[pwrmacg4]

I never log in as root on my computer and have a program which does maintenance from non root user. No problems?

[P]

Eh... Well, maintenance scripts are run regularly as root by a program called cron, which starts when OS boots - who is logged in at that point doesn't matter. Any maintenance done with say Disk Utility or similar (basically any app where you have to enter you password to do something) will run as root as well. Generally you're not supposed to log in as root at all, and I don't think I've done so since the dark days when OS X was new.

[besson3c]

Are you suggesting that this program is circumventing privileges by doing things that it shouldn't?

Don't bother with so-called "maintenance" applications, they are pointless. Modern OSes are not like cars that need tuneups every once in a while.

[pwrmacg4]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Are you suggesting that this program is circumventing privileges by doing things that it shouldn't?

Don't bother with so-called "maintenance" applications, they are pointless. Modern OSes are not like cars that need tuneups every once in a while.

I am using Main Menu.

[P]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Are you suggesting that this program is circumventing privileges by doing things that it shouldn't?

No. Those binaries are setuid root, meaning that they can execute as if they were root. If they were written according to Apple's guidelines, they will require you to enter an your password and you have to be in the sudoers group to do anything that requires root access.

[besson3c]

So it requires an admin user. I just wanted clarity on whether the original poster felt that this was a problem, I didn't mean to imply that it is.