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Admin2020's avatar
Admin2020
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago

How do I require a password before a user in macOS can change the Selective Sync folders?

Long story short, I need my primary Dropbox account on my two computers and my iPad.  I sync the same folders on each device.  For security purposes, should my computer be logged into when I'm not around, I need to require a password before allowing selective sync folders to be edited.  Otherwise, somebody can just walk up to my computer if I step away, select all folders to be synced, and have immediate access to files they shouldn't have.

 

My computer is locked, secured, encrypted and password protected already.  However there are times where just by the nature of being in an office with others where you will step away for a minute or to and for whatever reason the computer isn't locked.  For that worst case scenario, I need to be able to require users enter a password before changing selective sync folders.  The password could be the Dropbox account password, or could be a password required by macOS Ventura, as this computer is running mac OS Ventura.  Perhaps there is a way to have Ventura require a password before changing the settings/preferences of an already running application?

 

If I cannot solve this problem and lock selective sync by device (not by user account) then our entire company has to leave Dropbox.  I'd prefer not to do that, but if Dropbox doesn't offer this security feature, or I can't get macOS to simulate it, our entire organization has to move to a competitor that has this feature. 

 

Any ideas?!

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hi Admin2020, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

     

    Currently, there isn't a method to add a password to prevent the changing of selective sync folders in the Dropbox desktop application.

     

    If you wish, you can suggest this change for others to vote on, so the dev team can look into this in future.

    • Admin2020's avatar
      Admin2020
      Explorer | Level 4

      I called in and it sounded like this was a financial decision, in that Dropbox would view people doing what I need as an attempt to avoid purchasing licenses.  I get that.  But it's not that, for me it's a security issue.  I would happily pay for licenses "by device" if that were an option that allowed me to edit syncing folders by device and not by account.

       

      I appreciate the suggestion but in my 30 years of doing IT, I've never had anybody respond or implement a suggested change I've submitted so I honestly think it would be a waste of time to submit the suggestion! lol