Microsoft Australia has defended the company's User Account Control (UAC) system as being "misunderstood" and said it should be the type of technology that all operating systems aspire towards.
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Member since:2007-02-22
Member since:2005-07-07
How? You run the app as root, so everything in the app is as safe as an process in Vista which runs under UAC. The only difference is that in Linux, you have a centralized and easy way to manage software, Vista lacks such a technology. That's why you need a lot more work in Vista to install apps.
There are many advantages of a centralized repository of software - it's easier, the software is checked by the distributor (would be like MS would have checked each and every piece of software you download) and you have a centralized and effective way of managing updates. Thus you have a much lower chance of installing spyware and adware or otherwise infected sofware. The linux update software doesn't just work for a certain small amount of software (eg only Vista itself) but also for all other installed software like webbrowsers, music software, video players, foto management - all of it recieves updates through the same mechanism.
Member since:
2005-07-07
Yes, you get asked stuff a million times. Way too much. Not just UAC, everything. Try to install an application:
First 'this is downloaded, are you sure you want to run it' then a 'this is an unknown app, sure you want to run it' then UAC, then the installer. Sorry, but I can install 10 applications with only ONE dialog asking me for the rootpasword in linux. Start Adept/Synaptic/whatever, give pw, tick 10 boxes, click 'execute', and it's done. Windows would need to ask 30 times 'are you sure' and a lot of other 'next' style wizards asking if you want another icon on your desktop or where you want to install the application.