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Chapter 9
Protecting User Accounts and
Using Parental Controls
In this chapter:
Introducing User Account Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Navigating the User Account Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Handling User Account Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Introducing Parental Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Microsoft Windows Vista includes many features to help you maintain control over your com-
puter in response to constantly evolving security threats. Traditionally, security threats have
been combated with software tools and operating system components, such as firewall and
spyware software, and for this reason, Windows Vista includes Windows Firewall, Windows
Defender, and many other security features. Beyond the traditional, Windows Vista also
provides a fundamental change in the way security is implemented and managed in the
form of User Account Control (UAC) and parental controls.
User Account Control dramatically changes the way user accounts are configured and used
and also changes the way applications and system components make use of system-level priv-
ileges. Parental controls provide features to help keep your family safe on the Internet. These
same features can be extended to organizations with youth volunteers and to organizations
that provides services for youths.
Note
This book was written using the Windows Vista Beta to provide an early introduction
to the operating system. More so than any other area of Windows Vista, the security features
discussed in this book are subject to change. Some of the features might not be included in
the final product, and some of the features might be changed substantially.
Introducing User Account Control
User Account Control (UAC) is designed to address the need for a solution that is resilient to
attack from an ever-growing array of malicious software (also called malware) programs.
For those who have installed and used an earlier version of Microsoft Windows, UAC
represents a significant change in the way user accounts are used and configured. It does this
by reducing the need for administrator privileges and by carefully defining the standard user
and administrator user modes.
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