Access Administrator 4.83

Access Administrator is a rather simple tool for configuring other users' access rights. You can restrict them from being able to view certain folders or files from your computer. The program installs a Windows service which does all the work, so closing the main window has no impact on the restrictions which are applied.

The application can be protected with a password. This ensures that other users cannot modify the program's restrictions. Each user from of your system is displayed next to a checkbox. You can select the checkbox next to the user you want to apply restrictions to. After you select the user, you should choose which files or folders should be protected.

The application has a button with an icon that resembles Internet Explorer. The tooltip when you go over this icon is 'Add Internet access files'. Don't trust this tooltip, because the application only blocks access to Internet Explorer, not to the Internet. Even if you choose to 'Add Internet access files' to the list of protected folders, you will still be able to access the Internet using other applications or Internet browsers (Mozilla, Opera, Outlook, etc).

Pluses: You can define a timetable for each user. This timetable enables you to block access during specified periods of time.

Drawbacks / flaws: If the restricted user is an Administrator, he or she can access Task Manager and stop the Access Administrator service (end the process). When this happens all restrictions are removed.

In conclusion: Access Administrator isn't able to protect files in a trustworthy manner. Any Administrator with access to 'Administrative Tools->Services' in Windows can disable the restrictions.

version reviewed: 4.5