Root user permission

[Peter N. Spotts]

On Sat, 2006-10-28 at 09:53 -0200, Marcelle Soares-Santos wrote:
> Now I see... So, there will be no problem if I change my passwd?
> 
> On 10/27/06, Peter N. Spotts <pspotts at alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> > Marcelle Soares-Santos wrote:
> > > well, let me put my curious finger on this discussion.
> > >
> > > in my computer I have set a root password with "sudo passwd root", but,
> > > some applications ask me my psswd (the passwd of the first user I've
> > > created). why does this happen? shouldn't they ask for the root
> > > passwd? I think this would be more logical...
> > >
> > > I would like to change my passwd, but because of that I'm afraid I'll
> > > have trouble in running those applications. If I change my password
> > > what is gonna happen? Those applications will ask me my new passwd or
> > > the old one?  Will I have to memorise three different passwds (the
> > > actual, the root and the new one) ?!
> > >
> > > Is there a way to make all the applications ask for the root passwd
> > > only? Is that something "non-recommended"? Why (not)?
> > >
> > > sorry if my questions are silly. actually, I've been wondering about
> > > them for a long time, but never had the opportunity to ask...
> > >
> > > thanks, marcelle.
> > >
> >
> > Marcelle,
> >
> > I'm sure someone else will correct me if I'm wrong, but the dual
> > password system is considered more secure -- root has access to programs
> > and processes that if mishandled can really ruin your day at your
> > computer. A user's access is restricted, reducing the chance of mucking
> > up something he or she shouldn't, while still allowing each individual
> > user his or her own relatively secure space. Root has dominion over the
> > entire system, while users generally are allowed to ramble only within
> > their alloted turf. Ubuntu has split the difference by asking a user to
> > reenter his or her password if they are about to engage in a root-like
> > activity, such as installing software system-wide or setting up network
> > configurations. In effect, having to enter your password to perform a
> > system-administrator function it a bit like the system asking you: Are
> > you *really* sure you want to do this?
> >
> > Pete
> >
> > --
> > Peter N. Spotts | Science reporter
> > The Christian Science Monitor
> > One Norway Street, Boston, MA 02115 USA
> > Office: 617-450-2449 | Office-in-home: 508-520-3139
> > Email: pspotts at alum.mit.edu | Amateur radio call: KC1JB
> > www.csmonitor.com | www.peterspotts.net
> >
> > --
> > ubuntu-users mailing list
> > ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
> >
> 

I guess I didn't answer your question fully when you asked about the
potential for needing to remember three passwords. As long as you
changing your user password and aren't setting up a new user account,
you'll only need to remember root and your user password. You can change
your password any time you like, no problem. But that's a "system
administrator" function. So when you activate the program users-admin
(this is the program's name if you run it from a terminal -- I'm using a
customized menu on Xubuntu, so I don't have the name as it would appear
on your menu), you'll be prompted for a password.Just use your current
user password or the root password if your user password doesn't work. 

With best regards,

Pete
-- 
Peter N. Spotts | Science reporter
The Christian Science Monitor
One Norway Street, Boston, MA 02115 USA
Office: 617-450-2449 | Office-in-home: 508-520-3139
Email: pspotts at alum.mit.edu | Amateur radio call: KC1JB
www.csmonitor.com | www.peterspotts.net