Vista - change user security?

how do you change your indevidual user security so when you download something, the other users dont get it?

Hi annax4493, and welcome to The Vista Forums

You will need to set permissions to your downloads folder(s)

have a read of the tutorial here ...

Folder Permissions

As long as the person you are trying to keep out is not an admin, they cant get into your downloads folder.

If they are an admin you could explicitly deny them access if they have no idea what they are doing. However, with admin access you can grant yourself access.

So as long as the user is not an administrator and the downloads are in your personal directory they cannot access them.

Hi Anna,

The tutorial that Nigel referenced will also work on individual programs. I will show you an example (in this case AIM instant messenger).

First, click start and type in the program that you wish to deny access to. Right click on the program and left click on properties. Click the security tab and select the user you wish to apply settings to. In the picture I selected everyone and then clicked edit. If you'll notice, only three permissions were checked, these are the only three I checked deny for, as I don't know what the others will do I stuck with the default selection used by Windows.



After clicking edit check the deny boxes and click apply.




Hope that helps!

Richard

Erm...Richards method will only work if they try to access it from the start menu. This is not a secure way to lock someone out. And you will not see the users in the security tab. You will only see administrators, SYSTEM and yourself. So like I said, they have to be an admin to get access

New method to provide ultimate security! (Locks out admins too)

Right click downloads folder > Properties > advanced > encrypt to secure contents.

Simple method, however! Lose your password and say bye bye to the files. Even if someone resets your password they will not have access to the files unless they know the original password. This method is more secure than simple security permissions. Although, if you are trying to lock out someone who has no idea what they are doing Richards method will be fine. If you are trying to lock out a nerd, encrypt the files.

Can I just say, there is no way to secure files forever. If you are hiding illegal downloads and the police/FBI/MI6 want in - they will break the encryption. Unless you are a super-cool hacker who has tons of different cascading encryption algorithms on your own software with a few self destruct booby traps. Since your asking here I'm guessing your not :P

Good Luck.

Maybe I misunderstood the original question. But it seemed as though she was asking about programs that were installed, such as AIM or whatever. I could be wrong though. My post was directed towards that goal, in addition to securing folders, etc.

I don't think you understand what I mean. Your method stops them using the start menu to access things. All they have to do is search for it or type in the pathway and voila.

Your method simply Denys access to the shortcut that runs whatever it is your looking for.

I know you're the man (and I mean that sincerely) but I'm not sure if I follow you. I still have AIM denied for other users (which right now is only the Guest account). I switched over and typed in AIM in the start menu, I searched the C/ drive and also windows and AIM was not found. I also tried browsing the C/ drive and couldn't find it. Is there another way to search for it that I'm missing?

I take that back. I checked again and I was able to navigate to the program with explorer. But I couldn't open it unless I chose run as administrator.

Ok, you are denying access to a shortcut to the program.

For example -

making a shortcut to cmd and then denying access to everyone does not stop you accessing cmd, it only stops you using that shortcut.

In your screenshot you are denying access to a shortcut in the start menu folder. That does not mean nobody can access AIM. It means you cant use that shortcut.

Granted - Some apps do not go by a shortcut and just give you the main application in the start menu, however your example is showing how to stop them using a shortcut...I am not sure if I am explaining this well.

Maybe this will show you -
Make a shortcut to the command prompt and deny yourself access to it. Then try to open it, you wont be able to. Then, hold win + r and in the run box type cmd, it should open because its not a shortcut.

If you want to deny access to the cmd.exe you have to set the permissions on c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe and not a shortcut.

Do you see what I mean now?