14 DAY TRIAL // Symantec is currently developing prototypes of a technology that will circumvent the User Account Control feature in Windows Vista. If Symantec gets its way, Vista users will no longer be prompted by UAC requests, as the Cupertino-based security company aims to take the end user out of the User Account Control equation and automate it.
Following the initial announcement by Symantec, the initiate has received negative feedback. This although Microsoft has failed to make any official comments as yet. Two influential Microsoft bloggers have spoken out against Symantec taking over Vista's UAC.
"Symantec seems to think that UAC prompts are a big enough problem that they are looking into designing software that could answer them for you. Now to me this seem to be really short sighted. Even if they can succeed in inserting into the UAC process, which I doubt they can, this would just serve to perpetuate a problem with security that has plagued Windows. Microsoft has taken a huge step in increasing Windows overall security and this technology can only undermine its effectiveness," commented Josh Phillips over at WindowsConnected.
"Symantec should spend less time circumventing existing Windows security features (through workarounds intentional or otherwise) and start coming up with ways to actually make my computer more secure. What a novel concept," said Robert McLaws over at WindowsNow.
Although Microsoft has kept quiet as far, it will not stand for Symantec's interference into the functionality of Windows Vista, especially into UAC, as this is one of the security aspects of the operating system. Symantec's argument on automated control over the UAC is that it will reduce annoyances and eliminate social engineering schemes. And as software is inherently faulty, Symantec's vision is that of a lesser evil. It would be interesting to see Microsoft's response to this.