Using Limited Accounts

Hi,

I have been toying with the idea of using a limited account for the sole purpose of surfing the internet. Internet explorer runs fine with a limited account but other software that I use dosn't (for example Lavasoft's - Ad-Aware and possibly Webroot's - Window Washer).

How can you tell if an item of software will run under a limited account?

Is there anything similar to Window Washer that will run under a limited account? I have been looking at Softfolder's - Secure Clean as a possibility!

Regards FarmerJo

 

This is XP Home?
Basically, a User can run anything that does not make System Wide changes.

 

Hi,

I am using Windows XP professional. I find that I can install any application using an administrators account but have varying problems when those applications are run from limited accounts. Presumably this is because the application was not intended to be run with such limitations.

How do you know which applications will make system wide changes and thus not be suitable for use wih a limited account?

Regards Farmer Jo

 

Some people, as a matter of security, create limited accounts to work from, on the theory that if their security is compromised, their account does not have the priveleges to make any harmful changes. Many of us here have doled out that advice, only to ignore it, ourselves. (Newt & I are guilty, and have admitted it!) For me, on my home desktop, the additional account would be an inconvenience. For another user, who is perhaps connecting to the internet from airports and hotels, it would serve the purpose of being another "locked door ". No computer can go online and be completely "safe ", but you can make it so much of a bother to break into your system that the "bad guys" will look for an easier target.

Johanna

 

Hi,

Yes it does seem to be a bit of a pain to make limited accounts work. I have managed to make some programs work by changing the security settings on their program files but this does not work for all applications.

I have a related question.

How should the power management settings (Control Panel|Power Options) be set for a limited account? When logged on as a limited user I find that I cannot change the time period before the screen saver starts, for example.

Regards Farmer Jo