- User Account Control. A system built into Windows Vista where the
operating system warns the user if an application tries to install or
overwrite installed programs, and requests authorisation from the user
before allowing the activity to go ahead.
UAC is intended to increase the security of Windows Vista by making the user (administrator) aware each time an application performs something which has the potential to compromise security. Whilst UAC can be disabled (which administrators may be tempted to to to avoided the repeated prompting it generates) it is generally advised to leave it enabled.
For more information see:
- http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/aa906021.aspx - User Account Control Overview from Microsoft.
- www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vista.htm - Methods to disable UAC.