Why are accounts needed? What is a user account in general terms? The whole world is in our hands

Articles and Lifehacks

Many users are interested in what is a phone account. Almost everyone has heard about it, but perhaps only a few understand exactly what it means in practice. It should be noted that in most cases this mysterious term must be understood as a Microsoft account.

Phone account features

It is a record email address and saving a password, which is required to enter a whole list of services. Among them are Outlook.com, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, Xbox Music and Xbox, Office 365, Skype, OneDrive, which was previously designated as SkyDrive.

However, even this explanation of the term often does not satisfy ordinary people, and they wonder why the account should be used when working with a telephone device. It's quite simple. When entering Windows Phone Using your Microsoft account you can easily purchase music, game projects, and various applications in the category Windows Store Phone. In addition, this will allow you to listen to music through Xbox Music. This account allows you to play Xbox games on your phone device, even with friends. In this case, it is possible to set an avatar and obtain a player’s account.

In addition, speaking about what an account is on a phone and why it is needed, it is worth noting the possibility of creating backup copies all information, which will allow you to restore previously saved data when purchasing a new mobile device. In addition, when entering the section dedicated to contacts, you can enter Accounts for LinkedIn and Twitter.

Benefits of using a phone account

It is impossible not to note other advantages of using this opportunity. If you always use the same account when logging in different services and Microsoft services, the user has the chance to gain access to all the benefits of the related project relationship. Thus, automatically sent photos via OneDrive become open for personal viewing. You can use your Xbox console. If you save the Wi-Fi password you enter on your phone device, you can later save it in automatic mode receive on a personal computer, provided that both points are connected to an identical network.

Additionally, a conversation started on Skype via mobile device, can be completed on a computer. It should be noted that when making purchases in virtual stores, you can create a list of necessary purchases on your PC and then transfer it to your phone. Moreover, this can be done automatically. The account allows you to work on the Internet, with contacts, mail, calendar and always stay in touch, regardless of the user’s location.

Although home computer called personal, that is, designed for one user and his needs, in practice it is more often used by several people at once. In organizations, a number of employees can work in shifts on the same computer, but at home it becomes a toy for all family members.

At the same time, users of the same computer can be of different genders and ages, which means that the design requirements will most likely working environment(for example desktop background), system settings and list installed programs will be different. It’s clear that if you spend a couple of hours personalizing the system and the next time you turn on your computer you find that someone has changed the shortcuts you’ve set, the gadgets you’ve configured, and your favorite desktop background, you’ll probably be upset. So what to do in this situation?

Fortunately, the system developers took care of this, making Windows not only multitasking, but also multi-user. This means that the world's most widely used OS allows you to add new users with your own configurations.

For Windows User is a specific account that uses the current system to perform certain functions. Several people can work under one user, and at the same time, each of them can create a separate user.

As we mentioned above, a computer located at home can often be used by several people. Each of them can work under one user, that is, in in this case system resources will be shared. But you can create several users, which will be much more profitable. What benefits can you get from this?

The fact is that each account is capable of storing not only individual settings interface of the system, but also have its own set installed applications, which can only be used by a specific user. However, others may not know about the presence of these programs on their computer.

One more important point is the fact that different users of the same computer may have different rights. Thus, by creating an additional account with reduced rights, you can limit functionality the person who will use it. For example, he will not be able to change basic system settings and open certain folders, which can be useful if children use the computer. In addition, you can prohibit children and beginners from installing new programs, and leave all the ability to install applications and configure the system only to experienced users.

During Windows installations, a main account must be created in it, the owner of which becomes the first user and has system administrator rights. Also, immediately after registering a new account, the user’s “personal” folders are automatically created on the hard drive, which include: “Documents”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Images”, “Desktop” and others. Many of the most common programs, by default, offer to save files created in them in these standard folders, of course, unless you forcibly change their location to some other one.

Any data contained in these folders will not be accessible to users who sign in using a different account. This way, you don’t have to worry that someone will accidentally delete, for example, a document you created or gain access to confidential data.

