My limited user is not so limited



I tried to improve the security of my home machine by making the
accounts my wife and I use into "limited user" accounts in XP Home. I
first created a new admin account, of course, with a really long
password.

Now, when I've restarted my computer and logged into my old account
(which is now *limited* and no longer admin), it shows *some* signs
that it's limited but I don't think it really is completely.

Signs it is NOT really limited:
I can install software!! Seriously, I thought limited users could not,
but I totally installed a trojan simulator which even modified my
registry (TSServ.exe). Also installed Google Earth for fun. All
logged in as this limited user and I did NOT do any "run as", nor did I
EVER have to provide that long admin password I mentioned. Ever.

Signs is IS limited:
Norton AV will no longer let me change settings.
Windows won't let me change the time on my clock (says I must have
admin privs)
Windows won't let me create files on c:\ (the root folder).

So, what's up with this? I'm no more secure than I was!!

.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: Office 2003 in a limited-user environment
    ... It can depend on how Office was setup. ... point and running setup for multiple accounts (different ... I have a problem running Office 2003 programs as a limited user. ... clean install Windows XP-SP2 ...
    (microsoft.public.office.setup)
  • Re: My limited user is not so limited
    ... accounts my wife and I use into "limited user" accounts in XP Home. ... logged in as this limited user and I did NOT do any "run as", ... Any program that installs its files in YOUR profile path will install okay because that path has you as the owner with permissions for writing. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: giving privileges to limited user accounts
    ... >> with admin accounts, but not with limited accounts, you can fix it ... >> to allow limited users to access the program files folder ... >>> still as a limited user account and at the same time ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Sharing applications with multiple users
    ... It started an Install of word 2000. ... installed word from the administrator account in 2000pro. ... How do I resolve this issue and allow all my limited user ... accounts to access the software that is already installed? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: giving privileges to limited user accounts
    ... accessing musicmatch in a limited user account ... >admin accounts, but not with limited accounts, you can ... i'm one of the computer administrators for our home ... >> still as a limited user account and at the same time ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)