Should i add user or use root on a single machine????

Bosnian[X]

Hello,

Well, i had always used Linux with user and not root (su root) but i was wondering if it's safe to use Linux as root on my machine, because it's only me that uses my computer. I sick and tired of "su root" all the time.

If it's ok what should i think about in security way...

Thanx in advance....

//BosnianX

Amorphis · n00b Joined: 16 Jul 2002 Posts: 30

Biggest security issue is that you can accidentaly do something like 'rm -R *' on the wrong place

Using a different user from root prevents that you, or some script you are running, destroy important files from your system.

Bosnian[X] · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 10:11 am Post subject:

Okay, im very carefull when i type those kind of commands "rm -R *" (haven't
tried it yet

) but besides that is there any other things that i should consider when i use root ?????

or is there any good tutorial how to config user accounts so i don't have to "su root" all the time???

Amorphis · n00b Joined: 16 Jul 2002 Posts: 30

Try this:

http://www.geocities.com/usmbish/hdi-sudo.html

You can add users to the sudoers list so they only have to add 'sudo' to the beggining of a command they wish to execute as root.

Bosnian[X] · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 10:21 am Post subject:

Dude, thanx a lot....gonna try this one as soon as i get back from the beach....

P.S

It's 26 C in Sweden.... Can u belive it!!!!

DArtagnan · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 10:58 am Post subject:

jay · l33t Joined: 08 May 2002 Posts: 980

It's pissin' out here since a week and no good weather in sight. But away from this I STRONGLY recommend you to set up a user for gentoo. The main security risk is, that you are running all apps (browsers, p2p etc..) as root, so you make it VERY easy for a possible intruder to gain root access after a buffer overflow.

I also recommend you to have a look at this document:
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/gentoo-security.html
It will give you an idea what may happen if you consider security not so important.
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rizzo · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 12:33 pm Post subject:

I definitely recommend using a normal user for day-to-day activity. I am the only one on my workstation and I log in as my user. I only su to root for emerges and system config stuff. 99.9% of my activity is (and should be) done as my regular user.

reverius42 · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 10:45 pm Post subject: Creating user

therobot · Apprentice Joined: 07 Jun 2002 Posts: 256 Location: Canada

superadduser
it's easy and gets it all done.

Shak · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2002 8:42 am Post subject:

When using root all the time you become more relaxed about using it and may accidentaly issue a rm -r command when in / :oops:

Sometimes the root user can be :twisted:

. So its a good idea to keep safe and sound with a normal user, suing can be a pain sometimes but its worth it for having the security of not rm -r ing your whole / partition

Shak

Flake · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2002 10:57 am Post subject:

related to this subject is something that confuses me.

the skeleton directory, usedas a mask for all futute home directories.

how does this work,
what should be in it,
can you just copy some files from a user with all the right sellings to it ??

Black666 · Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2002 6:27 am Post subject: