Two accounts? Safer?

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  1. Posts : 259
    Windows 7 Panasonic CF F9 (used to have CF F8)
       #1

    Two accounts? Safer?


    Hi I thought I was being smart by creating two accounts, one account being admin with full rights and then another which was for just checking email etc with de-elvated rights, (if that is the right word).

    Anyways, when I logged into the new account with less rights most of the programs were not there...?

    Is there a way to sort of clone an account over with all the tweaks and settings but make it so that things cant be changed?

    Thanks!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 759
    W7-Enterprise + WS-2008 (Converted to Workstation)
       #2

    hi !

    yes, you are thinking in the right direction.

    some basic security-advice:

    create a USER-account, use a good password on both accounts.
    always use the USER-account for normal work.
    only use your ADMIN-account when it´s absolutely necessary fx. when doing system maintenance
    use UAC, at max. (top)-setting

    you can copy all settings, desktop, files, etc. from the ADMIN-account to the USER-account.

    in "C:\users\" you have a folder with the name from your ADMIN-account, just copy everything in that folder to the other folder.

    fx. on MY computer, my ADMIN-account=HACKER, my USER-account=HACKERMAN

    in this example i copy everything in the folder "HACKER" to "HACKERMAN".

    "C:\users\HACKER" to "C:\users\HACKERMAN"


    one other way to get everything into the USER-account:

    open control panel → user account control.
    create a new ADMIN-account.
    change the old ADMIN account into a USER-account.

    i know this works, because i used only the ADMIN-account until i learned that it wasn´t safe to do it,
    then i changed the ADMIN-account into a USER-account.

    after changing you have an "empty" ADMIN-account, but that should not be any real problems, since you only need it for "system maintenance", as you would be using the USER-account for "normal" work such as surfing the web & check your email etc.


    if you fx. want to have the same desktop on both accounts, then just copy what you really need from USER to ADMIN-account.
    Last edited by hackerman1; 18 Oct 2010 at 13:53.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 9,537
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #3

    If you are the only one using your computer then why have two accounts?
    What you might consider is having separate e-mail accounts.
    One for your Preferred contacts and the other for junk mail.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 759
    W7-Enterprise + WS-2008 (Converted to Workstation)
       #4

    The Howling Wolves said:
    If you are the only one using your computer then why have two accounts?
    for obvious security reasons of course....
    you should never use the ADMIN-account for "normal" use.
    basic security-rule, don´t you know that ?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,009
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       #5

    That's exactly how I do it...1 account with admin privileges for maintenance etc.
    and 1 every day user. Same what I did in Unix/Linux...you just don't run your every day user with root privileges.
    If you install your Software in the user account you have to provide the admin pw but that's ok...at least your software shows and you don't undermine the intended safety feature.
    Just imagine you run the admin as every day user and catch a nasty....that Trojan/Virus/Bot automatically has full access and can inflict so much more damage.

    -DG
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 330
    Windows 7 Pro/32 Academic. Build 7600
       #6

    lister said:
    Hi I thought I was being smart by creating two accounts, one account being admin with full rights and then another which was for just checking email etc with de-elvated rights, (if that is the right word).

    Anyways, when I logged into the new account with less rights most of the programs were not there...?

    Is there a way to sort of clone an account over with all the tweaks and settings but make it so that things cant be changed?

    Thanks!
    If you currently have one Administrator account, and one standard user account, but the administrator account has all your programs in it, the solution is simple; Switch the accounts. Change the standard account to admin, and admin. account, to standard.
    I struggled for a while trying to figure out how to copy all of my user settings and programs over to a standard account, when it dawned on me; Just create a second admin. account and then convert my first, already customized admin. account to a standard user account. I didn't have to copy or move anything. Took all of about 15 seconds.

    On a second note; If your installed programs are installing themselves into a user folder, I would look into that. 95% of all programs' installers will default to C:\Program Files, giving access to all accounts on the machine. Of those 5% that don't, they will ask you if you want them installed to be accessed by everyone. Very, very, few will default into a logged on user folder.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 759
    W7-Enterprise + WS-2008 (Converted to Workstation)
       #7

    mborner said:
    lister said:
    Hi I thought I was being smart by creating two accounts, one account being admin with full rights and then another which was for just checking email etc with de-elvated rights, (if that is the right word).

    Anyways, when I logged into the new account with less rights most of the programs were not there...?

    Is there a way to sort of clone an account over with all the tweaks and settings but make it so that things cant be changed?

    Thanks!
    If you currently have one Administrator account, and one standard user account, but the administrator account has all your programs in it, the solution is simple; Switch the accounts. Change the standard account to admin, and admin. account, to standard.
    maybe you should read my first post above....
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 330
    Windows 7 Pro/32 Academic. Build 7600
       #8

    LOL! You're right, I read most of your post but missed the last part. Sorry. You're scenario was exactly like mine. One thing, though; Since Windows requires at least one Administrator account, You can't convert the account to a standard account until you create a second Administrator account.
    Cheers! :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 759
    W7-Enterprise + WS-2008 (Converted to Workstation)
       #9

    mborner said:
    LOL! You're right, I read most of your post but missed the last part. Sorry. You're scenario was exactly like mine. One thing, though; Since Windows requires at least one Administrator account, You can't convert the account to a standard account until you create a second Administrator account.
    Cheers! :)
    no worries.

    but thanks for pointing out the small typo, i´ve now changed the text above:
    "....create a new ADMIN-account.
    change the old ADMIN account into a USER-account....
    "
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 117
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #10

    I only have one user account but I have UAC set to the highest level. Is that sufficient?
      My Computer


 
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