Least privilege 'useful tactic against malware'

Friday, 8 Feb 2008. Categories: USA

Using least privilege tactics can help prevent around 90 per cent of modern malware and maybe even more, an expert has asserted.

Least privilege refers to the practise of only granting the fewest possible permissions necessary in order to allow programmes to complete their tasks.

It is considered a useful approach to limiting the effects of malware on a machine as it decreases the chances that unwanted activity could be carried out without the user's consent.

Roger A Grimes, contributing editor of the InfoWorld Test Center, made his comments following a previous article in which he claimed limiting user privilege levels could not halt the spread of viruses.

It is very possible than the creators of malicious software will create code which can override least privilege limitations, however, such accounts can help limit the online threat presented by current programmes, he noted.

Furthermore, using a least privilege account makes it more difficult for a virus to modify system components, Mr Grimes continued.

"While malware may be able to still do harm - much harm - with user-mode programming alone, not being able to semi-permanently modify the operating system does provide protection you would not have otherwise," he explained.

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Least privilege 'useful tactic against malware'

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