Do Not Run Your Computer as Administrator

Do Not Run Your Computer as Administrator

I came across a recent study that reinforced why I recommend to my clients that they not use their computer logged in with administrator privileges. 

The study revealed that of the 251 vulnerabilities in Microsoft's Patch
Tuesday security bulletins in 2015 with a critical rating, 85% were concluded to be mitigated by removing administrator privileges.

The primary benefit of running in Standard user-level privilege instead is that programs which try to install without your permission/involvement cannot do so unless you provide the administrator password. This includes malware. 

This approach is also beneficial if you're sharing a home computer with kids - the last thing you want is them installing programs without your supervision. (And it's best to have parental controls running on their accounts too.)

The administrator account does not need to be named Administrator. It can be named whatever you like: Master, Admin, Big Kahuna, Sky Lord, whatever. But it needs to be the only account on the computer with administrator privileges. 

When setting this account up, choose a password that only you or another trusted person knows. 

After creating the new administrator-level account, log off the computer and try to log in with that account. Verify in Settings or the Control Panel that the account in fact has administrator privileges. This is very important! 

It's critical because in the next step you will demote any other administrator-level accounts. Once you do so, they will no longer have administrator control. If you didn't give the new account administrator privileges, you won't be able to "administrate" your computer. Not good!

The next step is to demote all other users to Standard user level. I've provided links at the bottom for Widows 7, 8, and 10. Select a desired user and change to Standard. Then log off the computer and log in again as that user, just to test the user can still log in.

You will notice a change on the computer after doing this: If you try to install software or make system-wide changes as a Standard user, you'll be prompted for the administrator password. 

Again, this is a best practice for computer security. It applies to Windows computers, Apple computers, and Linux (in Linux, administrator is called root.)

Thanks for reading.
Sam

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Thanks for reading.

Sam

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Links for changing account types

Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/103538-user-account-type-change.html

Windows 8

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5518-user-account-type-change-windows-8-a.html

Windows 10

http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/6917-account-type-change-windows-10-a.html

GWX means Get Windows 10 - And Yes, You Still Have A Choice - Resistance Is Not Futile

GWX means Get Windows 10 - And Yes, You Still Have A Choice

Resistance Is Not Futile

Way back in June of last year I posted a piece titled "Windows 10 - Upgrade Optional, Can Wait And See." You can see it here. 

The clock starts ticking

My post was written in midst of the buzz around Microsoft trumpeting the official release of their latest operating system - Windows 10 - and how they were graciously offering it as a free download to existing customers, beginning July 29, 2015. (You could upgrade as long as you were running Windows 7 or 8.1, that is.)

Many early adopters jumped on the bandwagon. Some had problems, some didn't. Some were impressed, some weren't. Most organizations wisely didn't bite the hook - they played the wait and see game. (This is mainly because they have much more to lose if new software doesn't play nice on their systems.)

Pushing the product

Microsoft has been pushing the Windows 10 upgrade pretty aggressively ever since that hallowed day last July. One of their main tactics to influence users is to run a little icon in the system tray at lower right, tempting one to install the upgrade. 

Fiasco

One of my clients felt so pestered by this icon that she did the install. Sadly, it didn't go well. I had to spend hours afterwards making things right, including calling Microsoft tech support to get the upgrade to recognize her previous Windows license, which it should do seamlessly. What a fiasco! And it cost her money, i.e., my time. 

On the other hand, after due consideration to hardware and software versions, and to appease the desires of certain clients, I've installed the Windows 10 upgrade on several computers, upgrading from Windows 7 or 8.1, and haven't had any issues. This I've done on my home systems too - my version of beta testing.

Businesses, be careful

But again, for organizations, especially those which may have legacy (older) programs or equipment, the last thing they need is the headache of dealing with a post-Windows 10 upgrade snafu. 

Blocking the upgrade

If you want to play it safe and prevent the pernicious little GWX (Get Windows 10) agent from harassing you, you can do this: Install a free program named GWX Control Panel. I've been successfully doing this for many of my business clients. (After all, we want do the upgrade on our terms, not because Microsoft is bugging us.) You can get this program here. 

Privacy concerns
If, however, you do take the leap and upgrade to Windows 10, and you are satisfied with the upgrade (you can always roll back if not, at least for short period of time), I suggest you check out the default privacy settings. These are disconcerting to me, because they give too much information and control Microsoft and its bevy of installed apps. I suggest you turn off all the privacy slider bars that concern you.

To see the privacy settings in Windows 10, click the Start button, then PC Settings, then Privacy. You can go item by item and turn off whatever you don't feel comfortable giving Windows access too. If you turn off anything that disables another program, such as Skype, you can always turn it back on. I have turned off everything with no ill effect.  

Upgrade deadline

A last word: The latest news is that Microsoft is providing the Windows 10 upgrade for free until July, 29, 2016. If you want to upgrade after then, you may have purchase Windows 10 from the Windows Store, likely for over $100. 

My suspicion is that Microsoft will somehow extend the free offer. They really want the entire Milky Way Galaxy to migrate to Windows 10 so they can better monitor people's computers and "provide what consumers want" from the "mother ship" in Redmond. Those privacy settings mentioned above have a lot to do with revenue streams collected from being in "close" (i.e. creepy) partnership with you as long as you are online.

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If you haven't already, you can subscribe to our email tips by visiting www.kokuadigital.com and entering your name, email, and "add to email list" in the request form, then click Send. 

Thanks for reading.

Sam