It has been said one of the main problems facing Windows users are most of them run as Administrator. So the OS is prone to malwares which can penetrate and execute freely in full administrative priviledge.

Here's some stuff to read written by a 'non-admin' advocate ... http://blogs.msdn.com/aaron_margosis/archi...6.aspx#comments

I'm curious to see how many people here as logged in as 'non-admin' to run everyday computing tasks?

Edit: Additional reading material ...

1) Microsoft LUA whitepaper

This post has been edited by stanleyshyeoh: Aug 26 2006, 03:46 PM

I don't login as Non-Admin though. But I never got myself into scrapes. It is how you use the computer. Administrator accounts are not that dangerous. If you know what you are doing, no reason for the computer to fail...

Not only "admin" are risk to those scenario, but non-admin also the same..It's the matter of ur security is penetrable and use for what purpose

Yeap...
U can have high tech antivirus or firewall but if the user is too stupid enough, all that software are useless..

Hmm... How about using Power User account?
anyone tried?

What's a Power User account? I tot there's only Admin and Limited User account type in Windows XP.

Power User...? Which OS you talking about?...

i set up for my wife's lappy, last time always infected by malware, spyware or wat-ever malicious-ware, since after i set up non-admin with restrictions for her, it relieves my headache a lot

I am not denying that using non-admin accounts has its benefits. It is just that if you know what you are doing, it is still safe and sound. Non-admin accounts only benefits those who are not very "cyber"-smart. At least, with non-admin (computer limited in XP) accounts, certain commands in ActiveX or watever will fail to work, thus protecting the user from dangerous rubbish.

Windows XP.
Once I've read from the microsoft website they do mention about the power user thing...
But I didn't try... And forgot the link to the article...

Power User comes in between an Administrator and a normal User account in terms of restrictions. If anyone of you have played around with Windows Server OSes, you should know.

Administrator has the most rights. It has Full Control of the computer itself.
Power User comes next. It can install softwares, modify certain things that a User account can't.
User has the least rights. Can't do shit except surf the net and chat in MSN Can't install anything, can't change any settings, etc. etc.

you mean here? :
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documen...s.mspx?mfr=true

Windows Server OSes... I see... I never had a chance to fiddle with Server OS... Well, thanks for the info.

Non admin accounts.. to deter those less savvy user from tempering with the original computer settings.. of cos it is wise to do so .. if they are more than 1 user for that computer...

different accounts with different privilage with users that has different level of knowledge for using the machines..

yes and no.
That was another one, but not microsoft website.

power user exist in winxp too. just open up "computer management" (right click "my computer" > "manage") > "local users and groups" > "groups" > "power users" (on the right pane). u can add user into this group to make it a "power user". but have seen from ms acticle that "power user" will go away with vista, and there will be a change in user account usage implementation in vista too. (guess ms just found "power user" has very little practical use in windows, though)

anyway, if u plan to use user right (or group) as 1 of the security control measure, power user could still carry the same trait as admin, mostly because they can install stuff into ur system (up to certain extent, of course)

i use a anti virus software, 3 firewall. 2 different programs and one from the modem. i have 2 softwares that cleans bugs everytime i want to. i use secured p2p software like emule. and bitcomet software which is safer.

do i have to worry about viruses?

This post has been edited by jones007: Oct 29 2006, 12:01 PM

Of course you should. LOL. Not every Wall is unbeatable. Look at Great Wall of China, it still was overcome by "barbarians". Same terminology on firewalls, AV, AS(Anti-spyware) and so on. You can only protect to the maximum, but you are not rest assured to be 100% save.

well at least every week when i clean up using my anti virus and ad-ware SE. theres nothing new. thats 99% at least lol

Good for you.LOL. Same here. Rarely get an infection, or the infection never had a chance to start in the first place. Cheers!

PS : What are the programs you use?