I find it interesting that the FF3.0 installer doesn't run in admin mode my default.

[Locut0s]

It's default install directory is in Program Files which require admin access to write to in Vista yet by default the installer does not run in admin mode.

 

[akhilles]

Is your UAC on?

 

[KentState]

UAC prompted me when I installed it.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

UAC prompted you which is good because it's going to be changing some files in areas that need extra security.

 

[Quiksilver]

Maybe you should turn off UAC... like every vista user should(except for the really really really stupid ones).

 

[akhilles]

UAC is pointless to the average user as they WILL frakking click yes to install any malware they downloaded. My bro-in-law is a good example.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Maybe you should turn off UAC... like every vista user should(except for the really really really stupid ones).

Or maybe not, as UAC, despite its shortcomings, represents a vast improvement in security over XP.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Maybe you should turn off UAC... like every vista user should(except for the really really really stupid ones).

Or maybe not, as UAC, despite its shortcomings, represents a vast improvement in security over XP.

As a twisted irony, anti-UAC guy probably has Ubuntu installed somewhere and thinks Sudo is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

[Locut0s]

Yes I have UAC on and yes I am a fairly experienced power user but I'd still rather keep UAC on. The point is though that the FF installer doesn't run in admin mode which seems like a fairly basic oversite on the part of whoever put together the windows install package. Enter the admin password and you never have to see any UAC warnings at all.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
UAC prompted you which is good because it's going to be changing some files in areas that need extra security.

Actually no the installer just complained that it didn't have write privileges to the program files dir and quit. I ran the installer in admin mode manually. And I do have UAC on.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Maybe you should turn off UAC... like every vista user should(except for the really really really stupid ones).

The really stupid ones are the ones that turn it off. Have you not read the report that it is almost impossible for a rootkit to install itself on a Vista system with UAC on?

Despised UAC Nails Rootkits, Test Find (PCWorld)

Edit:

The smart users will run limited accounts for daily usage.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
Actually no the installer just complained that it didn't have write privileges to the program files dir and quit. I ran the installer in admin mode manually. And I do have UAC on.

I had the same issue. Mozilla needs to correct that for people that do not have a clue how to run a program in admin mode.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: soonerproud
Have you not read the report that it is almost impossible for a rootkit to install itself on a Vista system with UAC on?

That certainly explains why Starforce protected games don't work in Vista. (Starforce is a type of DRM rootkit)

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: akhilles
UAC is pointless to the average user as they WILL frakking click yes to install any malware they downloaded. My bro-in-law is a good example.

UAC can't fix stupid.

 

[soonerproud]

After doing a little reading I found that this is not a bug, but in fact a feature. Firefox has the ability to be installed as a stand alone application without admin privileges. The user has to understand this and just change the directory to a folder in their user files. The downside to this is Firefox will only be installed for that user only unless you first run the installer as admin and install the browser to the program directory.

I'm not certain I like the approach they are taking here. Mozilla should either go ahead and have the installer create a Firefox directory in the user's folder or have it default to the programs folder and ask for elevated privilege. If they chose the second, they could create a dialog giving the user the option to install it to their own directory without privilege escalation. This is really confusing and short sighted on their part for Vista users.

Edit:

This only happens this way on a limited user account from what I can tell. You should still get a UAC prompt on an admin account.