Guest User turned itself back on

[Smashmax]

I just got a new Mac Mini yesterday. During the setup process I turned off the Guest User account. I confirmed it was off multiple times when restarting the computer and only seeing my own account.

but today when restarting the Guest User account was there. I had to go back into the Preferences, unlock the little lock at the bottom of the dialog box, and turn the Guest User account back off.

This kinda worries me, why would something like that turn itself back on, that seems like the exact opposite of secure.

This computer is still pretty barebones. I only installed Chrome (with AdBlock Plus as the only extension), QuickBooks, and Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. So I doubt it is virus/malware related.

Any ideas?

 

[fisherking]

do you have 'find my mac' on in the icloud settings? it will make the guest user account active (so, for example, if someone stole your mac, they could log in to the guest account.... and you could track your mac).

 

[Smashmax]

do you have 'find my mac' on in the icloud settings? it will make the guest user account active (so, for example, if someone stole your mac, they could log in to the guest account.... and you could track your mac).

Yes, I have that on. So that will keep turning the Guest account on?

 

[fisherking]

Yes, I have that on. So that will keep turning the Guest account on?

try it (turn off 'find my mac')...

 

[Ideanj]

From my understanding, it is tied to Find My Mac. I usually deactivate it after turning on Find My Mac and don't usually see it reactivate itself.

 

[960design]

If I remember correctly there was a bug that turned Guest Account back on during a software update. Could this have been the issue, while setting up the Mini did you update it?

That or what Ideanj stated is also true.

 

[Smashmax]

Yeah, I did both, turned on Find my Mac and also updated the OS.

This makes sense now. Thanks guys.

 

[steve62388]

I'm not sure about this, so don't take it as gospel.

My observations on the interaction between Find My Mac and the Guest account leads me to believe it shows up if it thinks your Mac has moved (ie been stolen). I notice my iMac pretty much never does it, and my Macbook doesn't if I'm at home. But when I use my Macbook elsewhere it pops up. Perhaps it's using local wifi networks to locate itself before you even log in?

If it does indeed work this way it makes perfect sense.

 

[Chris Grande]

With Find My Mac enabled the Guest Account is basically a "Honey Pot" - if your machine is stolen the person who stole it might use the Guest Account just to see if the computer works, they get the machine on WiFi and boom it can phone home it's location.

 

[fisherking]

With Find My Mac enabled the Guest Account is basically a "Honey Pot" - if your machine is stolen the person who stole it might use the Guest Account jus to see if the computer works, they get the machine on WiFi and boom it can phone home it's location.

Guest User turned itself back on just saying....

 

[Looai]

Guest User turned itself back on just saying....

Hello, Ive taken al steps that was put in previous comments.

-turning of find my macbook
-also in my settings guest is turned of

But still when I turn my mba m1 there is still gives me the option to go on guest account. Im worried now

 

[fisherking]

Hello, Ive taken al steps that was put in previous comments.

-turning of find my macbook
-also in my settings guest is turned of

But still when I turn my mba m1 there is still gives me the option to go on guest account. Im worried now

you checked system preferences>users &groups? unlock the pane, turn off the options for a guest user there...