Creating new users

Now let’s imagine that one account is not enough for you and you need to create one or even several additional users with their own configurations.

To do this, you need to click on the button Start and in the main menu that opens, select the item Control Panel(located on the right side of the menu). Among the many sections (icons, pictograms) we are interested in the one called user accounts.

In general, an account is special data that the operating system stores for each user. If added New user, the operating system creates an account for him. If a user is deleted, the credentials are erased from memory. It's a bit like the HR department at work: when you start working, you create a personal file, and when you leave, it's destroyed.

Now let's try to add a new user. To do this, you need to click on the link, after which the window of the same name will open in front of you.

In the field where it says “New account name”, you need to enter the name (alias) of the new user. If the letters are not printed when you press the keys, you need to click on this field with the mouse. You can enter any name as an alias, you can also use real name the person for whom the user will be created.

Next, you should select the account type by choosing one of two options: Administrator or Regular access . The administrator is allowed to manage all existing operating system settings, add any programs and applications, create and delete users, and so on. In the case of normal access, you can also use almost all programs and customize the system to suit your own needs, but you will not be able to change the security settings of the system or other users. Also Administrator may at any time limit the rights of a standard account, preventing the user from performing certain operations.

The most correct thing is if there is only one administrator user on the computer, who will control all the rights of other users. It is the administrator who allows and denies something to someone. In addition, administrators can change not only their own account, but also the records of other users. So the presence of several users on the same computer with such rights increases the risk of unwanted interference in important settings operating system.

When the selection is made, click on the button. A window will open with a list of created users and their icons.

Setting up and deleting accounts

If you click on any of the accounts (for example, the one that was just created), a window will appear in which you can see links to change the user account settings. Items Changing your account name And Changing the pattern no special comments are needed.

For each account, it is advisable to set its own own password, thanks to which other users will not be able to visit “other people’s” profiles. This is done using the point Creating a Password. Immediately after the password is created, the additional items Change/Remove Password.

If you decide to limit the rights of any user, you need to click on the link in the window Set parental controls. Then you should select the user for whom the restriction will be set, after which a window with control settings will appear. By the way, if one or more accounts do not have a password, the system will warn you about this.

First you need to put the switch Parental control to mode Turn on using the current settings. Links in the section Windows Settings allow you to configure certain settings for users, including: limiting time spent on the computer by day of the week, managing access to gaming applications, as well as setting permissions or blocking the use of certain programs.

Finally, you always have the right to delete any account you create by clicking on the link with a self-explanatory name in the window for making changes to your account. Just keep in mind that changing settings or deleting users should be done carefully, since such operations can erase important files users, if they are in personal folders that Windows specifically creates for them.

True, the developers have insured against rash actions and when deleting an account, Windows will first offer to save personal files user, and if you still click on the button Delete files, it will display another warning window.

After there are two or more active accounts in the system, each time before logging into the system, Welcome window you will be prompted to select the desired user.

While working in Windows, you can log out of one account and log into another at any time, or even without logging out, just change the user. To do this, click on the button Start, and then hover your mouse over the arrow next to the button Shutdown.

After selecting the item in the menu that opens Change user, without shutting down applications or closing active windows, you will be transferred to the welcome screen, where you can select new profile to login. Just keep in mind that working with several configurations at once seriously reduces the available space random access memory and can cause your computer to slow down.

By the way, you can quickly change the user by pressing the combination Ctrl keys+ Alt + Del and selecting the appropriate menu item or using the Win + L hotkey combination.

If you need to completely log out of your account and allow another user to work in Windows, select Logout. In this case, all programs and files you were working with will be closed.

Taking their first steps on the Internet, users are sure to ask the question “What is an account?” Still would! After all, almost every site offers, or even requires, the creation of this same account.

But how can it be created if its purpose is not entirely clear - global and local (in relation to a specific web resource)?

