Windows Vista Forums

Voice recognition and security

  1. #1


    Guest

    Voice recognition and security

    I am presently handicapped to the degree that I can't use a keyboard or
    mouse so Windows Vista voice recognition of the godsend. It works really
    well in most circumstances however whenever it security alert occurs it
    appears to override voice recognition so I can that acknowledge or cancel.
    In order to avoid this problem I've been forced to turn off user account
    security. With this turned off the computer runs OK but I'm not utilizing
    many security features. Is there a way that I can get voice recognition to
    work in answering the security alerts? Click send




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Rafael R. [Live Butterfly] Guest

    Re: Voice recognition and security

    This is a good question, looks like an oversight on Microsoft's part. I
    am looking into this for you.

    - Rafael

    Msradell@aol.com wrote:
    > I am presently handicapped to the degree that I can't use a keyboard or
    > mouse so Windows Vista voice recognition of the godsend. It works
    > really well in most circumstances however whenever it security alert
    > occurs it appears to override voice recognition so I can that
    > acknowledge or cancel. In order to avoid this problem I've been forced
    > to turn off user account security. With this turned off the computer
    > runs OK but I'm not utilizing many security features. Is there a way
    > that I can get voice recognition to work in answering the security
    > alerts? Click send


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Alun Harford Guest

    Re: Voice recognition and security

    Msradell@aol.com wrote:
    > I am presently handicapped to the degree that I can't use a keyboard or
    > mouse so Windows Vista voice recognition of the godsend. It works
    > really well in most circumstances however whenever it security alert
    > occurs it appears to override voice recognition so I can that
    > acknowledge or cancel. In order to avoid this problem I've been forced
    > to turn off user account security. With this turned off the computer
    > runs OK but I'm not utilizing many security features. Is there a way
    > that I can get voice recognition to work in answering the security
    > alerts? Click send


    I don't think so :-(

    There's a security issue. An attacking application could turn on voice
    recognition, play a sound file which 'says' the word "continue" and then
    ask for elevated permission.

    Voice recognition (foolishly) doesn't cancel out feedback from the speakers.

    Alun Harford

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Jesper Guest

    Re: Voice recognition and security

    > > I am presently handicapped to the degree that I can't use a keyboard or
    > > mouse so Windows Vista voice recognition of the godsend. It works
    > > really well in most circumstances however whenever it security alert
    > > occurs it appears to override voice recognition so I can that
    > > acknowledge or cancel. In order to avoid this problem I've been forced
    > > to turn off user account security. With this turned off the computer
    > > runs OK but I'm not utilizing many security features. Is there a way
    > > that I can get voice recognition to work in answering the security
    > > alerts? Click send

    >
    > I don't think so :-(


    Sure you can!
    http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...7d1033.mspx#EL

    You need to disable the switch to the secure desktop. The built-in speech
    recognition feature in Windows Vista does not operate on the secure desktop.
    If you disable the secure desktop part of UAC you will be able to use speech
    recognition to answer the elevation prompt. Keep in mind that this does lower
    the security of your system to some extent, but my guess is that if you rely
    on this feature that's a trade-off you are willing to take.

    You did not mention which version of Vista you are using, but if you are
    using anything other than Business, Enterprise or Ultimate the directions in
    the web link I gave you will not work. In that case, run this command from an
    elevated command prompt instead:
    reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v
    PromptOnSecureDesktop /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f


    To elevate a command prompt do this:
    1. Click the Window button
    2. Click All Programs
    3. Click Accessories
    4. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
    5. Accept the UAC prompt.

    I won't comment on the obvious chicken and egg scenario involved in having
    to dismiss a UAC prompt to configure your system so you can dismiss the UAC
    prompts. Hopefully you can find someone to help you with that.

    > There's a security issue. An attacking application could turn on voice
    > recognition, play a sound file which 'says' the word "continue" and then
    > ask for elevated permission.


    Not really. An attacker can't turn on voice recognition. The attack only
    works if the feature is already on. Then the attacker needs to play an audio
    file with commands that work in the context of what the computer is asking
    for. That is pretty hard to pull off to do anything really interesting.
    Mostly it is an annonyance.


    ---
    Your question may already be answered in Windows Vista Security:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/047...otectyourwi-20


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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