Setting up a user account with blocked files & websites

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by MikeyTree, Jan 6, 2007.

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  1. MikeyTree, Jan 6, 2007

    MikeyTree macrumors 6502

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2007
    #1
    I'm buying my first Mac in a week or two, but before I do I want to make sure it can do what I need.

    I'm a law student, and I currently have two accounts on my laptop: one with no restrictions, and one which I use when doing research or writing. My school account has access to most of the same files as my main account, blocks access to certain file directories (full of ebooks, movies, & other distractions) and blocks certain specific websites (where I can spend too much time reading or posting). It allows access to any website except the ones I specifically list.

    Is it possible to set up a Mac to do this?
     
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  2. CanadaRAM, Jan 6, 2007

    CanadaRAM macrumors G5

    CanadaRAM

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2004
    Location:
    On the Left Coast - Victoria BC Canada
    #2
    If your distracting files are kept in the User folder of the primary account, then the secondary account cannot access them; you'll have to log out and back in again to get at the private files in the Primary user;s Documents, Music etc. folders.

    Now the restricted websites is completely different. You may have to get some parental security type software or sommat like that. Maybe one of the boffin types can tell you how to modify obscure files from Terminal to do it.
     
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  3. MikeyTree, Jan 6, 2007

    MikeyTree thread starter macrumors 6502

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2007
    #3
    Modifying an obscure file is how I currently block specific websites in Windows.

    As for files, it's possible to put files in a folder which all accounts can access, right?
     
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  4. bitabytex, Jan 6, 2007

    bitabytex macrumors member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2006
    #4

    If I'm not mistaken, there is a Public folder you can put anything in that you would like to share. Another way of sharing is to make a new folder outside your user/home directory, and then change the permission settings under "get info" to allow read and write priveleges for other users or groups.
     
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  5. Shadow, Jan 6, 2007

    Shadow macrumors 68000

    Shadow

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2006
    Location:
    Keele, United Kingdom
    #5
    I'm sure you can restrict websites in Safari to only ones you set to.
     
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