If you, dear reader, are bothered by such questioning, then you have come to the right place. This article is just for you. From it you will learn the functional definition of an account: why and how it is created.

So, welcome to our short tour!

Definition

An account is a collection of personal user data that is stored in the system of the website being used. It is used to authenticate the user on the site. As a rule, account holders have more authority on web resources compared to regular visitors. They are provided with expanded functionality: depending on the web resource used - saving content, custom settings, data backup, the ability to leave messages, upload files from your computer, etc.

Alternative names for the term

On the Internet, an account can be called differently. Know that these words mean the same term:

• account, acc, or account (from the English word account - “account”);
• profile;
• personal page (this definition is more applicable to social networks. For example, such as Odnoklassniki, VKontakte).
• accounting (colloquial derivative).

Account types

All accounts can be divided into two large groups:

• Local - used for authorization on only one web resource.
• Universal - make it possible to log in to several sites, or all services, of a company. For example, in Google systems and Yandex for use cloud storage, mail, news services and blogs, you only need one account.

How to create a profile?

To register your account on the site, the first thing you need to do is go to the registration form. Usually the link to it is located at home page and has a name (Registration, Register, Create an account, etc.).

Then you will need to fill out the form with the following information:

• “First and last name” - your passport details or nickname (the choice is yours, but if you register in the payment system, banking service or in an online store, it is better not to use a fictitious name).
• “Login” is a nickname, or nickname, in the system. Your nickname on the site where you register. It can be seen by other users. The login is also used for authorization - it is indicated when entering the site.
• “Password” is a symbolic-numeric key for logging into your account. It is of great importance for the safety and security of confidential data. Take its compilation and storage very seriously.
• "E-mail", " Mobile phone» - means of verification or confirmation of rights to the profile. With their help, functions are activated and access to the account is restored if the password is lost. Also, some websites use them to notify users about hacking attempts, third-party interference, or changing settings.
• Captcha - a picture with a code or a special task. In this column, do everything that the resource requires of you (retype the code from the image, solve a mathematical example, answer a question, label pictures according to a given characteristic). This way you will prove that you are not a bot and are filling out the data manually.
• Payment details - bank card, electronic account payment system. If you plan to make any purchases in the account being created, which means that this data must be specified.

There may also be other required fields in the form. For example, a series of passport, driver's license, insurance policy.

After entering all the necessary data, send them to the site server - click the “Submit” or “Register” button. Confirm your rights to the specified e-mail and phone number. The web service will send you to complete this procedure special message, respectively, with a link or verification code.

How to log into your profile?

Modern operating systems are multi-user. Any action in them must be performed on behalf of a specific account. What is an account? In relation to the operating system, this is the user ID that is stored in the system itself.

One of the accounts always belongs to the system itself: the so-called system account. Services are launched on its behalf when the computer boots, devices are connected, drivers are loaded, etc.

Windows OS has two built-in standard accounts: Administrator and Guest. However, in Windows 7, the Administrator account is disabled by default. During the installation process of the system, it is proposed to create at least one more account - the user will work under it.

The concept of “account” is often used in other situations. Usually this is understood as a combination of some name and password. For example, account Email- username registered on mail server(practically this is an email address) and the corresponding password. An account on a site is the name under which you registered on this site, and, again, a password for accessing certain functions of the site, etc. Such accounts have nothing to do with users of the operating system.

Each account is assigned certain rights. For convenience and ease of rights management, there are groups. When a user account is added to a group, it receives all the rights specified for that group. In Windows 7, 14 groups are created by default, and the main practical significance have three of them: Administrators, Users and Remote Desktop Users.

Complete and granular management of users and groups is provided through console snap-ins Computer management → Local users and groups And Local politics security (Start → Run → secpol.msc). However, in many cases the functions available in Control panels On the page user accounts.

