Windows 7 default user account control worries experts

Corporate IT departments should be pleased with new security measures in Windows 7, but consumers are still at risk of getting hit by malware despite changes in the User Account Control (UAC) feature designed to help people be smarter when using applications, security experts say.

Probably the most talked about security change in Windows 7 are modifications to the UAC, which was introduced in Vista. The UAC was designed to prevent unauthorized execution of code by displaying a pop-up warning every time a change was being made to the system, whether by the operating system or a third-party application.

Vista users complained that they were bombarded with the warnings and security experts speculated that as a result, many people were just ignoring them or turning them off.

With Windows 7, users can choose how often they want to be notified and the default is set to notify only when a third-party application is making a change, as well as when a change is being made to the UAC itself.
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Windows 7 Whopper, anyone?

While Microsoft's new operating system finally hits stores and computers around the globe, we thought we'd lighten up Windows 7 launch day with the strangest promotional item we've seen for an operating system: The Windows 7 Whopper.

Available in Japan for a limited time, it stacks seven patties into an impossibly caloric 5-inch-tall structure, all for a special price of 777 yen (US$8.50); at least, for the first 30 customers. That's a little more than US$8 for what must be a two-week supply of char-meat. It's a strange cross-promotion for software that's being touted as "leaner and meaner".

No, this isn't a joke. But perhaps you'd care to tear into one of these while you do a fresh install of Windows 7 on top of Windows XP. Sadly, Windows 7 is not included with the purchase of this burger (not even Starter edition).

All we want to know is, where is our Snow Leopard Snack Wrap? Android apple pie? Ubuntu udon?

This makes Microsoft's Windows 7 Party video seem almost normal.

Via Crave CNET | via Electronista

Upgrading Windows Vista to Windows 7

If you're upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7 it should be a fairly easy install. You can do what's called an in-place upgrade as long you install the same version of Windows 7 as you have of Vista.

For instance, if you have Windows Vista Home premium you can upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium. You can also go from Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional, and from Vista Ultimate to 7 Ultimate. Any other upgrade, like Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional, will require a clean install. That means you can't just turn Vista into 7. You have to export all your data, erase the hard drive, and then reinstall all your applications and data. A lot of computer experts think you should do a clean install anyway, just to make sure your machine runs better.
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The painful path from XP to 7

Many of you did not upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista, but are planning to upgrade to Windows 7. How dare you leave the Microsoft upgrade path? As a punishment, you can't upgrade directly from XP to 7; you have to do what's called a clean install, which means you have to jump through some hoops to keep your old data and programs.

Not to worry, we'll show you a couple ways to deal with the pain of installing Windows 7 on your XP machine. And afterward, Microsoft will forgive you your trespasses. Maybe.
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Google Wave addon for Firefox

If you are already on Google Wave, this might come in handy, a Firefox addon. Yes, so soon after the public preview of this online collaboration tool started, someone has already made a notifier for the open-source browser so you know when you get new waves.

The Google Wave Add-on is very basic and simply shows a number which indicates the new alerts you have. We tried it and it works as advertised. Download it here.

Via Red Ferret Journal

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