By default, modern Windows operating systems operate under the principle of least privilege, meaning applications run with standard user permissions even if the logged-in user is an administrator. This report examines the mechanics, use cases, and security implications of this feature. 🛠️ Mechanism of Action
: Applications can read and write only to user-specific directories and cannot modify critical operating system files. Run as Administrator
: Applications gain the ability to modify protected system directories (like C:\Windows ), change the registry, and manage system-level services. By default, modern Windows operating systems operate under
: If a malicious application or a compromised web browser is run as an administrator, it gains full access to the entire operating system, enabling it to install malware or steal sensitive system files. change the registry