Solved "Run as Administrator" question

[Buttoni]

When I open a program with "Run as Administrator" while logged on as LUA, say for example, I open Malwarebytes for the purpose of updating definitions. Is it safe for me to concurrently open Firefox and go on-line, knowing Win7 is not opening any and all programs with elevated privileges while in Admin mode? A little piece of me has always wondered just how all-encompassing the "Run as Admin" mode really is. And after I update MBAM and close it down, is Win7 really fully back in LUA mode? Hoping one of the experts here can definitively answer this for me so I'll quit worrying.

 

[richc46]

When you open software as adminstrator, it is just for that software.
Still not sure, take a test. Open malwarebytes as administrator, then open other software that you know requires that right click and open as administrator. It will still be required.

 

[Buttoni]

Thanks so much for your kind reply, Rich. Never thought to try that test. Makes sense.

 

[Buttoni]

Just tried your test (Duh, don't know why I didn't think to test that myself first, she says all red-faced) and SIW did indeed ask for admin PW while MBAM was running under admin. Thanks again. NOW you can really close the thread.

Thanks again.

 

[richc46]

You are very welcome. Now go and enjoy the best OS out there.

 

[logicearth]

If you wanted to know at a deeper level what is going on, read up on Mandatory Integrity Control.
Mandatory Integrity Control - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Buttoni]

Very interesting. Thanks for the link. After reading, I'm sure glad it's built in to Win7's security. I sure wouldn't want to keep up with it. Reading that article and several of the linked articles just make me appreciate the sophisticated development that went into Win7 (and Vista before it) even more. I love Win7 so far.