Unexpected Access to Other Users' Accounts

Question

Unexpected Access to Other Users' Accounts

I just discovered tonight that I when I search for files, files in other user's accounts on this computer show up. I can open them too, but throwing them away requires that user's password. Searching the internet to see if this is a normal feature, I find questions about how to access other user's files and comments that even administrators cannot do this. Is this normal or abnormal behavior? Fast user switching is not enabled. Does anyone know where solid information can be found about the "barriers" between users' accounts? Thanks.

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 9:53 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

BDAqua

Level 10

239,435 points

Feb 1, 2013 11:13 AM in response to Schionatulander

Hello,

On one of these other user's folders holding these files, in Finder do a Get Info on rhat Folder, look at the bottom for Rights & Privileges... Owner, Group & others, report what it says.

Reply

Answer 2

Feb 2, 2013 2:33 AM in response to BDAqua

Ah, thanks, BDAqua. I see that at the user level, each user folder is set to read only. So if the users aren't saving their files in their enclosed "no access" folders, but at their base user level, they are read only. If we set each user folder to "no access", then others would not be able to access the shared folder either. Is there a way to set access priviledges for users on this computer so that they're the same for users on this network? Users on the network only see the "drop box" when they open a user folder.

Reply

Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

239,435 points

Feb 2, 2013 10:05 AM in response to Schionatulander

Not on 10.5.8 right now, but is the Shared folder in the Users folder, or in each user's folder?

Users folder here...

bd92

test2

test

bd7

bd9

Shared

bdbdbd

bd6

bd5

t11

bd4

bd9b

Reply

Answer 4

Feb 3, 2013 11:53 PM in response to BDAqua

Each user has a Shared ("Public") folder in his own folder. That might be a solution -- have a Shared folder in the Users folder itself.

Just switched to 10.6.8 over the weekend, and now I see there IS a Shared folder in the Users folder now, though the permissions aren't set to shared.

Reply

Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

239,435 points

Feb 4, 2013 9:56 AM in response to Schionatulander

Hmmm, my list was from 10.4.11, don't have 10.5.x to check.

Reply