Taming Vista’s User Account Control

Vista implemented a new User Account Control (UAC) feature which basically stops you to ask “are you sure you want to run this program” each time you run it. This does help prevent viruses from getting onto a machine, but can be so irritating that many users turn the feature off – thus losing the protection.

One thing missing from Vista’s UAC is the ability to REMEMBER a user’s choice on individual programs. While Microsoft hasn’t added this, Symantec’s Norton Labs has created a FREE tool which allows User Account Control to ‘remember’ user choices on common programs. Before downloading, left-click START, right-click COMPUTER left-click PROPERTIES to verify which version of Vista/Windows7 you have, and download either the 32-bit or 64-bit version. This experimental tool can be downloaded from Norton Labs at:

http://tinyurl.com/ngye2t

And the best news – it works! Any user whose older program has an ‘unregistered’ publisher, may now run that program without having UAC in their face each time.

Can You Trust Free Antivirus Software?

Lots of companies offer software that's supposed to stop worms, viruses, and other malware for free. We tested nine such security programs to find the ones you can really depend on.

The complete story can be found here:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,170587/article.html

* Top Free Antivirus Software (chart)
1. Avira AntiVir Personal
2. Alwil Avast Antivirus Home Edition
3. AVG 8.5 Free
4. Microsoft Security Essentials
5. PC Tools Antivirus Free Edition
6. Comodo Internet Security

* Panda Cloud Antivirus
* PC Tools Threatfire
* ClamWin Free Antivirus

Debut of Professional NerdViews

Hi everyone! I've been publishing the NerdViews newsletter for several years now (back issues here), and figured that it was time for me to start blogging about timely technical topics. Plus, this will be a great way to develop ideas into articles of value to you. Comments are appreciated, whether they be questions, corrections (!), experiences, or suggestions.

Let's have some fun, and let me know what's on YOUR mind!