Windows 7 Tweaks: Top Security Tweaks for Windows 7

Windows 7, the new Operating System by Microsoft for personal computers has so many security features in it. Majority of the applications compatible with Vista are compatible with Windows 7 also. New features include an improved Windows Shell, a new taskbar, and much more. Applications that are excluded or omitted with this release of Windows are Windows Mail, Windows Calendar, Movie Maker and Photo Gallery. Let us look at tweaking the security features of Windows 7.

User Account Control (UAC) is available with Windows Vista too; however, it has been improved in Windows 7 and is more user-friendly. This is a feature by which you can control the way programs are changed in your system. You will be notified if changes have to be made to the programs. Actions like browsing, chatting, or e-mailing doesn’t require administrator-level permission and therefore you can use them as standard user. This way it is easy to prevent the installation of malicious virus or spyware.

How to set User Account Control:

1. Click Start > Control Panel.

2. Search Change User Account Control.

3. You will be given the following options:

a. Always Notify

b. Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer

c. Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my desktop)

d. Never notify

4. Move the slider and set the settings of your desire. (Ref. Fig 1 - User Account Control)

Image Source: Recipestr

Significance of each option in User Account Control:

Always Notify: You will be notified whenever a program is trying to make changes or there is a change in Windows settings that requires administrator privileges. Your desktop will be automatically dimmed when an alert pops-up and therefore no other program can run in the background. This is one of the safest and secured options.

Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer: You will be notified only when a program requires administrator privileges to make changes or when a program outside of Windows is trying to make some changes.

Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my desktop): This works very similar to the earlier option; however, you are not on the secured desktop.

Never notify: As the name indicates, you’ll never be notified. If you are logged in as an administrator, you can install or remove any programs of your choice and if as a standard user, it’ll simply not allow them to install or remove programs. This option is considered to be one with least security.