SophosLabs Sets Out to Prove Windows 7 Has Some Vulnerabilities
SophosLabs Sets Out to Prove Windows 7 Has Some Vulnerabilities
Posted 11/05/2009 at 4:19pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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Security firm Sophos recently took it upon itself to run some tests on Windows 7 sans anti-virus software. Sophos used ten unique viruses found in circulation and attempted to infect Windows 7. While many may have thought this would be a foregone conclusion, they wanted to make a point. Microsoft claims that User Account Control (UAC) is more secure in Windows 7. Does it actually make a difference?
Sure enough, eight out of ten viruses ran without problem on a stock install of Windows 7 without User Account Control. With UAC active, an additional threat was actually blocked, and the other two still failed to run. Overall, UAC didn’t make much difference in virus protection. So yes, you still need to run an anti-virus on Windows 7. There’s been a lot of positive buzz around Redmond’s new release, just don’t let that stuff go to your head.
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gendoikari1
November 06, 2009 at 7:51pm
So Sophos proves that an operating system is vulnerable to viruses when it doesn't have any anti-virus software installed. Must be a slow news day.
Looksback
November 05, 2009 at 7:39pm
This isn't much of a news item. I have never read anywhere that Windows 7 UAC eliminated the need for antivirus - in fact you will be nagged about installing AV by the security settings advisor if it doesn't detect that you have one running.
Did Sophos "run" executable viruses while logged in with administrator priveledges to see if they would be blocked without AV? I would be very interested to know what level of UAC they were testing at, assuming that it didn't pop a warning when enabled at the highest setting. Otherwise, what did they expect?
A link to the Sophos "test" would be useful where the information is so minimal.
mesiah
November 05, 2009 at 8:42pm
The test was done with the default setting for UAC not the max setting. And you are right, UAC was never meant to be a replacement for virus protection, merely an extra layer of protection.
nekollx
November 06, 2009 at 9:05am
and between UAC, Windows Defender, and the new MS AV you have no excuse for not having atleast basic protection.
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Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Zefir
November 05, 2009 at 8:10pm
http://www.sophos.com/blogs/chetw/g/2009/11/03/windows-7-vulnerable-8-10-viruses/
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