Example of a computer being infected with virus or spyware while running as non-admin?

Question

I work in the IT field, and I am fully aware that computers are safer when running with "user" rights as opposed to "admin" rights. However, I've been a little sceptical when I hear other tech's mention this as being the end-all, be-all cure for this problem. They speak as if no virus or spyware app could ever execute or run if "users were users and not admins". Is this correct? Are there simply no known cases of a virus or piece of spyware infecting a machine that was running with "user" rights? I'd love to see a news article or something credible as opposed to someone's blog, but any example will do.

Answer 1

User only rights will not prevent spyware, adware, malware, virus's etc. If the user had internet rights any and all that stuff can find its way onto a computer. Users can also bring in infected floppys, CDs, flash drives and even get garbage via email. You have to keep in mind that we do not use dumb terminals (anymore) and the typical user still has to run programs in order to work.