Sly, I completely understand your desire not to want to use Administrator mode while online. It's a good security practice. However, it's kind of a given that music production and internet security are somewhat mutually incompatible. As a compromise, perhaps you can create an administrator profile for running music software, and disconnect from the internet while doing so. Just a thought.

I am fortunate in having had the luxury of dedicating a PC for use as a DAW, running as an administrator with only Microsoft Essentials and Avast antivirus for security, which are pretty light as far as interfering with other functions. I only go to trusted sites with this machine, mainly those necessary to update my music software or check in on the PG Music forums. For anything riskier I use another PC entirely. Of course, all of my PCs are behind a hardware firewall (Netgear cable modem and router (two separate devices)) as well, which adds another secure layer that doesn't tax any of the PCs' resources.

HTH,

Richard

"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."