Windows users security tip of the day: Use a standard account

[steve2470]

A standard account is great for browsing the web and doing most other usual computer activities.

You only need to use a administrator account if you need to change settings or install software, etc.

It's tempting to always use the administrator account, because it's more convenient. However, if a nasty gains access to your computer, BOOM, the nasty has access to your entire computer right away. With a standard account, it makes it much more difficult to gain access to your entire computer.

Of course, if you're more concerned about security, use a distro of Linux. Better yet, unplug your computer from the internet and do things the pre-internet way. It's a lot harder to violate your security OFF the internet.

[hobbit709]

1. since I'm constantly doing things on mine where I need Admin privileges

I stay in Admin mode. If something does get in-highly unlikely, I can be up and running with a clean system in less than 10 minutes.
I keep no data files of any type on my C; drive and constantly image my system to an external drive that is disconnected as soon as I make the image. Plus I have a spare boot drive with a complete running image not more than two weeks old at any time just sitting in the bottom of the case

[steve2470]

2. yea, it would make no sense for someone like you to use a standard account

You're also highly aware of and skilled at security.

[JimDandy]

4. That's some discipline there!

I'm just a casual users who probably needs to heed this tip until I get as computer savvy as you.

[lpbk2713]

3. Generally a good idea.

But I've found Spybot locates and deletes more using Admin, this on Win 7 Pro.

A Spybot notif would pop up and advise to run in Admin in order to delete some
hits it found after running as regular user.