I have just loaded 'Steam' (after a relation of mine virtually insisted I do it and not wishing to offend I loaded it). Now I have it on my Macbook it wants me to enable access for assistive devices. I did a search of enabling access to assistive devices and it took me to a keylogger website where people can monitor your keystrokes! Is enabling assistive devices a security risk? I'm inclined to remove Steam at present because it seems that I am giving access to my Mac that I am not comfortable doing. Turning on access for assistive devices enables Apple's built-in Mac OS X accessibility features, which are available in all standard Mac OS X applications once you turn on this setting. 'Assistive software' for persons with disabilities takes advantage of these accessibility features.
Depending on how your Mac is set up, you might be prompted to enter the administrator password. Enter it and let your Mac execute the terminal command. If AirDrop was causing your Yosemite’s Wi-Fi connection to slow, this will instantly fix the problem. Of course, running the above command will obviously disable AirDrop.
So, if you have difficulties with vision, you turn it on so you can use VoiceOver. If you have motor control difficulties, you turn it on so you can use pointing devices and associated software to take the place of the mouse and the keyboard. And you leave it turned on, of course. In addition, many applications that are not targeted at persons with disabilities use the accessibility features to control other applications in useful ways. For example, Apple's own 'GUI Scripting' AppleScript technology lets you write scripts that control other applications' menus, buttons, and so on, even if they are not scriptable in the normal AppleScript fashion.
There are many third-party application examples. All of them require you to leave access for assistive devices turned on. I've had it turned on on all of my computers for about 10 years now (Accessibility was introduced in Jaguar). Apple has always left the default setting at 'disabled' because there is a theoretical risk.
If somebody sneaks an application onto your computer that uses the accessibility features, it can control other applications on your computer without your knowledge. So, if you don't need it, it makes sense to leave it turned off. But if you pay attention to what you install on your computer, I believe the risk is quite small.
In the end, you have to make a decision like that for yourself. Turning on access for assistive devices enables Apple's built-in Mac OS X accessibility features, which are available in all standard Mac OS X applications once you turn on this setting. 'Assistive software' for persons with disabilities takes advantage of these accessibility features. So, if you have difficulties with vision, you turn it on so you can use VoiceOver.
If you have motor control difficulties, you turn it on so you can use pointing devices and associated software to take the place of the mouse and the keyboard. And you leave it turned on, of course. In addition, many applications that are not targeted at persons with disabilities use the accessibility features to control other applications in useful ways. For example, Apple's own 'GUI Scripting' AppleScript technology lets you write scripts that control other applications' menus, buttons, and so on, even if they are not scriptable in the normal AppleScript fashion. There are many third-party application examples.
![How to turn on assibilty for steam on mac yosemite 2017 How to turn on assibilty for steam on mac yosemite 2017](http://www.imore.com/sites/imore.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2013/07/max_payne_3_mac.jpg?itok=v15av9vq)
![Mac Mac](https://cdn1.tekrevue.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/20130625_assistivedevices_mavericks_3.jpg)
All of them require you to leave access for assistive devices turned on. I've had it turned on on all of my computers for about 10 years now (Accessibility was introduced in Jaguar). Apple has always left the default setting at 'disabled' because there is a theoretical risk. If somebody sneaks an application onto your computer that uses the accessibility features, it can control other applications on your computer without your knowledge. So, if you don't need it, it makes sense to leave it turned off. But if you pay attention to what you install on your computer, I believe the risk is quite small.
In the end, you have to make a decision like that for yourself. Thanks cheeseb. I read somewhere a while ago that people that play on-line computer games run this sort of risk of outside interference/hacking on a computer. Whilst this risk is probably small, it is still out there. This has nothing to do with Steam itself but by virtue of enabling/opening features for on-line gaming the computer itself becomes more vunerable. I do appreciate the time you took to explain this. It confirms what I have read earlier but I feel I have more faith in my Apple's system over a PC.
However, because I am not a technically savvy person I still need re-assurance ocassionally on 'what not to do' to minimise the risks. I noted, by watching a TV doco on hackers/terrorism, that there is now a university course/degree conducted in the US to train hackers for employment by the US government to counter computer terrorists.
