Debre Birhan Polytechnic College

Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development

DEBRE BIRHAN POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

Ethiopian TVET-System

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SUPPORT SERVICE
Level I

LEARNING GUIDE # 1
Unit of Competence: protect application and system
software
Module Title : protecting application and system
software
LG Code : ICT ITS1 L01 1
TTLM Code : ICT ITS1 TTLM 0811

LO 1: Ensure user accounts are

controlled

Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 1 of 10

3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’
 Debre Birhan Polytechnic College
Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development

INTRODUCTION Learning Guide # 1

This learning guide is developed to provide you the necessary information regarding the following
content coverage and topics –

 User Account Control and Security

This guide will also assist you to attain the learning outcome stated in the cover page.
Specifically, upon completion of this Learning Guide, you will be able to –

 Modify default user settings to ensure that they conform to security policy
 Modify previously created user settings to ensure they conform to updated security policy
 Ensure legal notices displayed at logon are appropriate
 Use appropriate utilities to check strength of passwords and consider tightening rules for
password complexity
 Monitor emails to uncover breaches in compliance with legislation
 Access information services to identify security gaps and take appropriate action using
hardware and software or patches

Learning Activities
1. Read the specific objectives of this Learning Guide.
2. Read the information written in the “Information Sheets 1” in pages 3-5.
3. Accomplish the “Self-check” in page 6.
4. If you earned a satisfactory evaluation proceed to “Operation Sheet” on pages 7-11. However, if
your rating is unsatisfactory, see your teacher for further instructions or go back to Learning
Activity # 1.
5. Do the “LAP test” in page 12 (if you are ready) and show your output to your teacher. Your
teacher will evaluate your output either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If unsatisfactory, your
teacher shall advice you on additional work. But if satisfactory you can proceed to Learning
Guide 11.

 Your teacher will evaluate your output either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If unsatisfactory,
your teacher shall advice you on additional work. But if satisfactory you can proceed to the
next topic.

Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 2 of 10

3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’
 Debre Birhan Polytechnic College
Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development

Information Sheet 1 User Account Control and Security

What is a User Accounts?

User accounts are the primary means of access for real people to the system, and
these accounts insulate the user and the environment, preventing the users from
damaging the system or other users, and allowing users to customize their environment
without affecting others.

If you have only one computer in the house, but more than one person who uses it,
you can set up a separate user account for each person. That way, they can have their
own settings, and customization. For example, they can have their own desktop wallpaper
that you won't see when you login to your account. Here's how to set up a new user
account.

Every person accessing your system should have a unique user account.
This allows you to find out who is doing what, prevent people from clobbering
each others' settings or reading each others' mail, and so forth.

Each user can set up their own environment to accommodate their use of the
system, by using alternate shells, editors, key bindings, and language.

Using Windows XP User Accounts

A user account in Windows XP is a profile that defines user rights, customizations

and settings. By utilizing user accounts on computers with more than one user, each
user is able to specify and retain their personal Windows XP environments.

A user account defines the following properties:

 Access rights.
 Desktop layout.
 Individual user favorites and history.
 Use of a private “My Documents” folder.

There are three levels of user accounts in Windows XP which are administrator,
limited and guest. Each account has a different set of account rights. Listed below are
Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 3 of 10
3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’
 Debre Birhan Polytechnic College
Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development
the types of accounts and what rights are assigned to each account type.

1. Administrative Account Rights

Only administrative level users have full system access including access to other
user accounts. Windows XP requires at least one administrative account which was
created during the Windows XP installation. This account is responsible for maintaining all
other user accounts and system resources. Account rights are:
 Install software and hardware
 Create, modify and delete user accounts
 Access all files
 Create or change passwords for all user accounts
 Modify names, pictures and account types

2. Limited User Account Rights

A limited user account is an account created for regular users of the computer. It is
suggested that the administrator also created a user account and only uses the
administrative account for system maintenance. Account rights are:
 Do not have rights to install software or hardware.
 Allowed access to already installed software.
 Can modify own user account with exception of account name or type.

3. Guest User Account Rights

A guest user account is an account that used when someone needs to access the
computer for a short period of time – such as a temporary employee. No actual account is
defined but the guest account needs to be activated by the administrator before it can be
used. Account rights are:
 Do not have rights to install software or hardware.
 Cannot modify guest account or profile.

Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 4 of 10

3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’
 Debre Birhan Polytechnic College
Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development
To get at the settings for the User Accounts, click Start and then Control Panel.
From the Control Panel, double click User Accounts. This will bring up the following
dialogue box:

In the image, we have two accounts already set up. We have an account called kc,
and one called limited. Each has its own icon. But notice that one account has
"administrator" next to it, and the other has "limited account". It's important to know the
difference between the two.

Windows XP - User Profiles

Windows XP lets you the ability to create user profiles, which allows each user on
your computer to have a separate login.

It has benefits, such as allowing each user to have their own document folders and
personal settings such as desktop icons, start menu items, favorites, etc.

You must have a computer administrator account on the computer and be

logged in as an administrator to add a new user to the computer.

Benefits of having Multiple Users

There are many situations that setting up multiple users can be beneficial. Some
examples include:
 A home computer that several family members use.
 A work computer that is used by different employees.
 A work computer that is used by a temporary employee.

By implementing user accounts in these situations each user has a personalized

computing environment and their data is protected from access by other users.

Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 5 of 10

3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’
 Debre Birhan Polytechnic College
Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development

Operation Sheet 1 Creating & Modifying User Accounts

To Create a New User Account

1. To open the User Accounts tool, open Control Panel from the Start menu, and then
double click User Accounts.
2. Click Create a new account in the Pick a task list box.

3. Type the name that you want to use for the account, and then click Next.

Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 6 of 10

3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’
 Debre Birhan Polytechnic College
Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development

4. Click Computer administrator or Limited, depending on the type of account you

want to assign to the new user, and then click Create Account.

To Make Changes To An Account

1. To open the User Accounts tool, open Control Panel from the Start menu, and then
double click User Accounts.
2. Click Change an account in the Pick a task list box.

3. Click the account that you want to change.

Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 7 of 10

3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’
 Debre Birhan Polytechnic College
Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development

4. Select the item that you would like to change:

a. Click Change the name to change the name that appears on the Welcome
screen for the account.
b. Click Change the picture to change the picture that is used to represent the
user account. You can use any image file on the computer for the user's
picture.
c. Click Change the account type to change the account type to increase or
decrease the user's rights on the computer.
d. Click Create/change the password to create or change the password for
the user and create or change the password hints.

Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 8 of 10

3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’
 Debre Birhan Polytechnic College
Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development
e. Click Delete the account to delete the user account from the computer.
When you delete the account, you are given the option to save the user's
files on the computer.

Note: You cannot delete the account for a user that is currently logged on to
the computer.

5. Now, whenever you start windows, you will come to a login screen. Just click on the
icon for the user account that you will be using, and enter a password, if you have
specified one.

To change users without logging off

1. Click Start, click Log off, and then click Switch User.
2. On the Welcome screen, click another user account icon.

Note: Windows displays the new user's desktop and settings.

Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 9 of 10

3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’
 Debre Birhan Polytechnic College
Training, Teaching and Learning Materials Development

To logoff
1. Click Start, click Log off, and then click Log off.
2. On the Welcome screen, either click another user account icon, or click on Turn off
computer to shutdown.

Note: You can identify the current user account by clicking Start and then reading
the account name located on the Start menu.

Learning Guide Date: 04/07/2018 Page 10 of 10

3rd Edition Author: All ICT Trainers’