How do I enable root in 2011?
Hello to all!
I am using Mandriva 2011 and I am wanting to enable root GUI logon. I do understand the risks of using root. Thanks! |
If you understood the risks, you wouldn't be asking the question. Login as a user and su or sudo to execute what you need to with root authority.
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I do appreciate your concern. |
Hi, you should be able to find the setting in msec (mandriva security).
From the MCC (Mandriva control center). There are other ways... Regards Glenn |
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Linux IS SAFER than windows if YOU - the USER, is NOT THE PROBLEM . the OS developers turned the gui root login OFF for GOOD security reasons X window is NOT SAFE TO RUN AS ROOT !!! |
I thought I'd seen this before...
I agree totally with the warnings above, and I no longer use this method, but in the name of freedom, see my tute here... http://glennwaller.blogspot.com/2010...-and-sudo.html |
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OK, Liberty then.
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Not trying to start any war or anything, but is there any website that explains in a technical way why graphical root login is bad?
Again, purely in the interests of knowledge. I know it's the right thing not to log in as root, but after years of Linux experience, I must confess that I hadn't investigated this very thoroughly. (BTW. I always log in as a user except in my early days with Linux) |
Being root is bad
here is a taste of what others have written about being root, as apposed to using sudo.
the last article goes on to explain sudo and "granular delegation". "Liberty comes with responsibility" Quote:
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Cheers and regards Glenn ps. Personally, if someone got into my house, they could do whatever they wanted and screw-up my system for me (If I was logged in as root). |
How often does someone need to modify their system anyway? Every couple of days I type in my root password to download updates. Other than that, you're probably using your computer for tasks, not for administering your system - and tasks are done just fine as a user.
The real problem I think is that if you're running as root all the time and you get exploited, you're screwed - the intruder has full access to everything. Running as a user, the intruder's access is more limited. I believe once your system is set up and running you'll have little need for running as root. |
I posted my response like I have because
when I started with linux, (the knoppix live-cd was the first gui I had "seen working") Most of my peripheral hardware, (printer, camera, 802.11, graphics card, and sata chip) was not recognised. But I was excited to finally get away from paying for buggy software. I'd been using FOSS on M$ and liked it a lot. While I was configuring linux I constantly had to look for info from the web, which meant reboot and use M$ to get online (28k dialup) By the way, I didn't even know what I needed to look for. I didn't know how to extract the info from my linux system to copy paste a reference note to myself. I remember spending a lot of time offline. I remember learning. I am still learning. But like a child, the teach them all you can and let them go. Hopefully they make the "right" decisions. Regards Glenn |
It's best to not log in as root, but if you must, simply select "other" instead of the regular user name, and then type in "root".
Wayne Sallee Wayne@WayneSallee.com |
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