Windows 7 - UAC prompts revisited

This comment from another thread made me again revisit the UAC prompt.

Certainly, if you run a new application the first time and tell Windows its OK by right-clicking the installer and choosing Run As Administrator, you shouldn't get any more prompts the next time you run it.

I don't have a lot of programs but several security related programs (CCleaner, MBAM, SpywareBlaster, etc.) and many other non security programs always trigger the UAC prompt.

I have tried to change the privilege level to "run as administrator" but that doesn't work, always get UAC prompt.

I know there is a thread about creating a shortcut that will eliminate the UAC prompt but what about the above statement? I tried it with the CCleaner installer but I still get the UAC prompt.

Or is it just that these programs and the way they are written will always trigger the prompt?

It is a bit annoying and I think about my wife when she may try to use the programs and how the prompt will scare her.

Am I missing something?

When you log in and run applications, in Windows 7 you run as a standard user who can elevate to admin rights when necessary. But the rest of the time, you have standard user privs.

When you launch an application like Ccleaner, the program starts as a local user, but requires admin level privs in order to do what it needs to do. The reason for the prompt, is to let you know that the application is elevating it's priv level. It's a safeguard and if something like your web browser all of a sudden wants to elevate, it should make you stop and think "huh, why does this need admin level access".

The UAC prompt doesn't bother me. I hardly see it. And when it does pop up for apps like Ccleaner or malwarebytes, I just click on the OK and keep going. I've never understood why some found it so terribly aggravating.

I am the only account and it is as administrator so not sure how that fits in with your explanation.

But now I have another problem (not surprising).

I was changing some settings to see if I could get rid of UAC for certain programs but am pretty sure I restored everything to how it was.

Now when I open a programs from the taskbar the UAC prompt MAY pop up but other times the shield appears on the taskbar and I have to click on it to get the UAC prompt. This is happening with both programs on the taskbar that trigger the UAC.

I see no rhyme or reason to when the UAC prompt comes up or when the shield will appear on the taskbar.

Why is this happening?

Your account can become admin, but by default when you log in, it's not an admin. This is a primary reason why Vista and 7 were far more secure than XP, because in XP, you are an admin and always an admin and things exploited it.

I don't know why the shield sometimes shows up on taskbar and other times shows up right. I've not seen that myself.

Disable that turd!

I've read that is part of the problem with UAC. People get desensitized to it and just click on anything that pops up. I'd like to think I'm better than that but even I get lulled sometimes.

So how about that quote in my first post? Is that true? I certainly couldn't get it to work the way he says.

Now I am completely confused.

I just created a new account on the computer and made it a standard account. That account can access all the programs (CCleaner, Malwarebytes, etc.) and open them without any UAC prompt. The same programs in my administrator account give the UAC prompt.

I thought the point of UAC was to prevent changes from taking place? The standard account can open the same programs that me as an administrator must give permission through the UAC.

But see if you can actually have the programs make changes. I bet you get an access denied. With UAC, it says, "Hey, you have admin rights and I might need admin rights to do what must be done..you want to do that?". When you don't have admin rights, it doesn't bother telling you about it. It just won't be able to change anything either.

Not sure what you mean by changes. I can run CCleaner and have it delete files on the standard account. All without a UAC prompt. Me as an administrator account has to click yes before I can even open the program. Makes no sense to me.