Windows Vista Security at a Glance

Improved security is on display just about anywhere you go in Windows Vista. The basics of the security model are unchanged from Windows XP: as an administrator, you create individual user accounts whose assigned permissions control access to various parts of the operating system, the file system, and network resources. But specific implementations of security features are dramatically changed.

The most visible change is User Account Control, a new feature that requires explicit permission from a local administrator before Windows will accept changes to protected system settings. When you initiate any action that requires administrative permissions—as indicated by a small shield overlaying a program icon or Control ...

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