It looks like it's time for another reminder about using accounts on
the mac.
In general, if a program wants to do something that is going to
affect more than just your files/programs, it will ask for an admin
account. You can keep yourself much safer if you have two accounts
on your machine, one with admin priveleges that you only use when
installing programs that require admin access, and anotherone that
you use everyday that does not have admin rights.
This will drastically limit the damage any virus can do, even if it
does manage to get into your system and run amuck.
It's always tough loosing files, but it's much much worse to loose
system files causing the system to become unusable.
I strongly urge every person not to use an account for everyday usage
that has admin rights, always use one with normal user access.
The rough part is, that by default, apple gives only one account, and
of course, that account has admin rights, and most folks just use
that account, and never even realize they're opening themselves for
disaster if a virus should strike.
If you're a regular user, a virus can't hurt system files, because
you won't have the ability to write to those files.
Also, it's very important to keep an eye on apps that ask to use your
keychain. If an app that has no business asking for keychain access
is asking for your admin password, then there's obviously something
wrong, and instead of just blindly typing it in and letting it go to
work, you should question why that app needs keychain access, and
(where appropriate) take up the issue with the applications creator.
In general, anything installed in your personal folder needs no
additional access, only programs that are going to use system
resources should even ask for passwords, and even then, only if they
need to make changes to such files which should be extremely rare.
Installers are a special case, because they need to drop files in
different places, some of which the average user won't have access
to, but you still need to be careful when installing, to make sure
nothing happens you didn't expect.
It's perfectly normal for an installer to copy applications/data
files into application/plist locations that require admin rights, but
if an app is asking for passwords after that, then I'd be cautious
about using such an application.
So, in short, use two accounts, one for admin things like installing
programs and updating existing ones, and use a second account with
normal non-admin rights for your everyday computer use to limit the
risk of infection.
<--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net --->
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