Re: Administrators

db wrote:
I notice on analysis of this computer's security that it has more
than two administrators. There are three, one just called
Administrator. Since only two of us ever use the computer does
anyone know who the third might be? How can he be got rid of?

The "administrator" account is likely the built-in administrative level
account.

Is this Windows XP Home Edition, Professional Edition or other?

Here's the thing - you seem to be using administrative user accounts for
daily usage. From a security standpoint - that's just not wise. Anything
that runs as you (web page, malware, spyware, virus, trojan, worm, etc) now
gets to run with full administrative priviledges. It has full run of the
computer if you click on the wrong thing on a web page, open the wrong
document/picture/etc from an email or allow a downloaded file to open that
happens to be infested with something. It is far better to run daily as a
non-administrative user.

I'm not telling you to change your two accounts to regular users - I am
suggesting that you might consider creating two new accounts
(non-administrative level) and copy the files and such you need from the
administrative level accounts and use the non-administrative accounts daily.
Much more secure arrangement.

In the short run - be sure the administrative accounts, all of them, have
strong passwords (8+ characters, etc.) This suggestion is one reason behind
my first query...

If you have Windows XP Home Edition - boot up in Safe Mode, log in as the
user "administrator" (if you have never utilized this user - it likely has
no password set) and set a good password on that account.

If you have Windows XP Professional (or other) - reboot the computer in
Normal mode and at the "Welcome Screen" logon (if you use that) - press
CTRL+ALT+DEL twice. The classic logon prompt should appear. Enter the
username "administrator" there and logon as the administrator (if you have
never utilized this user - it likely has no password set). Set a good
password on that account.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


.

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: password expiration policy for admin and system accounts ?
    ... > scheduled tasks that use various administrative accounts. ... > administrative account which starts several key exchange services. ... > Thus every time the exchange server was rebooted several exchange services ... >> JJ wrote:>>> Our auditors are objecting to our having Domain Administrator and domain>>> system accounts with passwords that never expire. ...
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  • Re: password expiration policy for admin and system accounts ?
    ... > scheduled tasks that use various administrative accounts. ... > administrative account which starts several key exchange services. ... > Thus every time the exchange server was rebooted several exchange services ... >> JJ wrote:>>> Our auditors are objecting to our having Domain Administrator and domain>>> system accounts with passwords that never expire. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.security)
  • Re: installing games so other users can access and save their game
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