The Secure Desktop’s primary difference from the User Desktop is that only trusted processes running as SYSTEM are allowed to run here (i.e. MSDN has a more detailed explanation of Secure Desktop here: This can be quite dangerous as we will see. Now most people find this prompt annoying and will typically turn this off. Now what is Secure Desktop? From user experience side, Secure Desktop looks like this. For tasks which require privilege elevation, the administrator SID is used after the prompt on Secure Desktop has been clicked away. You cannot for example write to C:\Windows\System32 will get Access is denied error. Running cmd.exe from the Start menu without select ‘Run as administrator’ will give a shell without admin privileges. Windows implements UAC by using two separate SIDs even for administrator accounts. Elevate from High integrity cmd shell to SYSTEM.Elevate cmd shell from Medium to High integrity.Specifically what must done are these steps, and in order. The shell belongs to the local Administrators group but UAC is enabled and needs to be bypassed, before we can elevate to SYSTEM. No exploitation needed because the machine already has a backdoor.
Optimize memory, applications, and the network connection, and see how to monitor performance.Note: This is a rework of a lab that previously used Metasploit. * Optimize Windows Startup, the Hard Disk, and More
Understand wireless security and learn how to install a wireless network. See how to configure TCP/IP (both IPv4 and IPv6) via the user interface or via the netsh command. The Services utility allows you to view the status of services, as well as to disable nonessential services. Remote Desktop and Windows Firewall can help administrators perform administrative tasks on remote computers. Learn how using tools such as disk defragging, cluster size adjustment, removing short filename support, and compression can help with performance.
Learn how Windows Vista supports basic and dynamic volumes and two partition styles: MBR and GPT. * Manage File System Formats, Partitions, and Volumes See how to use a personalization page, use the taskbar, and customize desktop themes. * Customize Appearances, Taskbars, and Toolbars
Windows Vista contains device drivers for hundreds of PnP devices, and the Device Manager snap-in is the main utility on a local computer for managing them. See how Windows installations can be automated for large-scale deployments using the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).
How to Cheat will help you get Vista up and running as quickly and safely as possible and provide you with a solid idea of all the important changes and improvements the new Microsoft Vista OS has to offer. As administrators, Vista will sometimes look like its predecessor, Windows XP, and at other times, look like an all-new operating system.
It also enhances the system’s reliability, performance, and problem-solving tools. It not only brings a new and redesigned interface, but also improves on many administrative utilities and management consoles.
The Microsoft Windows Vista operating system offers several changes and improvements over its predecessors. The Perfect Reference for the Multitasked SysAdmin