User Account Control (UAC) is a new feature that helps prevent malicious programs, also known as "malware," from damaging a system. UAC stops the automatic installation of unauthorized applications. UAC also prevents unintended changes to system settings.
You receive a UAC prompt when you do any of the following:
- Install or uninstall a program.
- Install a driver for a device. (For example, you install the driver for a digital camera.)
- Use the Windows Update console to install updates.
- Configure Parental Controls.
- Install an ActiveX control. (ActiveX controls are used to view certain Web pages.)
- Open or change the Windows Firewall control settings.
- Change a user account type.
- Modify your security settings with the Security Policy Editor (Secpol.msc) snap-in.
- Browse another user's directory.
- Configure Automatic Updates.
- Restore system files that were backed up.
- Schedule Automated Tasks.
- Copy or move files into the Program Files directory or the Windows directory.
- Add or remove a user account.
- Configure Remote Desktop access.
How to run a program as an administrator
When you run a program function or a system function, you may receive a UAC prompt. Most of these programs are legacy programs. Newer versions of the same programs do not trigger UAC. You cannot set UAC to automatically run a program as an administrator without the user being prompted.
In Windows Vista, some programs only run correctly if you run them as an administrator. You may be able to run newer versions of the same programs without having to run them as an administrator.
Note A security risk may result by using administrative credentials to run an unknown program. Only run programs that you trust as an administrator.
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