Mysterious 'logouts'

[videoflyer]

When I set my Mac to doing something (video compression, large file copies, what-have-you) that will require a long time to complete I tend to start these processes at a time when I'll be stepping away from the computer for a while. So, operating under the assumption that screensavers and/or sleep options might throw a monkey wrench into matters I turn all energy-saving options to 'never' and turn off my screensaver, as well. Only my monitor still sleeps itself after a while.

Upon returning to my computer and waking up the monitor, I frequently find numerous message windows on my desktop related to an attempt to log out - do I want to save changes? etc., etc. Firefox will almost always be displaying the query "are you sure you want to close this window? There are multiple tabs open" and even though I click 'cancel' Firefox will shut down anyway.

Usually, whatever time-consuming process I'd initiated has continued straight through or, at the very least, resumes upon dismissal of all of the warning messages. The logout process has never been completed in these instances but I'm concerned about why they're happening at all. Is there some option I've neglected to check or uncheck which would prevent them? It's not likely to be a result of anyone commandeering my system, is it?

 

[jcooke]

Go to system preferences, at the top right click the picture labeled "Security" once your in the security window, there should be a checkbox that says log out after xx number of minutes of inactivity, uncheck it and your done.

 

[DeltaMac]

the first that comes to my mind - System Preferences/Security pane. You might have a setting in 'Log out after 60 minutes of inactivity. Make sure that is not checked.

If it were possible for someone to 'comandeer' your system, then why would they wait until you left the system for a few minutes. You might get logouts while you are actively using your computer!

 

[videoflyer]

Bingo! Figures it'd be something so blindingly simple. Is that auto-logout option on be default?

Many thanks.

DeltaMac - you're right. I shoulda thought of that but I'd already been racking my teeny, tiny brain for a while...obviously stunning my critical thinking centers. Hope the effects are temporary...

 

[DeltaMac]

No, the 'logout after inactivity' is not on by default. You either turned it on at some point, or possibly some software that you installed had changed that setting to 'help' you in some way!
Of course, if you don't normally leave the computer to do its own tasks untended, you may not notice that setting at work...