Benefits of Using a Standard User Account on Mac

Initially, the Mac OS X setup assistant asks you for your name which is a username and a password and will be using this information to create your account. As there has to be at least one user with administrative rights on your Mac, that first account is an administrator account. While this is useful, it can also be risky.

Let’s have a glimpse of two main types of user accounts. Administrators can install any software, even if it needs an administrator's password details. You can go in secure System Preferences. Then, modify permissions to files and folders. Moreover, you can perform other multiple tasks, like install fonts for all users, availing access of external disks on Macs where they have their accounts, creating folders in places other than in their home folder and run certain utilities that are off-limits to standard users. You can also use the sudocommand in the Terminal application to access or make changes to any files, or to run specific commands limited to administrators.

While using an administrator account is much risky. An administrator may make mistakes by changing or deleting any file unknowingly. Accidentally, you can also install any malicious software, which might be on high risk.

Alternatively, standard users have ‘limited access’ rights on their Mac. They can change and create files in their home folder, access folders on shared volumes if the permissions allow it, modify settings to non-secure preferences in System Preferences, and install some software.

So standard accounts provide limited access, and hence it is a much safer way for the day to day life.

For instance, assuming you set up a first administrator's account with the name Alice, you can then set up a second standard account, with the name Alice2, or any other name. When you log into that second account, and use it for your everyday activities, and to store your files then whenever an administrator's password is required, type Alice as the username, and the password. However, this will lead to some more password requests so if you were working under an administrator's account, each of these requests should lead a red flag and make you think whether you should be entering your password. And then if malware gets onto your Mac, it may need such a password to install itself.

However, using a standard account is not thorough protection from malware.

The featured malware and network protection program like Intego VirusBarrier X6 will give the protection you need- it is protection from some types of malware, and can provide a warning as well. It can also prevent you from the blundering of deleting files that you didn't mean to erase.

Aida Martin is a self-professed security expert; she has been making the people aware of the security threats. Her passion is to write about Cyber security, cryptography, malware, social engineering, internet and new media. She writes for Norton security products at norton.com/setup.