Hello Trinity44,
The following steps should take care of your problem limiting access
to mail (and anything else you want to protect...).
[0] For some steps, you will need the "administrator" password. If you
see a lock symbol (with the lock closed) you will need to click on
that lock and enter the administrator password to continue. Please
keep that in mind when doing the steps that follow. Also make sure you
remember the password you set up for your personal account when you
set up the system. You can test this (in a safe manner) by attempting
to change your password using the System Preferences titled "My
Account".
[1] Adding Accounts
Use
Apple Menu -> System Preferences
if you do not see all the choices, select "Show All".
Select Accounts. On my system, I see two users (maniac - type admin,
and games). You may just have one, it varies by system. If the "new
user" button is grayed out, be sure to click on the lock to enable
changes.
Select New User. A form should appear with the
Name (enter full name here)
Short Name (enter a short name or "handle" like Trinity44)
New Password / Verify (enter the password twice)
Password hint (value here is optional)
Select a picture (will be displayed on login screen)
I assume you DO NOT want them to administer your system - leave that
item unchecked.
If you also have windows PC's (and share files) you can select the
last item so they can login remotely from one of the PC's.
Select OK to save the new user. Repeat for each of your housemates.
The accounts screen may have something like...
Log In Automatically as maniac
near the bottom. Make sure that is not checked.
[2] Restricting Access
Each added user at this point can pretty much have free access to your
system, subject to file protections. If you want to limit the access
to a user, do the following:
- in the Accounts window, select that user. A set of buttons on the
right should become active (if not already).
- Select Capabilities. On my system it took a few moments for the
next display to appear, be patient.
- the most restrictive is if "Use Simple Finder" is selcted at the
top. Basically they can only run the applications that appear in the
nested list at the bottom of the display. For example, you can disable
the Mail application completely if desired from this selection.
- if you do not use the simple finder, be sure to select the other
options the way you want it (e.g., enable CD & DVD burning)
- select OK
Repeat for each user you want to restrict.
[3] On "Screen Effects" (use Show All if needed) you should require
your password. The Activation tab has a choice between "Do not ask for
a password" and "Use my user account password". Also set the
inactivity timer to something short (like 5 minutes) or use the "Hot
Corners" to activate the screen saver whenever you move the mouse to
the corners selcted.
After all of these changes are made, pick a preferences (like
Accounts) and click on the lock one more time. This locks the settings
you made.
Test this by using
Apple menu -> Log Out...
and then check that you can login with each user. I would also suggest
checking the protection of your "home directory" is set the way you
want it. If you login as one of your other users, see what you can /
cannot do. If the home directory is not set right, login as yourself
and make the changes by doing:
- Finder -> Go Home
- Click on the button at the top that looks like |||, the display
should have your home directory in the central column.
- Use a right click (if a multiple button mouse) or hold the Control
key & click to get a pop up menu. Select Get Info.
- One of the items (with an arrow next to it) is "Ownership and
Permissions". Select that arrow to expand the items.
- You may want to select "No Access" as the setting for "Group" or
"Others" to prevent the other users from having any access.
This same technique basically works with any directory (or file) that
you wish to protect.
Please make a clarification request if you need further information on
this topic or have any problems following the instructions.
Good luck.
--Maniac |
