Question If I have a windows 7 standard user account am I safe from viruses running?

[Alex58]

Hi

If I have a standard windows 7 user account instead of an administrator user account am I 100% safe from
a virus running on my system?
From what I have read a virus can only run on the system if Im logged in as an administrator.
So if yes no virus can run unless Im logged in as an administrator I assume Im also safe from
a virus running and infecting the bios correct?

Thanks!

 

[balloonshark]

I'm no expert but If the malware tricks you into giving it admin privileges with a UAC prompt it can execute with admin privileges. If your OS or a program you have installed has a unpatched vulnerability then it may be possible for malware to execute with admin privileges. So keep your OS and programs updated and make sure you get them from reputable sources. Also, if malware can actually run without admin privileges in your LUA account it would be limited in what it can do and limited to that one account. Somebody please correct me if anything I said is inaccurate.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Hi

If I have a standard windows 7 user account instead of an administrator user account am I 100% safe from
a virus running on my system?
From what I have read a virus can only run on the system if Im logged in as an administrator.
So if yes no virus can run unless Im logged in as an administrator I assume Im also safe from
a virus running and infecting the bios correct?

Thanks!

That is not true!

 

[IJTSSG]

Hi

If I have a standard windows 7 user account instead of an administrator user account am I 100% safe from
a virus running on my system?
From what I have read a virus can only run on the system if Im logged in as an administrator.
So if yes no virus can run unless Im logged in as an administrator I assume Im also safe from
a virus running and infecting the bios correct?

Thanks!

Unfortunately, that isn't true but it's still a good idea to use a normal user account when you're surfing the internet. There's no one thing that will prevent all security problems, security is done in layers.

In addition to having two accounts, I encourage you to 1. Automatically patch everything on your computer both OS and applications and 2. Run A/V that updates it's signatures at least daily, set it up to scan files on 'access' and scan all files weekly.