I wrote a little Windows utility that updates a file. It’s safe and harmless; it just modifies a file which is in my user documents folder. I called the utility UpdateMSI. Under Vista with UAC enabled, running this app throws up a dialog:<\/p>\n
\nAn unidentified program wants access to your computer<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
But why? Simple: Vista inspects the name of the executable<\/strong>, notes that it includes the word “update”, and concludes that it needs local administrator rights.<\/p>\n
On the face of it, this is silly. First of all, Vista is wrong: my app does not need admin rights. Second, it is infuriating that I am not given any choice in the matter. The UAC dialog says “Cancel” or “Allow”. It does not include the option to run with my normal user rights.<\/p>\n
Microsoft did this in an effort to detect setup applications; the word “setup” has the same effect. It will trigger if the word is anywhere in the executable name. I tried it with WorldCupDatePicker.exe – same result.<\/p>\n
Surely it would not have been too hard to give the user a say in this? Just a checkbox that says “Let me run this how I want on my computer”? You can disable UAC of course; but I’m not going to do that; overall it’s a good feature.<\/p>\n
If you wrote the app, there is a fix. You have to embed a UAC manifest in your application. There are simple instructions here<\/a>, though note that these explain how to force the UAC prompt, not how to suppress it. If you don’t want to run as admin, modify the line:<\/p>\n
<requestedExecutionLevel level=”requireAdministrator”\/> <\/p>\n
to read instead: <\/p>\n
<requestedExecutionLevel level=”asInvoker”\/> <\/p>\n
Bottom line: always include a manifest.<\/p>\n
Technorati tags: uac<\/a>, security<\/a>, vista<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I wrote a little Windows utility that updates a file. It’s safe and harmless; it just modifies a file which is in my user documents folder. I called the utility UpdateMSI. Under Vista with UAC enabled, running this app throws up a dialog: An unidentified program wants access to your computer But why? Simple: Vista … Continue reading Don’t call your Windows app UpdateAnything<\/span>