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unreachable folder on desktop

Z

zoran

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 30, 2005
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How can I hide and make unreachable a folder I have on my desktop from network users that I have shared files enabled so they can use some of my files but not specific files I do not want?
 
You could make the folder invisible.
You could change its permissions.
You could take if OFF the desktop and relocate to somewhere else.
 
I would like to keep it on the desktop, so how do I do it? How do I change its permissions?
 
Can't he just select the folder by clicking one time on it, then typing command-i (eye) to bring up the get info box, and then set the permissions at the bottom of the window?
 
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Fishrrman said:
Can't he just select the folder by clicking one time on it, then typing command-i (eye) to bring up the get info box, and then set the permissions at the bottom of the window?
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same thing, so... can't I do that?
 
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zoran said:
At the moment only File Sharing is turned on!
Click to expand...

There's more to it than that.

Do the people sharing have administrator rights and access to all volumes on your Mac? Are they set up as "Sharing" users only? How are they logging in when they're accessing?

What is listed under "Shared Folders" in the Sharing preferences pane of System Preferences?
 
We are all on a Ethernet network.
They probably do have admin rights when accessing my Mac because they use a specific username and password.
No there are no Shared Folders in the Sharing Preferences pane.
I do not want anyone to have access to a specific folder on my Desktop... how can i do that?
 
You can't give Admin sharing rights to someone and deny access to one particular folder. An Admin has access to everything including all connected volumes.

The answer is that you can create at least one Sharing User account, specify which folders you want to share (making sure it doesn't include the desktop folder you're asking about), provide the login to the folks that will be sharing, and eliminate or downgrade the Admin account that the other people are using currently to login. Actually, if you can just downgrade the Admin account that the other people are using to a Standard account you won't have to create Sharing User(s)…and they can login to the NEW sharing setup that you have done using the credentials they currently have.

If they're using YOUR admin login, create the Sharing User(s) etc. and change your password.
 
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How do i create a Sharing User Account?
How do i downgrade the Admin account that others are using?
Also, if file sharing is turned off can some one enter my files?
 
Last edited:
zoran said:
How do i create a Sharing User Account?
How do i downgrade the Admin account that others are using?
Also, if file sharing is turned off can some one enter my files?
Click to expand...

Good questions for a Google search. I'm not going to re-type what's already out there. The solution given is about as concise as one can expect on a forum such as this. Good luck!
 
If you're THAT worried about others seeing what you keep in a specific folder, my advice is:

Get a USB flashdrive.
Put the folder on the flashdrive (nowhere else).
Keep it in your pocket when you don't need to access it.
Works for me.
 
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Password protect that flash drive, so you need to enter a password to access anything on that drive.
You can set that up by erasing the drive with Disk Utility, and set it up to be an encrypted volume.
Anything that you copy to that drive will not be accessible without a password.
 
DeltaMac said:
Password protect that flash drive, so you need to enter a password to access anything on that drive.
You can set that up by erasing the drive with Disk Utility, and set it up to be an encrypted volume.
Anything that you copy to that drive will not be accessible without a password.
Click to expand...
Just make sure the password IS NOT stored in the Keychain (you will have an option for this when you create the encrypted drive or disk-image).

If the password IS stored in the Keychain, then any person who logs in using your account will be able to access the encrypted volume (be it a disk-image or a USB drive).
 
Encrypted volume? Isnt this too complex? Why can i just do a permissions thing or something simpler?
 
Protecting a folder is not that difficult...
You said that you think the shared users have admin rights.
If you merely change permissions on the folder, then anyone with admin access (in a couple of steps) can also easily get access to files on the same shared system.
If you encrypt the folder, then no one can open the folder without the unlocking password.
You are (gently) misled if you think that is "too complex". It's really not that hard, nor does it take a lot of time.

OR, even simpler --- keep your folder somewhere else (not on the same shared drive.)
If you are keeping your personal records (that you don't want anyone else to read) on the same drive, then sharing your drive to others with admin rights is a bad idea.
If your folder holds "private entertainment", then all the more reason to keep it on a completely different volume (and one that you should unmount/disconnect when it is not in use.
If you do not choose to protect your folder, either through encryption/password protection, and absolutely cannot move it to another drive, then you should re-think your decision to allow admin access to your personal drive.

Just my opinion: Keep the files you want to share on a network shared volume of some kind (not on your booting system)
 
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Again, if it's "stuff you want to keep private", keep it on a USB flash drive in your pocket.

That way, the files are only "mounted" when you plug in the flashdrive.

And even when you do that, the files are not "on the desktop", per se, so others won't be able to access them that way.

Why make things any more complicated than they need to be?
 
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