Running as admin vs running as limited user

[FSUSem1noles]

Still, they would have had to launch the file, then type in their password to install it. The point is, just running daily as Administrator (not root) doesn't make you vulnerable to malware, unless you actively install something that you're not certain is safe.

No, it wasn't an installer.. it was a file of some sort that they launched..

Had they launched it under a non-admin account, it wouldn't have inherited admin permissions..

 

[GGJstudios]

No, it wasn't an installer.. it was a file of some sort that they launched..

Had they launched it under a non-admin account, it wouldn't have inherited admin permissions..

I'd really like to know specifics. It obviously had to be an executable file. There were no warning messages, such as when you try to launch a file downloaded from the web?

Many years ago, when I first started riding Harleys, friends would say things like, "I know a guy who was killed on a motorcycle." Now, I understand their intent was to show concern and be helpful, but after hearing that so often, I started asking details. "OK, exactly what happened?" The answers usually involved, "Well, he was drinking and.... " or "he was racing another bike and...." or "he was doing a wheelie on ice and...." As it turned out, most of the time, it wasn't merely the bike that killed them; it was drinking or speeding or doing stupid stunts.

So when I hear "someone got a virus on their Mac" or "malware attacked their Mac" or " someone I know had ended up getting something through iChat that had corrupted the system", I'm naturally skeptical until I hear verifiable facts.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

I'd really like to know specifics. It obviously had to be an executable file. There were no warning messages, such as when you try to launch a file downloaded from the web?

Many years ago, when I first started riding Harleys, friends would say things like, "I know a guy who was killed on a motorcycle." Now, I understand their intent was to show concern and be helpful, but after hearing that so often, I started asking details. "OK, exactly what happened?" The answers usually involved, "Well, he was drinking and.... " or "he was racing another bike and...." or "he was doing a wheelie on ice and...." As it turned out, most of the time, it wasn't merely the bike that killed them; it was drinking or speeding or doing stupid stunts.

So when I hear "someone got a virus on their Mac" or "malware attacked their Mac" or " someone I know had ended up getting something through iChat that had corrupted the system", I'm naturally skeptical until I hear verifiable facts.

I don't remember the complete jist of what happened, I'll ask him next time I talk to him, but basically he was sent some pictures from a friend of what leopard would look like and upon clicking and transferring the files to his Mac, he ended up getting Leap-A or some variation of..

 

[kolax]

I use my Admin account for daily computing.

I do have a separate account called 'Guest' which is a normal user account, which has an alias to all my iTunes music and videos, but don't have the ability to modify any of it.

Just useful for when friends come over, they can use my Mac and play music without me worrying if they'll discover my exotic porn collection etc..