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CHAPTER 2
Introducing Operating Systems
(b)
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220-701
3.1
(a)
Figure 2-30 The User Account Control box appears each time a user attempts to perform an action requiring
administrative privileges: (a) the current account has administrative privileges; (b) the current
account does not have administrative privileges
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
UAC box, but for security purposes, that is not recommended. For example, suppose someone is logged on as an administrator with the UAC box turned off and clicks a malicious
link on a Web site. Malware can download and install itself without the user’s knowledge
and might get admin privileges on the computer. If he’s logged on as a standard user and the
UAC box is turned off, the malware might still install without the user’s knowledge but with
lesser privileges. The UAC box stands as a gatekeeper to malware installing behind your
back because someone has to click the UAC box before the installation can proceed.
It’s interesting to know the color codes that the UAC box uses to help you decide if
software being installed is safe:
If the top of the UAC box is red, Vista does not trust this program one bit and is not
happy with you installing it. In fact, it refuses to allow the installation to continue.
If the top of the UAC box is yellow (see Figure 2-31), Vista doesn’t know or trust the
publisher. It will allow you to continue, but with a serious warning.
Figure 2-31 This UAC box using a yellow bar indicates the program has not been approved by Microsoft
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning