Windows 7: Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) Branch Builds Get Tweaked

With Windows 7 Beta wrapped up since December 2008 and available as a public download starting on January 10, 2009, Microsoft has moved onward with the development of the operating system. The company is cooking builds in the Release Candidate branch, namely 70XX, and revealed that it would tweak a controversial security feature introduced with Windows Vista in accordance with user input. Jon DeVaan, senior vice president, Windows Core Operating System Division, together with Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group, indicated that, following user feedback, the way in which User Account Control worked would be optimized for Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) in comparison with the Beta Build 7000 variant.



More;Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) Branch Builds Get Tweaked - To increase the security of the operating system - Softpedia

Hi,

Apparently M$ initially said there was no flaw and they were not going to do anything about it

Microsoft denies Windows 7 security feature contains bug

- now they say they have fixed it. Let's hope so.

See also http://www.itworld.com/windows/62169...-windows-7-uac

SIW2

That's because there is no flaw

They have just changed it


I can understand them bowing to public pressure though as this would not have gone away

That makes no sense - there must have been a flaw otherwise they wouldn't change it.

No shame in that - it is what early releases are for - to find bugs and vulnerabilities and fix them.

People complained about UAC in Vista - but it is very secure.

SIW2

Hi SIW,

As I understand it no. The only flaw was making UAC more user friendly with the results that your article points out. However to change UAC something must first get onto the computer and this has not yet happened.

My point is if you choose to switch UAC off or turn it down what do you expect??

It is like switching the Firewall off as it is asking to many annoying questions

Totally agree m8, I couldn't see any way they could keep it as it was without the negative reporting putting down any future releases.

Hi Pooch,

Yes I agree, if you use the lower level of UAC it is obvious to you and me that is not as secure as the higher levels.

Unfortunately, the general public is not you and me. They would likely be lulled into a false sense of security by having the pop ups set at the low level - in reality that could have easily been breached.

If I may quote Oscar Wide again - "Never overestimate the intelligence of the audience"

SIW2

Hi have a look at this new post that I have just found;
Windows 7 UAC Fix Doesn't Address UAC's Fatal Flaw
It clears things up a bit

They seem to have fixed it without going back to the Vista system - so should still be less intrusive.

The article is right, though, about people just clicking ok and not paying any attention - but it's your own fault if you do that.

SIW2

Thankyou, This is the problem

I think it all depends on which angle you see it from.

You cant protect joe public if he is not willing to protect himself, but you can try!

Vista's UAC is right. But to many are complaining so now we have a no win solution because Microsoft is bowing to Peer pressure