[Jeff Chandler]

if Microsoft quits automatically giving superuser privilege to ALL user accounts by default

Is there a way to configure a W7 or W8 account like that?

[catnipman]

“Is there a way to configure a W7 or W8 account like that? ‘

Indeed there is via control panel User Accounts -> manage other accounts -> create new account

for existing computers best bet is to create a new account called Admin, and after logging on to Admin, convert your old account to a limited user account, again via manage other account -> change account type.

put a password on Admin (say “password”) to neutralize accidentally clicking yes to any UAC popups on the limited account without first wondering why you got a UAC popup (usually a virus trying to install)