I’ve been using Windows Vista for a few months now and subsequently I’ve been exposed to the notorious User Account Control (UAC) of Vista.
The purpose of UAC is to add a layer of protection, a barrier between the user and the OS. The user is assigned a standard account and whenever the user tries to affect the system in some way that might alter a system setting, as in installing a piece of software or starting a program like anti-virus, UAC will prompt for a password to allow the action.
The problem with this is pretty big. First of all, Microsoft thought they could implement the system in some way that it would not need to be turned off, altered, or configured in any way. Second of all, Microsoft didn’t anticipate the reaction to UAC and therefore they have poor contingency planning. I’ve had several issues with UAC that put me out. The first is I can’t update Avast! Anti-Virus in standard user mode. Others thoughts are listed below:
- UAC doesn’t prompt me for access, it just won’t allow it.
- You can’t turn it off without affecting certain programs; i.e. some tax programs and others.
- You can’t configure it – i.e. to allow a program to not be affected by it if you wish to always allow it. The essence of UAC was designed to protect the user from rogue software and their own actions, so if the user is proficient and wants to always allow a program they trust through UAC they should be allowed to do so.
- UAC should be smart and grow in intelligence as the user uses the system. It should adapt to patterns and trends and be able to begin to understand what programs are harmless and what programs are harmful.
I’d say that Microsoft needs to re-evaluate UAC and maybe patch it with new functionality with Service Pack 1. I would say it should be a huge priority because I know my family members, when they upgrade, will not be happy with the current implementation of UAC.
[To turn UAC off, go to the control panel, find user accounts, then find the option that says turn UAC on or off.]
