Administrator Account - can I use as general account?

[DannyKewl]

Hi, I tried posting this once, but I don't think it made it to the server. I
just re-installed Win XP Pro, after a bad crash, where it was priorly
installed for me. I am the only user of this computer, nobody else has
access to it. . When I booted into my new installation, I got taken without
warning into the Administrator account. I started re-installing all my
programs, etc. I also set up my Internet connection, and was surfing the Net
in that account. I just read it's not wise to use the Administrator account
as a regular use account due to vulnerabilities. That account is just titled
Administrator. So I create another account called Dan, but I notice on the
Logon screen, Dan is listed as Computer Administrator, as well as the actual
Administrator account. Is the Dan account safe to use, or is it just as
vulnerable as the actual Administrator account? Should I create a limited
user account for my day to day stuff? Thanks,

Dan

 

[rifleman]

Hi, I tried posting this once, but I don't think it made it to the server. I
just re-installed Win XP Pro, after a bad crash, where it was priorly
installed for me. I am the only user of this computer, nobody else has
access to it. . When I booted into my new installation, I got taken without
warning into the Administrator account. I started re-installing all my
programs, etc. I also set up my Internet connection, and was surfing the Net
in that account. I just read it's not wise to use the Administrator account
as a regular use account due to vulnerabilities. That account is just titled
Administrator. So I create another account called Dan, but I notice on the
Logon screen, Dan is listed as Computer Administrator, as well as the actual
Administrator account. Is the Dan account safe to use, or is it just as
vulnerable as the actual Administrator account? Should I create a limited
user account for my day to day stuff? Thanks,

Dan

You've created an account that is a member of the Administrator Group.
Yes it's certainly safe to use on a daily basis.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

If you are worried about any settings try the 'Baseline Security Analyzer':

http://tinyurl.com/h17f

Will

 

[Larc]

| Hi, I tried posting this once, but I don't think it made it to the server. I
| just re-installed Win XP Pro, after a bad crash, where it was priorly
| installed for me. I am the only user of this computer, nobody else has
| access to it. . When I booted into my new installation, I got taken without
| warning into the Administrator account. I started re-installing all my
| programs, etc. I also set up my Internet connection, and was surfing the Net
| in that account. I just read it's not wise to use the Administrator account
| as a regular use account due to vulnerabilities. That account is just titled
| Administrator. So I create another account called Dan, but I notice on the
| Logon screen, Dan is listed as Computer Administrator, as well as the actual
| Administrator account. Is the Dan account safe to use, or is it just as
| vulnerable as the actual Administrator account? Should I create a limited
| user account for my day to day stuff? Thanks,

If there's only one named account in XP, it will be a Computer Admintrator by
default. That's the correct setup and is safe for you to use. When you set up
"Dan," the Administrator account should have faded into the background. Only
Dan and Guest should show in Control Panel > User Accounts.

Larc



§§§ - Please raise temperature of mail to reply by e-mail - §§§

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

Hi, I tried posting this once, but I don't think it made it to the server. I
just re-installed Win XP Pro, after a bad crash, where it was priorly
installed for me. I am the only user of this computer, nobody else has
access to it. . When I booted into my new installation, I got taken without
warning into the Administrator account. I started re-installing all my
programs, etc. I also set up my Internet connection, and was surfing the Net
in that account. I just read it's not wise to use the Administrator account
as a regular use account due to vulnerabilities. That account is just titled
Administrator. So I create another account called Dan, but I notice on the
Logon screen, Dan is listed as Computer Administrator, as well as the actual
Administrator account. Is the Dan account safe to use, or is it just as
vulnerable as the actual Administrator account? Should I create a limited
user account for my day to day stuff? Thanks,

I wouldn't bother trying to run as a 'limited' user - it gets old real
fast. Yes, there are a few things which it protects against, but for
most people it isn't worth the hassle on a single user system.

The main reason for not using 'Administrator' is that this is the
ultimate fall-back account if you trash the user profile on the one you
are using on a daily basis. If you use 'Administrator' and trash that,
and don't have another admin account, you are up the creek without a
paddle. If you use 'Dan', and trash it, you can logon as 'Administrator'
and dig yourself out.

Just =write down= somewhere what the password for 'Administrator'
is/was... else when you finally need it, in an emergency, you'll have
forgotten the damn thing. 8>.

 

[DannyKewl]

Thanks all.