How to log in as administrator in Windows 8

This tutorial is only intended for Windows 8 developer preview and will be updated for Windows 8 beta, RTM, etc.

Windows 8 still has a hidden admin account that you have to enable via command prompt:

1. Restore the classic start menu

2. Open a command prompt as administrator

3. Enter the command net user administrator /active:yes

4. Click on Start and then on the Shutdown arrow, click on Switch User

5. Now, drag the Windows 8 Start screen (click on screen and drag) to the top of the screen and you will see the activated Windows 8 accounts. The administrator account will appear there.

The real administrator account is hidden intentionally and should not be used for developing – it should be used for maintenance purposes that require full elevated rights in Windows 8.

Basically activating the hidden admin accounts works exactly like it did in Windows 7.

If you’re still having problems performing an administrative task, you should run sfc.exe or check that something else is not blocking the access (firewalls, other processes, etc.)

How to Activate the Hidden Administrator account in Windows7

Through User Account Control

1. Go to your Start menu and right-click on the My Computer icon.

2. Choosing Manage from the list will prompt a User Account Control (UAC).

3. When you are done, the Computer Management console will appear. Expand the Local Users and Groups option with the use of the arrow next to it and choose Users folder.

4. You can now select the Administrator Account and go to the Actions panel to open More Actions.

5. Choose Properties to open the Administrator Properties dialog box and uncheck the option labeled Account is Disabled.

6. When done, click OK to confirm changes.

7. The Administrator account should now be present on your log in screen.

With Command Prompt

1. Go to your Start menu and in Accessories list, open Command Prompt by right-clicking on its icon and choosing Run as Administrator

2. When the Command Prompt window appears, enter the command net user administrator /active:yes 3. When done, log out from your current account. Just add a No instead of yes to deactivate the account.

4. The Administrator account should now be present on your log in screen

Hackers new target - Digital wallets

 

A Digital wallet or an e-wallet is something that allows users to make electronic commerce transaction quickly and securely.

Credit cards replaced cash and now is the era of 'Digital wallets'. It is predicated that its usage will be common within a decade (Pew Research survey released in April).

Blackwing Intelligence security researcher Eddie Lee showed DefCon attendees how to use an Android-powered smartphone to pickup data from creditcard and then used the swiped information for digital wallet purchases.

"You can start spending on someone's creditcard; basically you can use it the way you use Google Wallet," Lee said while demonstrating his technique to a packed room of hackers. "We've known from a long time you can skim RFID credit cards," he said. "This lets you abuse that information and spend on those cards. Maybe this will give the creditcard companies an incentive to fix the things in my wallet." He theorized the tactic could work on the cards, such as those for metro system fares or building access.

Accuvant computer security firm consultant and former National Security Agency analyst Charlie Miller showed DefCon attendees a way to slip into smartphones by getting a sensor close enough to read signals from NFC chips. In some cases, it is even possible to take over control of a phone via NFC. One can steal photos, contact lists, send text messages or even make phone calls. He showed that if he could briefly get an antenna device easily concealed in a sticker near enough to a phone at an opportune moment, it can open a virtual door that a hacker could slip in through. "A bad guy can use that moment of talking to your phone to steal data," he continued. "NFC is cool, convenient and fun; I'm just trying to say let's pay attention to the security implications."