When you sign up for a .Mac account, you are given an iDisk. This iDisk is essentially like an FTP server. If you aren't sure what an FTP server does, think of it as a remote hard drive that you can access from anywhere, anytime. One of the folders on your iDisk is called "Public". This folder allows anyone to connect to this and view/download it's contents (click here for a previous Mac Tip explaining how this works).

By default, however, you are able to put files in this Public folder because you have access to it (as the account holder), but others can only view and download from it. What if someone needs to send you a large file, and e-mail just won't cut it? Sure, they can upload it to their Public folder, but what if they don't have a .Mac account?

Changing access on your Public folder is simple. Just go into your System Preferences and click on .Mac. When you are there, click on the iDisk tab a the top, and you will see this:

Notice that the bottom section deals with your Public folder access. To allow others to upload files to this folder, simply change the radio button to "Read & Write". Additionally, you can also set a password so not just anyone can upload anything they please. This, of course, is highly recommended as you could very quickly run out of available space on your iDisk.