We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Adding a new User Account on a Macbook Pro

I bought a unibody Macbook Pro a while ago and am running Snow Leopard. I was reading some security tips on Macs and saw a recommendation to add a Standard User account in addition to the Administrator Account, and then only use the Admin account when necessary to make changes.

I tried this and the additional software that I had purchased was no longer showing in the Dock, I realise that I can just drag the icons out of Applications Folder onto the dock so that is no problem.

But then my iPhoto and iTunes folders no longer appear, so question is do I have to have another copy of the photos and music tracks stored in new folders on the Standard Account or is there any way round that.

I just wanted to save space on my hard drive but I suppose I could just store the photos and music on the Standard Account and delete them from the Admin Account if that is the only way to solve this problem.

Sorry for long post but I am just not used to Macs after having Windows for so long, this laptop only gets used on my travels.

Thanks

Comments

  • To be fair, you probably don't really need to add another account. One for admin and one for user.

    I've haven't done it on my imac and my gf hasn't done it on her macbook. Why for the sake of security is beyond me, if someone steals your laptop, the likely outcome is that they would format your HD. Also when a script or something runs.. it asks you for a password first. But again this is personal preference!

    Just use the admin account and for better working practises, buy an external HD and use it to make time machine backups regularly.

    However if you do want to stick with the advice of two accounts, when opening iphoto or something hold down the option key as it loads and it'll ask you which folder you want to change to, find the folder and select it. Same with itunes.
    :exclamatiTo the internet.. I need to complain about something!
  • Thanks for your reply and help, I think the security tipsheet was probably referring to preventing a third party hacking into the Mac and making changes when the owner is running his Admin account.

    I have got extra careful the last few years as I am living out in the Philippines now and hacking seems to be a National Pastime here. When I first came here and was living in a hotel for the first month I used an internet cafe and and a webpage came up when I was logging in to my Citibank account asking for personal details and answers to the 10 security questions. Of course I shut down the (windows) computer immediately and rang Citibank pronto and changed my account numbers for safety sake. I have broadband at home now but due to regular powercuts everyday I occasionally need to take my MBP to an internet cafe and use their wi-fi hence me looking for some increased security as I do trade shares a lot.

    If you have any more tips for security I would be grateful, thanks again.:)
  • Hmmm, well understandable yes, but that was windows, now your in the warm and fuzzy land of OSX! :D

    Ironically one of the things I'll suggest is an Antivirus program. Now you may or may not have one... or you could be thinking "OSX.. Virus !!!!!!?". Well as rare as it is.. it does happen! ClamAV is free and open source, generally recommened http://www.clamav.net/lang/en/
    :exclamatiTo the internet.. I need to complain about something!
  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    rockitup wrote: »
    Thanks for your reply and help, I think the security tipsheet was probably referring to preventing a third party hacking into the Mac and making changes when the owner is running his Admin account.

    Not in Linux or Mac OS X or any other *nix variety. You would need to enter your password in order for the changes to be made. Go into System Properties and on any remotely crucial page, make sure the padlock is enabled to disable changes without authorisation.

    Vista and Win7 are similar in this respect as long as the dumbasses haven't disabled UAC. Windows XP definitely needs a Standard User account setting up but then it tends to break lots of software.
  • Thanks Chimpofdoom and Hammyman for your replies,

    Windows.... I still have it with Parallels as I still need to use a couple of Windows programmes from time to time. That should be okay as I will just run those whilst not connected to the Net.

    I have just done the padlock wotsit through system preferences and am now reading up on Keychain.

    Would you recommend the use of Keychain considering I do a fair bit of online banking and share trading, or shall I stick to keeping passwords on an encrypted (256 bit AES) Flash Drive and just access the password file whilst offline?

    Cheers for your help here, I am really getting to like my MBP so when I make a few more quids on the shares I might get tempted for splashing out on an iMac 27". I tried one out yesterday at an Apple Stockist and thought it was the bee's knees. Didn't tell the Missus how much it was though, Lol :rotfl:
  • rockitup wrote: »
    Thanks Chimpofdoom and Hammyman for your replies,

    Windows.... I still have it with Parallels as I still need to use a couple of Windows programmes from time to time. That should be okay as I will just run those whilst not connected to the Net.

    I have just done the padlock wotsit through system preferences and am now reading up on Keychain.

    Would you recommend the use of Keychain considering I do a fair bit of online banking and share trading, or shall I stick to keeping passwords on an encrypted (256 bit AES) Flash Drive and just access the password file whilst offline?

    Cheers for your help here, I am really getting to like my MBP so when I make a few more quids on the shares I might get tempted for splashing out on an iMac 27". I tried one out yesterday at an Apple Stockist and thought it was the bee's knees. Didn't tell the Missus how much it was though, Lol :rotfl:

    Well if your ultra paranoid about security then keep it on the flash drive.

    Ah yes the imac 27" I was contemplating one earlier to update my less than year old 20" imac.. but Chimp needs to behave and save for a house! :A
    :exclamatiTo the internet.. I need to complain about something!
  • Well if your ultra paranoid about security then keep it on the flash drive.

    Ah yes the imac 27" I was contemplating one earlier to update my less than year old 20" imac.. but Chimp needs to behave and save for a house! :A

    Okay, I'll stick with the Flash Drive for that then, good luck with saving for the house and thanks for all your help so far.... might be back with more questions at a later date! :D
  • jayme1
    jayme1 Posts: 2,154 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    rockitup wrote: »
    I have got extra careful the last few years as I am living out in the Philippines now and hacking seems to be a National Pastime here. When I first came here and was living in a hotel for the first month I used an internet cafe and and a webpage came up when I was logging in to my Citibank account asking for personal details and answers to the 10 security questions. Of course I shut down the (windows) computer immediately and rang Citibank pronto and changed my account numbers for safety sake. I have broadband at home now but due to regular powercuts everyday I occasionally need to take my MBP to an internet cafe and use their wi-fi hence me looking for some increased security as I do trade shares a lot.

    that sounds like a spoofed wifi (when you actually join an identical wifi from a hackers wifi rather than the legitimate wifi of the hotel/cafe) it is impossible to tell if you join one of these 'hacker wifi' points as the have the exact same characteristics as a real one, but because they are run through a computer they can direct you to unsecure/phishing sites inplace of the real site but to you it can seem the exact same.
    you can also fall for it on any OS because it never actually 'hacks' your system it just gives you different web pages through the browser, much like a link in a phishing email.

    this is often why you hear you should never use public wifi for any sensitive data or passwords, or if you must always make sure you are on https or a secure connection.

    best advice is always be vigilent on public wifi no matter what OS
  • Thanks Jayme1,

    I had never heard of that spoofed wifi before but it sounds just like what happened to me that time.

    That was back in April 2008 and Citibank said they had not previously had any reports of a web page asking for the info. They were only aware of phishing emails at that time but this web page would probably look good to some users as it had a very similar site address to the actual log-in page, not just a citibank.co.uk followed by a couple of characters. Just that I would never give anything like this amount of info to any website, email or phone query.

    I may sound paranoid but over here card/banking fraud is among the highest in the world. I even started using a VPN earlier this year costing a Fiver a month and use it for banking, trading and also able to get British TV (Now I value British TV after seeing all the cr** over here, lol)
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.6K Life & Family
  • 254.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.