Re: TECH: Macintosh security

["Jeanette B. Heath" <heathf@DREAMSCAPE.COM>]

>I don't want kids getting into the hard drive
>and messing around with things.  This summer we installed Foolproof, which I
>thought would solve the problem.  Now they can't throw anything out, or
>change anything, but they can still get into the hard drive and open things
>they have no business getting into.  Is there any kind of software that
>would lock up the hard drive so it couldn't be opened, so that applications
>would *have* to be opened from the apple menu only?
>Shayne Russell  srussell@voicenet.com

Shayne...I am having the same problem.  We have two Mac 575's with AT EASE
in our LMC.  With AT EASE you get a file folder shaped thing on the screen,
with buttons for the programs the user is able to use.  I LIKE that!  BUT
there are two downsides.  The user can get into the chooser and change the
printer etc., so I'm always having to reset that.  #2 is that every time I
need to use a CD I have to go to the finder, enter the password to disable
AT EASE, and start up the CD.  If the student exits the CD, they can
explore! And get to our server!

Now we have two new powermacs with FOOLPROOF.  I noticed the same thing you
mentioned about the hard drive and our system icons being accessable but
unable to be changed.  (I always pretend to be a student that's playing
around--have to keep ahead of the patrons, you know!:))  Have not tried a
CD.  Does one have to turn off Foolproof to use a CD?

Now, the reason I wrote.  On my performa 575 at home I use the launcher.
This gives you a screen with buttons for all available programs.  There is
also a feature in the Apple menu -> Control Panel-> General controls window
that gives you the choice of showing the launcher at system startup AND
show desktop when in background.  On my performa 575 at home, if I turn off
the "show Desktop when in background" the hard disk icon and all the other
icons including the TRASH disappear.  I found the same settings on the new
powermacs and tried to do the same thing you're looking for but when I
turned off the "Show Desktop when in background" nothing disappeared.   The
only thing I can think of is that I upgraded my 575 to OS 7.5.3 and the new
power mac is 7.5.1.  Right now I'm stumped and out of time to work on it so
I'll have to get to it later.  But it might be worth a try for you.  Let me
know if you get it to work.

PS.  One GOOD thing I discovered about Foolproof is that you cannot access
the chooser and change the printer while it's on.  Hurrah!

Technology will never replace librarians, but librarians who KNOW
technology will!

Mrs. Jeanette B. Heath
Library Media Specialist
Red Creek Jr./Sr. High School
Red Creek, NY 13143
Heathf@dreamscape.com