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I would like to downgrade my Windows 7 admin account to be a standard account, mostly for the added security benefits. I will have another admin account in case I need to install or update softwares.

Will I be better off (security wise) creating a new standard account instead of changing the type of my current admin account? And if so I would like to know why.

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  • Makes no difference honestly. As to the reason "why", there wouldn't be any difference, so why go to the extra work
    – Ramhound
    Mar 3, 2016 at 23:39

2 Answers 2

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You won't be better off. Like mentioned, you'd only be adding more work for yourself.

The only reason I can fathom for creating a new user would be if the current one has been compromised, in which case the entire system could be compromised. So creating a new user would likely be a placebo for a solution.

If however your current user has been bogged down with lots of applications that start-up - only for that user - then creating a new one is a perfectly valid solution to that problem; seeing as it would require the least amount of work.

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The method I use at home and on the work network is to rename the administrator account and create an additional standard account.

This will give you the separation you are looking for I believe.

Your best option no matter what you decide is to enable user account control. This will help to prevent changes on your system that require administrative rights without your knowledge.

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  • Renaming the default administrator account is a HUgE security problems the default account does not play by the same rules as a normal Administrator account.
    – Ramhound
    Mar 4, 2016 at 0:03
  • Best to leave Administrator disabled since it cannot be enabled by a standard user, and requires WinRE, to enable it
    – Ramhound
    Mar 4, 2016 at 0:08

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