 though, so much better than Vista.
Great point, but I think the average user isn’t even aware of the ability to change security settings.
Absolutely, I wouldn’t give that advice to anyone who isn’t techie, but I think in general as long as your careful you should be fine.