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Remove stubborn user accounts with Directory Utility

User accounts in OS X are managed by default through the Accounts system preferences (Users & Groups in Lion), where you can add or remove them, or change properties such as administrator status via a simple interface. However, sometimes if you are trying to delete an account the system may be stubborn and refuse to allow this action, so the account reappears when you next launch the system preferences.

This type of problem generally means the system preferences cannot properly access the system directory, which can happen if corruption or permissions faults occur when you upgrade the operating system software … Read more

How to add multiple user accounts to Chrome right now

Google recently added the multiple user account feature to the beta version of Chrome.

In the past some file structure hacking would have been necessary in order for multiple users to have a personalized experience in Chrome. Luckily you can start taking advantage of this new feature today by downloading and installing the beta and then following a few quick steps.

Step 1: Grab the Google Chrome Beta here: http://www.google.com/landing/chrome/beta

Step 2: After you finish installing, click on the wrench near the top-right corner and select Options.

Step 3: On the left-hand side … Read more

How to troubleshoot Twitter integration issues in iOS 5

After upgrading to iOS 5 on my iPhone 4, I noticed that my Twitter app was not behaving up to snuff. My troubleshooting investigation led to some interesting realizations about how Twitter is integrated in iOS 5.

Twitter's role in Apple's latest mobile operating system is a bit different from other apps. The issue I was having was that the Mentions tab in my Twitter app was not updating. I knew from reading my account feed that some of my Twitter followers were sending me tweets, but I was not getting notified and they were not appearing in … Read more

OS X 10.7.2 with iCloud showing Guest user account at log-in

After installing OS X 10.7.2 and enabled the new iCloud services that Apple unveiled yesterday, a number of users have found that the system is displaying a Guest User account at the log-in window.

Upon clicking this account, the system will show a warning that states the system will restart into a Safari-only mode for the guest user, and if any accounts are currently logged in then they will be forced to log out and may lose unsaved work.

For people seeing this, if they go to the Users & Groups system preferences, the guest account will be … Read more

Errant character to blame for Twitter 'hack'

In the sometimes slippery world of the Web, it can pay to cross your "t"s and dot your "i"s.

Case in point:

A colleague sent me a link to a tweet that at first seemed to show that Applebee's Twitter account had been hacked. The account had tweeted: "Poop is food."

As catchy as that tagline might be, it seems a little weird coming from a major restaurant chain. And on closer inspection I thought the page looked a bit suspicious. Only nine tweets had gone out from the account, and … Read more

OS X Lion passwords can be changed by any local user

In OS X, user passwords are encrypted and then are stored in files called "shadow files" which are placed in secure locations on the drive. Based on system permissions, the contents of these files can then only be accessed and modified by the user, or by administrators provided they first give appropriate authentication. This means that only the user can change its password, or if needed, then an administrator can do this by first authenticating.

Unfortunately, recent discoveries have shown that in OS X Lion this security structure is not intact, and any user on the system can … Read more

Stubborn user accounts returning when deleted in OS X

In OS X, the creation of separate user accounts is useful not only for keeping work and private documents separate, but also so users can have their own settings and system customizations that will not interfere with those of other users. User accounts can be added or removed in the Accounts System Preferences (called Users and Groups in Lion), but in some situations, people are finding that they cannot remove some accounts from their systems, and when they try the accounts will show up the next time they open Accounts.

Account access and management problems may happen when you perform … Read more

View e-mail passwords with Mail PassView

NirSoft's Nir Sofer writes small but useful programs that do small but useful tasks for even smaller fees, usually no fee, otherwise known as "free." His Mail PassView is a compact freeware tool that recovers and displays passwords and account details for several popular e-mail clients, including Outlook and Outlook Express, Thunderbird, and Eudora. It can handle POP3, IMAP, HTTP, and SMTP accounts, depending on the particular client.

Mail PassView opened with our Outlook 2010 data displayed in its plain main view, including not only our password and account name but also server, server port, account type, … Read more

Twitter account hacking hits home

OK, I take hacking of Twitter accounts seriously now--former Rep. Anthony Weiner's spurious claims notwithstanding.

When someone I follow sent me an annoyingly long string of tweets last month that read "Can you please enter your e-mail so I can get a iPad2 please!" I pinged her. To my surprise, she hadn't even noticed. An embarrassing hack, but no real harm done.

Then, a few weeks later, my account tweeted some political drivel. Which I expressly don't do. Just like her, I hadn't checked my own Twitter feed (the tweet had been out there … Read more