TweakUAC for Windows Vista and Windows 7
TweakUAC™ gives you more control of the Windows Vista UAC settings. In addition to enabling or disabling the UAC, TweakUAC also allows you to select the “quiet” mode for UAC. In “quiet” mode, the security of UAC is fully enabled, except that if you use Windows as an administrator, you will not see the usual UAC prompts to approve actions that require the administrative rights.
What is UAC?
UAC is short for User Account Control, it’s a security technology available in Windows Vista and Windows 7 that keeps programs from performing privileged operations without special approval from you. On the right is a typical message displayed by UAC when you attempt to run a program that requires special permissions.
Am I at risk if I enable the “quiet” mode of UAC?
If you rely solely on UAC to keep you safe from malware, then yes, your risk increases and in such a situation you should not use the “quiet” mode. However, if you use an anti-virus program, have the firewall enabled, and keep your Windows updated regularly, then UAC popups become more of a nuisance without adding much security. Any malware should be stopped by the anti-virus and firewall. If it’s reached the point of asking you to confirm its execution, it’s already too late!
Should I disable UAC completely?
No, that’s not a good idea. When enabled, UAC makes available the protected mode of Internet Explorer, reducing the attack surface significantly should you come across a rogue web site. It also forces legitimate programs to behave well by restricting their privileges. If you disable UAC completely, you increase the chance that some system setting becomes corrupted due to an error in one of the “good” programs you use.
Do I need TweakUAC if I use Windows 7?
Unlike Windows Vista, Windows 7 comes with a built-in UAC control panel that let’s you reduce the amount of UAC messages shown. You can use that Control Panel instead of Tweak UAC, if you prefer. Or, use TweakUAC if you find it’s way of handling UAC settings is better. It’s all up to you!
Does TweakUAC work with 64-bit Windows Vista/7?
Yes, TweakUAC works with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.
I’ve enabled the “quiet” mode but now Vista is showing a balloon message telling me that UAC is disabled!?
That’s how Microsoft designed Vista: when UAC is in the quiet mode, it incorrectly reports that UAC is OFF. You can verify that UAC is ON by trying to enable the Protected Mode of Internet Explorer: it can only be enabled if UAC is ON.
To stop the red shield icon from bothering you, right-click on the icon and choose Open Security Center from the menu. When it opens, click on the Change the way Security Center alerts me link, in the left panel. Then choose one of the Do not notify me options.
Alternatively, if you are familiar with Windows Registry and the Registry Editor tool, you may want to add the following entry to the registry:
Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Security Center
Type: DWORD
Name: UacDisableNotify
Value: 1
How much is TweakUAC?
It’s FREE!
