How do folder permissions get changed?

H

HateEternal

Mac Metal Head
I noticed today that my Apps folder asked me to authenticate whenever I wanted to move something to it. So I checked the permissions and the group had been changed from admin to staff. How would this happen? I already repaired it but I am just curious to what might have changed this.
 
It could have changed when you did a software update to the system (Apple's updates). The system decides on its own who owns what folder. The owner should be system to read & write, Group should be admin to read & write, and you should be able to read and write - that is if you are set as the admin in your user account.
 
Mainly it's when you install 3rd party stuff, especially old insallers. When you create those things, you have to specify the permissions for every folder - not just the ones that are getting installed into, but also the ones leading to it. The Installer application actually changes the permissions of all those folders along the way while it's installing files. If someone isn't paying attention, or the installer is an old one that doesn't have the permission set that OS 10.2 and above have, the permissions for folders get messed up.

It's a good idea to run a permission check after you install almost anything.
 
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