Administrative-vs-User Accounts
By semicolonp
@semicolonp (518)
Philippines
July 19, 2010 7:59am CST
A friend recently told me it's better to log in on User Accounts rather than the Administrative Account because it minimizes the possibility that a virus/malware/etc., can have full control of your computer.
Is it true? Are User Accounts really better for safety? I've been using the Admin Account for years and suddenly, it's like, "Should I change it?"
I'm quite hopeless with technology so I'd appreciate it if people can give me a breakdown on which is better. Thank you for your time!
3 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
20 Jul 10
Your friend is right. The Admin account should be the primary account, with full permissions for downloading/installing programs. Set up separate user accounts for every day use. These accounts will have access to all programs but will not have the access that most viruses/hackers need to the Registry. When HP, for instance, wants to send an update to my printer the Admin login screen will appear and, if I don't enter the password, the update is not able to be downloaded.
1 person likes this
@semicolonp (518)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
Oh, so it really WOULD be helpful to use user accounts for security purposes? Man, I really should have read more about this stuff. I guess I'll create a user account for me then. Would I still be able to access all my files that are in the admin account? Not the programs, I mean, just... like, bookmarks in web browsers or something. Would those be present in a newly-created user account?
Anyway, thanks so much for the clarification! It really helped me.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
21 Jul 10
I'm glad that I could help. You can move your files into the shared folder and that way you'll be able to access them. As far as internet bookmarks, I'm not sure...maybe not...but you could always email the links to yourself and bookmark them from the user account's browser.
1 person likes this
@lovedude (4447)
• India
19 Jul 10
Well it's not exactly that you won't be attack by virus or hacked if you are not using Administrative account.. It's only useful if virus tries to change registry or install startup entry etc. but same time virus is capable to attack even in User account and you cannot remove it if you are not having administrative account. :-P so better you continue using your Admin account and for trial you can make another account and test it if you wish to check..
1 person likes this
@crysontherocks77 (1273)
• United States
1 Aug 10
a user account limits the access that you have in order to get to your computer. if you get a virus then it only connects with what is in the user account. Most of the time.
