The use of Administrative Privileges and Application Controls sounds super challenging, but are really simple in practice.

Administrative Privileges can be defined as the ability to install software and make changes to a system, ones that could compromise your system if used incorrectly.

On your laptop or desktop computers, phones and other mobile devices, make sure that when you install applications such as a new app, software or any other software, your device asks you for either a password to your account, requires a fingerprint scan or in some other way requires something to confirm you want to install something to the device.

On a Windows device, make sure your user account does not have Administrative privileges and that the system requires an administrator’s password in order to install or update applications like Word, Chrome updates or any other software – the website https://blog.acer.com/en/discussion/2418/how-to-turn-on-admin-privileges-in-windows-11 shows how to check if your account has administrator privileges. If you do, have a chat to your IT people about addressing this properly. We can also assist you create a system or procedure for addressing this item.

MacOS controls are detailed in https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/understanding-user-accounts-in-macos/ - like Windows, it’s best to run your standard day to day account without administrator privileges and your IT crew can help you with this!

iPhones, iPads and Android phone and should all require your Apple or Google Play passwords to install software. See https://support.apple.com/en-gb/119848 for Apple devices and https://guidebooks.google.com/android/usetheappsonyourphone/protectyourgoogleplaypurchases?hl=en-au for Google/Android devices.

Closely associated with Administrator Privileges is Application Controls. The idea of application control is that the only applications that can run on your device are applications that you know to be safe and good. On laptops and desktop computers, a good virus protection system filters applications and stops unauthorised applications from starting. Random downloads from the Internet are questioned and checked before they run free. The take-away question from this point asks, “Does your computer have a reputable virus and application system installed on it?”. We encourage you to ask your IT people about this!

On your portable device or phone, your Apple Store or Google Play store will play a huge part in protecting your phone, iPad or tablet. If your device is “jailbroken” (see https://www.techsafety.org/rootjailbreakcheck) then it can install software from any source, including a hacker who convinces you that their nasty software is legitimate! Jailbroken devices should not be used in a business environment with customer data or business information.

Lessons 3 and 4: Administrators and Applications

You must be logged in to access this course