General Question

wtf's avatar

Is there a passcode- protected privacy browser for a Mac desktop computer?

Asked by wtf (24points) August 17th, 2010
6 responses
“Great Question” (0points)

I share a computer with my room mate. It is an old iMac.

On my iPhone I have a privacy browser that requires a login. Is there any way to replicate this on the desktop?

I know I can set no history and no cookies but I am seeking a less obvious way since he sees this and makes jokes assuming I am downloading porn when I just want privacy.

Also please do not suggest a new user profile on the Mac. I am just looking for a browser that a passcode can be set for.

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Answers

frdelrosario's avatar

You can password-protect the Finder during sleep with System Preferences -> Personal -> Security.

You could also grow a thicker skin.

brotherhume's avatar

You could have one browser in the dock that your roommate could easily see and access but have another browser (might be a different one) that is hidden in a folder somewhere on your computer. That folder can be password protected or you can put the application inside a encrypted disk image.

Tobotron's avatar

if your running chrome browser (its on mac too) you can open a private session that doesn’t record anything you enter into search boxes, cookies, history etc etc…(great for the gf not knowing you’ve been watching porn lol)

wtf's avatar

@frdelrosario I believe my question was about internet technology and did not call for your opinion on the state of my manhood. The desire to have a sliver of privacy from a snooping roommate does not equate with “thin skin.” It seems you share the mentality of my roomate that all information should be out and open for general discussion. You even go so far as to suggest that if I do not like it I should just “get a thicker skin.”

I chose this area of this site to post in to find real answers to a computer question not get a psychological evaluation.
My question is about privacy technology. Can we stick to this topic?

@brotherhume Thanks for being helpful. Great idea about the decoy browser in the dock.

@Tobotron We do not have chrome and I will try as you suggested and keep the icon in apps as @brotherhume suggested.
Thanks

Tobotron's avatar

@wtf for your reference http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95464 although they don’t mention porn… mmmm!?... shifty eyes

jrpowell's avatar

There isn’t really a good way to password protect an application. But if you use Firefox I know something that might help a bit.

Close Flirefox and open Applications/Utilities/Terminal

Enter this:
/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox-bin -profilemanager
Hit return.

Make a new profile. Make sure the name doesn’t have any spaces or funky characters.

Now open Applescript Editor in Applications/Utilities/.

enter this:
do shell script ”/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox-bin -P Private”

Change Private to whatever you named your profile. Click Run. Now Firefox should open with a fresh profile.

File—> Save As
Check Application and give it a name. Save it to the Desktop.

Now you have a shortcut on your Desktop that will open Firefox using a different profile. Put this icon in in a safe place or just rename it something scary like “Delete all Pictures and Music”.

When you open Firefox normally it will go to the default account. Only when you use the shortcut we made above will it open using the other profile. The odds are pretty slim that the other person will ever notice the other profile or even be able to figure out how to open it.

http://i.imgur.com/CWHkl.png

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