Standard, or regular, users can only modify files located in their home directory. Administrators can modify system services and files, as well as files owned by other users. You can improve the security of your computer by limiting your use of your administrative accounts. You will have two options when creating user accounts: administrator or standard. Keeping Your Mac Secure through User Accounts Note: You may need to restart your computer in order for the security update to take effect. Note: ITS recommends that you configure Software Update to automatically check for updates. A list of available updates will display. ITS recommends that you check for updates at least once a week. All system-level modifications require an administrator’s password.
The root account is disabled and inaccessible. Filesharing services are turned off by default, and only the ports necessary for network connectivity remain open. Mac OS X is a relatively secure operating system. For general information regarding security measures and precautions, please refer to the Security Tips page. This page provides security information for Mac OS users.
