TrevorJ: Annoying Password Prompts in OS X

May 6, 2003 - 5:01am — bmann

Trevor sent me a short note with some questions/rants about Mac OS X's multi-user system. If you want to install an application which ties into the system, you need to give the root password, so the installer can authenticate itself with the system:

Okay - an annoying Mac problem. When installing an application, I'm always prompted to type in my password. Or sometimes the installation will stall, there will be a little lock icon at the bottom of the installation screen, I will click it, it will prompt me to enter my password, and installation will proceed.

Any thoughts? I hate this multiple user/password thing. It's the only geeky feature that actually gets in the way of casual computer users.

There is no way around this. OS X is now inherently a multi-user system. You can choose an option, in System Preferences -> Login, that by default always logs in a particular user, but you'll still need to enter the password of an account with admin privileges to install some applications.

The "snip" part describes Trevor's efforts to install a freeware version of PGP. I'll give it a shot myself and report back.

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Comments

May 6, 2003 - 12:57pm — GSoo

I don't think this is geek feature

It's necessary. Perhaps biometrics can reduce auth hassles.

May 6, 2003 - 1:18pm — trevorj

Maybe not a geek feature, but I'd like to turn it off

My iBook sits at home, locked to a desk. If an intruder gets physical access to it, I have much bigger problems than worrying that they are installing a program!!!!

May 7, 2003 - 6:03am — bmann

Not going to happen

Unfortunately, this bit of inconvenience is something you're going to have to live with. Identity, authentication, and the notion of "your data" is only going to become more pervasive. People already become very attached to their email address, and it becomes a form of lock-in. I use very similar logins for all systems I access. Kate will often sit down and use "my" user profile, but all her bookmarks, etc. are stored in her profile, and is organized with the programs she uses.

Generally, when you are installing a program, it is something that you are going to use momentarily -- you click on a couple of OK buttons, configure some items, etc. The "authentication" progress is simply part of installation. The Apple Installer does this best, as it is not a separate prompt, but part of the install process. Some 3rd-party installs generate a separate pop-up, which can be annopying if you don't notice it.

Perhaps as Mac users we are coddled, not used to the barrage of email- and web-born trojans, virii, and pop-up generators, all happily installing in the background with no authentication on any Windows machine without all the latest security patches. Take your pick which scenario you'd rather live in...

May 6, 2003 - 5:47am — bmann