One of the first graduates was interviewed after graduating and was asked what he had learned from this studies. His reply surprised me - 'it has taught me to never store my personal information on any computer'. Revealing - and helping me to become even more concerned. Bpbpbp wrote: His reply surprised me - 'it has taught me to never store my personal information on any computer'. Revealing - and helping me to become even more concerned. Plays well on TV, but really you can reduce that expression to what they taught spies in the OSS back in the 1940s: 'Never keep a record of any information' Computers, per se, haven't got anything to do with.
It follows logically that any storage device from paper to disk drive to your brain must be accessible in order to function as a storage device, just as a safe must have a door and a lock. For that reason, all such devices are inherently breachable by some means or other (easiest way to get into information in your brain is for someone to threaten you or someone you value more highly than the information you are keeping). The trick is not to stop storing information, on computers or elsewhere, but to learn about the vulnerabilities, know the risks of what you do, and take steps to minimize them. Thanks softwater. I accept your comments with grace. The difference between 1940 and now is drastically different - now we have rampant identity fraud and people like me feel threatened because we are basically poorly educated on computer technology.
I am 63 and like all old people we need to keep up and use computers. We need to learn (obviously) but the skillset needed is lacking - we were taught on an Abacus at school (well my sons think I was).
Millions upon millions of dollars are being milked out of Australia alone by internet fraud - I have no doubt that this is in the Billions worldwide and whilst the OSS might have been trained to fight spies - oldies like me haven't been. I hear you ask why am I trying to use Steam - this is what happens when well intentioned nephews and grandchildren come to visit oldies and take over their computer to bring them into the 21st century - maybe the 1940's weren't so bad (still a bit before my time though). Very interesting information - I was not aware of the first tip (running from Admin). Having other user accounts that do not have admin rights seem to be difficult to manage day to day - that is, you can't do this and can't do that when signed into the computer.
Thanks for this one particularly. Yes have done that. Never heard of 1Password - where do you find this? I use Firefox but this will available on Firefox (I assume). Firefox has a master password system.
I use Adblocker. I have loaded from the Ap Store FreeMemory - suppose it is OK? I don't bank online - my sons tried to get me to to put my credit card on Sony's Playstation for some games on the PS3 - so I can play with the grandkids when they visit. I was told by them that I was paranoid because I refused and only used pre-paid vouchers. 'Dad' is not always wrong as it turns out - their attitude has changed a bit now too after Sony has been hacked. What is google search with 'review'? Do you mean type in 'review then the name'?
I am not as paranoid as I might sound actually. My sense of foreboding, when it comes to computer security, is from a combination of life experience (greater than many around me) and a lack of computer knowledge (less than many around me). I find that to be concerned is much better than to be blissfully unaware - the latter can be more costly. My first post on this topic was me tryng to 'peel the onion'. Your comments have been invaluable to me - thank you. I agree on all the things softwater says and this information is really helpful for newbies as bpbpbp puts it, and should be taught in IT classes in elementary schools. =)) For (1), just to support the advice for the newbies visiting; I've always been kind of a semi-power user on both Windows and Mac for almost 10 years; and never had any serious trouble or lost time while using via a standard user.
In fact, I almost never had virus or trojan troubles, or threats, possibly thanks to that. If it asks for my password for the admin account for something, now and then, I review it, if OK, put in the pass; if hesitate, I do the quick research. =)) That is probably the best advice one should give to a new computer user.
And it's pretty easy to use the computer that way, don't think it's inconvenient.The only time I have trouble is with Skype, I can't update it, and till this day I still can't sort it out; I always have to delete and install the app back again onto my mac OS. Apple Footer. This site contains user submitted content, comments and opinions and is for informational purposes only. Apple may provide or recommend responses as a possible solution based on the information provided; every potential issue may involve several factors not detailed in the conversations captured in an electronic forum and Apple can therefore provide no guarantee as to the efficacy of any proposed solutions on the community forums.
Apple disclaims any and all liability for the acts, omissions and conduct of any third parties in connection with or related to your use of the site. All postings and use of the content on this site are subject to the.