Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Reviews

    Sophos’ Windows 7 Infection Test

    By
    Andrew Garcia
    -
    November 4, 2009
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Chester Wisniewski, senior security adviser for Sophos Canada, Nov. 3 published on his blog a rather damning account of Windows 7 security and User Account Control.

      In his examination, he found that seven out of 10 malware samples tested were able to successfully run on a fresh Windows 7 installation employing the new, quieter UAC that is the default in the new operating system.

      Ugly. Not a surprise, but ugly. Also, it’s not a test designed to be passed.

      uac admin.png

      In essence, the default setting for UAC in Windows 7 is, “Don’t notify me when I make changes to Windows settings.” So when Wisniewski downloaded malware samples onto the PC and ran them–simulating a user intentionally downloading and running a file obtained via e-mail or the Web–he was purposefully making changes to Windows settings, so UAC did not prompt him. The system acted as it was told to do, so it should come as no surprise that UAC did not block the malware installation.

      The shortcomings in Windows’ 7 UAC design have been apparent for quite some time. In my August review of the RTM of Windows 7, I postulated that “the new settings–including the new default–serve to worsen the security protections UAC affords,” a theory that seems to be borne out by this study. Basically, with Windows 7’s UAC, Microsoft decided to step back from trying to save users from their own mistakes–leaving that role primarily to third-party security solutions.

      Indeed, Wisniewski comes to the same conclusion, that, “You still need to run antivirus on Windows 7.”

      Leaving that argument aside, what Microsoft should be doing is figuring out ways to change the way people compute. That default UAC setting is only the default setting for users who are part of the Administrators group. Users that only have standard User privileges instead, by default, get the strongest option–to be notified when the user or programs make changes. And since the standard user doesn’t have rights to automatically elevate their tokens in order to make the change anyway, they would have to enter over-the-shoulder administrator credentials to make the change.

      uac user.png

      Certainly, I like to see security companies–or even Microsoft–publish the results of similar tests, focused on systems operated in a more secure manner. Malware running on an unprotected system with admin privileges is not news, while malware that runs and stays resident without admin rights certainly would be.

      Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

      Andrew Garcia
      Andrew cut his teeth as a systems administrator at the University of California, learning the ins and outs of server migration, Windows desktop management, Unix and Novell administration. After a tour of duty as a team leader for PC Magazine's Labs, Andrew turned to system integration - providing network, server, and desktop consulting services for small businesses throughout the Bay Area. With eWEEK Labs since 2003, Andrew concentrates on wireless networking technologies while moonlighting with Microsoft Windows, mobile devices and management, and unified communications. He produces product reviews, technology analysis and opinion pieces for eWEEK.com, eWEEK magazine, and the Labs' Release Notes blog. Follow Andrew on Twitter at andrewrgarcia, or reach him by email at agarcia@eweek.com.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×