Obtaining Temporary Admin Access on Windows (How-to)

When Drake accounts run in administrator mode on computers, they are able to install programs and modify settings without restriction. While this in itself is not a bad thing, it also makes it extremely easy for attackers to install their own malicious software and compromise computers and information. This software installs and runs in the background without you knowing, and is often very difficult to detect and uninstall.

To combat this threat, Drake-owned computers do not operate with administrator mode as the default state, and instead, tools provide temporary administrator access, allowing software installation and setting changes when needed, then automatically reverting to prevent attacks.

Procedures for Windows 10 are below.


Windows

  1. Launch Make Me Admin from the Start menu. Select the Start menu and click Make Me Admin from the list of apps. Alternatively, you can search for "Make Me Admin" after opening the Start menu.
    Make Me Admin
     
  2. When the application launches, it will determine whether or not you already have administrator access. If not, the Grant Me Administrator Rights button will be enabled. If you do already have administrator rights, the button will be disabled, and the Remove my Admin Rights button will be enabled.




     
  3. Click the Grant Me Administrator Rights button. The application will attempt to add you to the Administrators group. If this process is successful, the application window will disappear, and a new icon will be added to the notification area on the task bar, near the date and time. A pop-up message will appear for a few seconds, indicating that you have been added as a member to the Administrators group. This icon will remain in the notification area as long as the administrator access is active.


     
  4. At this point that you should perform the task(s) that require administrator privileges: changing computer settings, installing or updating software, etc. You do not need to log off and on of your device in order for your administrator rights to take effect. 

    If you receive a prompt from User Account Control to log in, enter your current Drake ID and password.

  5. The administrator access will remain in place up to 30 minutes, allowing time to make any modifications needed. After that time, Make Me Admin will display one final pop-up message stating you are no longer a member of the Administrators group, and then close completely.



    You only need Administrator rights to start an install or update a program. Installation will complete even if after you've been removed from the Administrators group.

Details

Article ID: 63599
Created
Sun 10/7/18 6:40 PM
Modified
Thu 10/5/23 9:36 AM