Of course, letting somebody search the web using your phone is a matter of trust. You smile giving your gadget to your friend; but at the same time, you hope he won't look at your camera roll. And if you share your tablet or laptop with your siblings or parents – you'll feel even more nervous. What if your mom finds out your recent browsing history? Or maybe a little brother spends lots of money to buy skins for Fortnite?
The easiest way to avoid all these problems is setting up a guest mode on your device. It is a kind of sandbox on your gadget allowing to search and use the web without interfering with your personal data. Think of it as if you give the key to guest bathroom instead of master bedroom to a stranger. You're creating a kind of shield around your data.
When it comes to Windows laptop, it may seem that setting up guest mode for this gadget is complicated; however, this procedure is pretty easy, although Microsoft tries to hide this ability of Windows. To start, you need to enter the Accounts tab in Settings app. Choose "Family & other users" and go to this menu.
Having entered this tab, click the button to add new user without a Microsoft account. However, don't input your email in this window. You're looking for some text saying "I don't have this person's sign-in information". At the bottom, you'll see a button saying "Add a user without a Microsoft account". It is exactly what you need.
Input a simple username like "Guest" or "Visitor" and choose a simple password. Don't forget that you need to create a password easy to remember for your visitors but unique for your guests. You don't want to spend every minute logging in your friends or relatives into your device.
Having created the account, you need to set some restrictions. Go back to the "Family & other users" tab and choose the account you've just created. Change account type to "Change account type". Switch your guest user to Standard User. Don't use Administrator type for your guest account since you're giving your guest the possibility to change lots of settings and install new programs.
If you use Mac and want to set guest mode, you can do this easily but you'll need to use another tab in your Settings application. Open System Settings and find "Users & Groups" section. Click on the button to add new user. On macOS, there is a native "Guest User" toggle that can come handy.
Enabling it, you'll create a temporary guest account. Such account is going to be automatically deleted when user logs out. So you don't have to worry about any data your visitors may download or install during using your laptop. Moreover, you can delete all changes that have been made during the use of your device in guest mode.
However, even though the data are deleted automatically, you have to prevent your guests from accessing files that are stored on iCloud Drive. Therefore, uncheck the box "Allow guests to connect to shared folders".
Chromebooks also have special features for guest account but the process of setting up guest mode is somewhat different from other operating systems. Chrome OS is optimized for sharing, which is why schools prefer using it. As for Chromebook, there is a special feature to set up guest mode.
Therefore, when you are on the login screen of your Chromebook, you will see "Browse as Guest" button near the sign-in window. By clicking this button, you will start special temporary session with lots of restrictions. The guest cannot see your downloaded data, bookmarks, settings, etc. The session data will be deleted immediately when you close browser or log out.
Currently, Android devices also support guest mode. If you swipe down twice to open quick settings panel, you may see user icon. By tapping this button, you will see your current user and "Guest" user. Such a feature is useful if you need to give your gadget to a child to watch cartoons in YouTube.
Guest profile on Android creates special virtual machine where no apps are installed besides essential system apps. The guest user cannot read your text messages or see your pictures. When you switch back to your main user, you will have an opportunity to delete guest data.
Unfortunately, iOS doesn't have guest mode yet. Apple doesn't offer such an option for iPhone or iPad. However, there is a workaround. You can use "Guided Access" feature of your iOS gadget.
Therefore, go to Accessibility settings and turn on Guided Access option. Set a special password known only to you. Then launch the app you want to use and press the side button three times. Your device will be locked in this app, and guests won't be able to swipe to home screen or launch other apps like Messages.
Such a trick will protect you from disaster with "accidental swipe"; however, you need to remember that you have to turn off Guided Access when you get your device back. Otherwise, you will be stuck in Photos app forever.
Regardless of what gadget you use, you have to remember about password hygiene. You have to make sure that your password of admin user is unbreakable. Never use "password123" or your dog's name. The best option would be to use passphrase like "BlueToyotaDrivesFast".
Moreover, think about setting up standard user account on your gaming console, PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. Such accounts are useful if you have some friends for playing games in split-screen mode. You don't want to lose your Elden Ring save file because of incorrect menu.
In any case, setting the boundaries is not about privacy. It is about digital hygiene and security. When you lend your device to a friend, you have to make sure that your personal data stay personal.
Imagine that your device is your bedroom. You allow a visitor to borrow your jacket but don't want him/her to read your diary. Guest mode is the digital version of a lock on your diary. With its help, you can share your device without fear to be offended by some personal data.
Spent twenty minutes today to set guest mode on your gadget. Explore settings of your laptop or tablet right now.
0 Comments