No, the 11th Commandment (or earlier) is don’t browse, read email or use any program connect to the internet whilst logged on as a user with Administrator Rights (unless it is an absolute requirement, like windows update, etc.).
Whilst browsing or collecting email, etc. if you get infected then the malware by default inherits the same permissions that you have for your user account. So if the user account has administrator rights, the malware has administrator rights and can reap havoc. With limited rights the malware can’t put files in the system folders, create registry entries, etc. This greatly reduces the potential harm that can be done by an undetected or first day virus, etc.
Check out the link to DropMyRights (in my signature below) - Browsing the Web and Reading E-mail Safely as an Administrator. This obviously applies to those NT based OSes that have administrator settings, winNT, win2k, winXP.
Yes but you can’t beat the price can you… Besides if you don’t know anything about windows or computers why not just go on linux you’ll have to learn the basics in any way right?
@ revan
I’m perfectly happy as and admin user, since you know know nothing about me I find the sucker comment offensive. Hell you don’t even know if I’m using Linux (dual boot) or have used Linux and chosen to use windows.
I’m sure no Linux user with any idea about security would contemplate browsing the internet whilst logged on as root. As rare as Linux malware is should the user be browsing whilst logged on as root, they would in effect be handing root privileges to any malware that did manage to get loaded.
Sorry DavidR i didn’t mean to call you a sucker actually i have to remove that word cause it got copy pasted(Firefox giving me some problems, don’t ask)… Ofcourse you’re right but if you’re so paranoid about security and are not into gaming i don’t see why not go to linux.You can still dual boot right?BTW i’m not buying this DropMyRights stuff for a minute.
Not paranoid about security as you would know if you had read many of my post with Polonus, where I actually make the same point about going so far with security that it makes having a computer and accessing the internet pointless.
I’m not asking you to buy DropMyRights, have you even read the information on it and do you understand how it works?
It is a relatively simple precaution so you can continue to user your regular user account with admin rights, click on the shortcut to start the browser with limited rights, need admin rights close the program and open it normally unrestricted. No have to switch to limited user account to achieve the same thing.
I know that “The Eleventh Commandment” is one of the better
dark strong beers on the continent, it is next to “Forbidden Fruit”. OK a side remark, getting back on topic. A lot of things can be solved just using common sense, and a couple of simple security measures taken: drop your rights, update and upgrade, make your configuration secure as seen to browser and mail client, watch your passwords, analyse your surf and download tendencies. Then you have tackled a lot of first step security pitfalls.
David yes you’re right i haven’t read it and i thought this meant using different accounts(i only want one account on my PC) but i will read it as soon as i catch some spare time and i’ll let you know what i think about it…
As revan said, I was making a point, that a Linux user shouldn’t browse whilst logged on as root, so a windows XP (or NT based OS) shouldn’t browser whilst logged on as an administrator.
This to counter a paranoia claim of using DropMyRights, it being nothing other than a sensible precaution that a windows user can take, just as a Linux users wouldn’t browse whilst logged on as root.
I only have one account on my computer but I do most of my browsing utilizing “drop my rights”
Since it’s such a simple thing to set up and even easier to use, I thought it foolish not to implement.
Although I may not visit adult sites, there are other places where a little extra protection is prudent… ;D ;D