The user account created during system installation has administrator rights by default. Computer administrators are allowed to do everything, including managing other user accounts, installing programs, and changing any system settings. At least one of the existing accounts must have administrator rights. Many people still work under this single account. However, this is a very serious “blunder” in the security organization! In particular, when opening web pages in which the malicious code, this code will be executed as administrator. In this case, he will be able to make changes to the registry, place infected files in system folders, etc.

The creators of Windows recommend creating an account with limited rights for everyday work. This is also stated in help system, and in official manuals. A user logged in under such an account ( regular user), somewhat limited in rights. It can run most applications and has access to many folders. However, he is not allowed to install programs or change fundamentally important system settings. This user cannot modify, delete, or create files in system folders(for example, in Windows folders or Program Files). On the “correct” computer, an account with administrator rights should only be used to install programs or change some serious settings.

How to create an account?

1. On the page Control Panel → User Accounts click on the link Managing another account.
2. On the next page select the link Create an account. Next, enter the name of the new user, set the switch to Normal access and click the button Create an account.

Although there is no direct ban on the Cyrillic alphabet in account names, it is still more correct to use only letters. Some programs refuse to work correctly if the username contains characters other than the Latin alphabet and numbers.

Some applications should only be run as an administrator. For example, these are many video surveillance programs, Reserve copy, antivirus scanners. When you are working under a limited account, there are several ways to launch such applications correctly:

• click on the program shortcut right click mouse and context menu select team Run as administrator;
• right-click on the shortcut and select the command from the context menu Properties. The Properties dialog box opens. Go to the tab Compatibility. On this tab, click the button Change settings for all users and in the child dialog box, check the box Run this program as administrator.

When the application is launched this way, the User Account Control function is triggered: the screen dims and you are prompted to enter the administrator password. It turns out that a user working under a limited account should still know it.

How to not give a normal user a password for the administrator account, but allow them to run certain programs on his behalf? This problem can be solved quite in a cunning way. You are unlikely to use it yourself - let the computer technician servicing your company do it. Let's just show the principle:

1. Open your console Computer management and go to the element Utilities → Task Scheduler.
2. Create new task with a short name without spaces, for example Tricky_Task. In the task creation dialog box, on the tab Are common check the box Run with highest rights, and on the tab Actions specify which program to run. Save the created task.
3. Create a new shortcut on your desktop. When creating a shortcut in a field Property location enter the command schtasks/run/tn Tricky_Task(Where Tricky_Task- the name of the previously created task). Give the shortcut a meaningful name, such as If you can't, but you really need to.

Of course, when creating a task, the system will ask you for an administrator password. However, in the future, an ordinary user will be able to launch a task using a shortcut. That, in turn, will launch the specified program, but on behalf of the administrator - no one will ask the user for the password!

The meaning of creating different accounts is not limited to different rights to launch programs and make changes to operating system settings. In Windows, each file or folder is assigned specific access permissions. They determine what exactly specific user or what security group members are allowed or not allowed to do with the object. There are two types of permissions:

• Share permissions(network access permissions). These permissions define access rights to an object over the network. They are related to operating system specific computer and are stored in Windows registry. When you rename or move a folder, network access permissions are reset (network access is denied for everyone) and must be set again;
• NTFS permissions(permissions local access). They are attributes of a file or folder and are stored in file system. In other words, these permissions remain with the object even if HDD was moved to another computer.

Permission management Share carried out in the file or folder properties dialog box on the tab Access. Permissions NTFS are set on the tab Safety.
In most cases, there is no need to specifically configure NTFS permissions. The creator-owner of a folder always gets access to it full access. Other users of the computer are granted read, execute, and change rights to the contents of the folder.

The exception is users' personal folders (My Documents, Pictures, Desktop, etc.). Access to them and their subfolders is limited to the appropriate user only. Others can access another user's personal folders only on behalf of the administrator: User Account Control will be triggered and you will be prompted to enter the administrator's password. Members of the Administrators group have unlimited rights to any folders.

Network access permissions (Share), on the contrary, are directly set whenever you open network access To specific folder. Detailed questions of creation network resources And different models We will look at accessing them in the following articles.