Only using Administrator account

Grampus8

Hi,

I've notice some threads today regarding running your account as an Administrator with the inference that this is not a good thing to do.

Could I please ask the reasons why not?

I'm the only person that uses my laptop, should I still be using a "user" account?

Many Thanks.

G

pcombo

I use only the administrator account on all my computers, Makes 0 bit of difference.

Whats the point of making another account and giving it administrato rights when you have one made.

Grampus8

many thanks.

scheming_gypsy

It depends who says it's not a good thing to do..

If it's your own PC and you're not a complete nut sack then it's perfectly fine to use an admin account; but if you're dealing with somebody who shouldn't be allowed anything sharper than soup, if they use an admin account they'll no doubt screw something up...

USM

It's a seriously bad idea.

Running as an administrator, your session has full rights to do whatever it wants to the rest of the computer. If a piece of malware of a virus finds it's way to your computer, it will be able to do all those same things.

victor2

Add to that, if you do something which causes the account to get locked out, you haven't got another to get back in with.
Get it configured as you want it using administrator then set yourself up with another less powerful account for day-to-day use.

[Deleted User]

What operating system are you using?

Hammyman

Grampus8 wrote: »

Hi,

I've notice some threads today regarding running your account as an Administrator with the inference that this is not a good thing to do.

Could I please ask the reasons why not?

I'm the only person that uses my laptop, should I still be using a "user" account?

Many Thanks.

G

An Administrator has full access to all system files. That also means that any software run under an administrator account has access to all system files INCLUDING MALWARE. Basically, it will allow any malware you download or get infected with rampant access to the entire system with no restrictions.

Think of it as not only giving a burglar the keys to your house but a guided tour and helping them carry the stuff worth nicking to their waiting van.

A lot of malware over the years, especially in the case of Windows XP, could have been thwarted had the user been using a standard user account and not an admin account.

esuhl

pcombo wrote: »

I use only the administrator account on all my computers, Makes 0 bit of difference.

Whats the point of making another account and giving it administrato rights when you have one made.

The point is that if you're logged in as an Administrator and you (perhaps inadvertently) execute a script to install some malware it will do exactly that. If you're logged on as a user, the rights elevation procedure should say, "This program wants Administrator rights, are you sure I should grant them" - hopefully giving you a chance to say, "Hey, what's going on? I'm only trying to view a photo and that shouldn't need Admin rights.".

Also (if I remember rightly), the elevation process in Vista/7 uses a number of "shims" to do clever things like virtualise* the non-user-specific parts of the registry. So if you run malware that attempts to make system-wide registry modifications, the changes it makes will be discarded when the program closes.

Rights elevation doesn't make a system bullet-proof, but it does improve security at very little cost (i.e. clicking "yes" on the occasional "Do you want to grant Admin rights?" message).

pcombo

Well if only one person uses the system, Your hardly going to use a limited account.

Creating a secondary administrator gives exact same rights as the default.

flexrider

If you are still using a A admin aco!!!! do the following

Deping on your o/s (Xp vista or 7) you can set in control panel and user account control the rights up

as many have mentioned regarding malware malware will make the machine malfunction which is annoying it is when you receive a trojan or that sort of stuff the permissions on your computer go a little wonky however some malware can do the same like stopping you form accessing the internet until you buy a fake anti-virus or that sort of thing, This can be taken care of with malwerebytes and a good plan in place, If your worried about your machine going bonkers then always back up to a spare pen or usb/External hard drive and always once a week update your virus definations and windows updates,