Security.

[Keith Powell]

I have been trying Ubuntu for the past week and like it! However, I have 
a question about its apparent lack of security, which I hope isn't too 
"Ubuntu Newbie-ish" and inflammatory.

As installed, my user password is also my root password. Does this not 
mean that if anyone found out my user password, they could also get 
into the system as root and so do what they liked with it? With the 
other Linux distros I have used, one needs a separate root password, so 
making it much harder for others to do any damage. Sorry, but to me 
this smacks of the pre-XP Windows wide-openness.

I see from the Unofficial Ubuntu Guide, that it is possible to set up a 
separate root password. Shouldn't this be the default and set up on 
installation?

There must be many, many, others who have simply installed Ubuntu and 
who will be in this situation.

I am not trying to be abusive in any way about Ubuntu, but am wondering 
what the reason for this "no root password" is.

If anyone could either explain the reason, or point me to where to find 
it, I would be grateful.   

Cheers

Keith