The current implementation of the User Account Control (UAC) feature in Vista triggers too many pop-up boxes, requiring users to click on them to confirm things as simple as running regular programs, Steve Hiskey, lead program manager for User Account Control in Microsoft's Windows Security Core group, acknowledged in his blog on the MSDN Web site.

According to the June 1 blog, Hiskey said that the next beta release of Windows Vista, Release Candidate 1 (RC1), will reduce the number of security prompts users will face by creating safe scenarios for Standard User accounts. Microsoft will also create fixes, called "shims," for applications that don't easily run as a standard user.

Vista RC1, originally set for mid-July, is now slated for Aug. 25.

Microsoft officials did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday.

Current versions of Windows, including Windows XP, grant logged-in users full administrator rights over all software and processes by default.