Yes, that is what I am saying. Malware uses the existing rights of the user to do its deed. Running as an admin, gives malware admin rights to the machine and thus, no limitations. Running as a lower-permission user denies malware the rights it needs to install and propagate itself.
Non-honorware self-installs without interaction with the user. The "e-card" Trojan circulating is an example of honorware. You have to fall for the ruse, go to the web site linked in the message, download the executable and install it all yourself. Once that's done, it then uses your PC as a spam zombie or installs a keylogger to get login credentials for banks and such. Some legitimate programs won't run unless you are the admin, which is the result of sloppy and/or lazy coding. That MS made Windows install the user as the default admin was just an act of galactic-sized stupidity on their part. They have corrected that to a point, but not completely, in Vista. > -----Original Message----- > Jeff, > I'm sorry but I don't understand your message. Are you saying that not > running as admin stops certain spyware? What is "non-honor" spyware? > What stops "honor" software? ************************************************************************ * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header "X-No-Archive: yes" will not be archived ************************************************************************
