RE: [LI] Linux password security

[Sharad Joshi <sharadj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 21 Oct 1999, Benny Mathew wrote:

+ Does this mean that if a person has physical access to a linux
+ machine... then there is no security???

In a way, yes (i mean yes to no security). A person carrying a linux boot
floppy is as dangerous as one with AK56. And moreover if he has a
perverted bent of mind, he can cause havoc to the system, at the minimum.

+ How can one prevent somebody from booting the system in single user mode
+ and tampering the files... especially the /etc/passwd file????

I can't really tell how to stop the system from booting in single user
mode. But one important thing, always maintain a backup copy of
/etc/passwd (and for that matter - all the important files) in some floppy
or may be, say, hard copy.

+ Is there any way by which you can make the system to display the Login
+ screen in single user mode???
+ 

No, this would be redundant. Whats the use of this and how different this
would be from normal user login? 

The bottomline is, if others have physical access to your machine,
available security is not something you will relish.

Sharad.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-

--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Linux India Mailing List Archives are now available.  Please search
the archive at http://lists.linux-india.org/ before posting your question
to avoid repetition and save bandwidth.