Should I segregate my personal and work/coding files on different computers / Apple IDs?

[Mity]

I have two Apple IDs for two different partitions on my Macbook Pro, one for personal files and the other for coding/programming. Because I visit many websites to seek help on coding topics and because I download many open-source libraries for coding projects, I thought it would be safer if I kept two separate Apple IDs on two separate partitions on the same computer.

The problem is that it's a pain to switch back and forth between partitions, like when I want to do online banking and then go back to coding, I have to restart my computer. Also, a lot of my use is now getting mixed, for example, where to store homework for school - coding or personal?

This problem, I think, can be solved by either:
1. Having two different computers, each with a separate Apple ID
2. Having two different computers with a single Apple ID
3. Combining the two partitions & Apple IDs into one and just using that one computer/Apple ID for both personal and coding.

Questions
1. Does anyone have/had a similar concern? Is it worth maintaining two separate Apple IDs on two different computers to segregate personal from work?

2. If I have one AppleID but two different machines (Pro & Air), how likely is it that my other devices (iPhone, iPad, Air) can get malware if only my Pro gets infected? Would storing infected files on the same iCloud account do this?

3. Am I being over-paranoid about being infected with malware and should I should just combine the two partitions or am I doing the right thing by segregating personal and coding work?

 

[wilberforce]

Why not just have two admin user accounts on one computer (and one partition), each with different Apple IDs?
I do this on my 14" MBP, and it is very quck switching between the two. I use my left finger for touch ID for the one account, and my right finger for touch ID on the other. Instant switching. Share folders between the user accounts as you wish.

Personally, I don't think malware on a Mac is a concern, if one doesn't actively do something stupid (and you always update the OS).

 

[Mity]

Why not just have two admin user accounts on one computer (and one partition), each with different Apple IDs?...Share folders between the user accounts as you wish.

I haven't tried this. My assumption was that if the infected file was on the same partition, it could infect every account, not just the one that I use to open the infected file.

 

[wilberforce]

I think it important to have robust multiple backups, in addition to cloud. For example I also do weekly backups of the entire computer on separate hard drives that I keep disconnected. Worst happens is I have to wipe the entire computer and restore

 

[maternidad]

You are being paranoid and there will never be any benefit to this. Realize that it would be exceptional that the malware took advantage of macOS and Apple IDs in particular, and be skeptical of that it could not affect the unmounted partition, in case you’re not sure.

 

[Slartibart]

macOS is a multi-user system which easily allows to seperate a “work” from a “personal” user… or several users. You do not need 2 system installations on separated partitions, 2 admin accounts, etc..

You can still mount and unmount partitions with data or software installs associated exclusively to different users.

Fast user switching or login and execute a tool chain as a different user via the terminal is easy and convenient.

Of course you should implement a solid backup strategy according to your needs. But that is probably rather trivial.


EDIT: or you separate and shield whatever from each other using VMs and simply switch or run these in parallel... but that seems really overkill IMHO 🤓