Microsoft's continuing focus on security has taken
great strides in the development of the User Account
Control in Windows Vista. This new feature is very
helpful to both business and home users. It gives
greater flexibility for a standard user while
maintaining the integrity of the operating system.
By default, standard user permissions in Windows
Vista are as follows:
-
View system clock and calendar
-
Change time zone
-
Install Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) to
connect to secure wireless networks
-
Change power management settings
-
Add
printers and other devices that have the
required drivers installed on computer or have
been allowed by an IT administrator in Group
Policy
-
Install ActiveX Controls from sites approved by
an IT administrator
-
Create and configure a Virtual Private Network
connection
-
Install critical Windows Updates
In
addition, since the disk defragmentation task is now
automated by default, standard users will no longer
have the need to invoke this tool.
As you can see from the permissions list, there
isn't anything a standard user can do to change the
configuration of the system nor is there any chance
that a standard user can accidentally download a
virus. For even greater flexibility, system
administrators have the ability to remove any of the
preset permissions that they see fit from a standard
users account.
The UAC feature was created to help IT
Administrators keep standard users productive while
keeping the network available and its data secure.
In earlier versions of Windows, most permissions ran
from Administrator Groups. Either an Administrator
gave global permissions to standard users or they
had to do most everything themselves. In Windows
Vista, you can see from the permissions list that an
IT Administrator can now concentrate on more
meaningful tasks.
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