Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it”

From	rbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Newsgroups	comp.os.linux.misc
Subject	Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it”
Date	2026-01-22 20:40 +0000
Message-ID	<mtfga9Fgf1jU2@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References	(4 earlier) <h32dnTUrSKqaru30nZ2dnZfqnPWdnZ2d@giganews.com> <10kq97r$31q7d$1@news1.tnib.de> <10kroo0$2hv00$3@dont-email.me> <mtd8r9F5kipU1@mid.individual.net> <10kst77$2t8jm$5@dont-email.me>

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On Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:12:55 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> On 22/01/2026 00:20, rbowman wrote:
>> On Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:50:25 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:
>> 
>>> On Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:19:35 +0100, Marc Haber wrote:
>>>
>>>> sudo su is always wrong.
>>>
>>> It’s hilarious the number of people who use both programs in the one
>>> command.
>> 
>> 'su' requires the root password and I have no idea what it is.
> 
> Sudo passwd root ?

I see no reason to go there. I don't remember when the Linux distros 
transitioned from having an unlocked root account with a password but I've 
managed to do anything that needs to be done with sudo for years.

I wish I still had the source but we used to have a utility called 'gosu'. 
Everyone compiled their own after modifying the source for their user name 
and then set 4755. I think the owner was changed to root. Primitive, but 
it worked and didn't require a password.

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“What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-20 21:00 +0000
  Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-01-20 13:15 -0800
    Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-21 08:21 +0000
    Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Jason H <jason_hindle@yahoo.com> - 2026-01-21 21:24 +0000
      Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-01-21 13:52 -0800
  Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-20 21:43 +0000
    Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-20 23:28 +0100
      Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-21 03:44 +0000
        Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-01-20 23:07 -0500
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-21 09:15 +0100
        Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-21 09:14 +0100
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-21 08:22 +0000
            Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-21 11:53 +0100
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-21 22:18 +0100
    Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-01-20 19:47 -0500
      Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways   you should absolutely never use it” vallor <vallor@vallor.earth> - 2026-01-21 01:40 +0000
        Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-01-20 20:59 -0500
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways   you should absolutely never use it” vallor <vallor@vallor.earth> - 2026-01-21 08:50 +0000
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-21 11:19 +0100
            Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2026-01-21 07:35 -0500
              Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-21 12:43 +0000
            Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-21 23:50 +0000
              Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2026-01-21 19:12 -0500
              Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-22 00:20 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-22 10:12 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-22 20:40 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Ralf Fassel <ralfixx@gmx.de> - 2026-01-22 14:45 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Harold Stevens <wookie@aspen.localdomain> - 2026-01-22 09:57 -0600
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-22 18:51 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-22 20:13 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-01-22 12:30 -0800
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-23 05:55 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-23 14:37 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-23 22:09 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-23 23:27 +0100
        Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-01-20 21:03 -0800
        Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways   you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-21 11:19 +0100
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways   you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-21 23:44 +0000
            Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways   you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-22 10:40 +0100
              Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways   you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-22 21:03 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways   you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-23 12:29 +0100
              Re: “What a Linux root   user can do - and 8 w  ays   you should abso  lutely never use it  ” vallor <vallor@vallor.earth> - 2026-01-23 14:46 +0000
      Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-21 08:50 +0000
      Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-21 11:19 +0100
        Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-21 18:33 +0000
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2026-01-21 14:33 -0500
            Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-01-21 21:15 +0000
              Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2026-01-21 18:59 -0500
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-01-22 05:26 +0000
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Pancho <Pancho.Jones@protonmail.com> - 2026-01-21 20:07 +0000
            Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-21 23:49 +0000
    Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-01-21 01:00 +0000
    Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-21 09:14 +0100
      Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-21 10:00 +0000
        Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-21 12:04 +0100
        Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-21 22:32 +0100
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-21 23:51 +0000
            Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-22 03:06 +0100
              Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-22 10:42 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-22 10:11 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-22 21:42 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-22 20:44 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-22 13:06 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-22 12:30 +0000
              Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-22 21:11 +0000
          Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Andreas Eder <a_eder_muc@web.de> - 2026-01-22 11:24 +0100
            Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-22 11:52 +0000
            Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-22 13:08 +0100
              Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Andreas Eder <a_eder_muc@web.de> - 2026-01-22 17:50 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-22 17:17 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-22 20:15 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-22 21:08 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-22 22:46 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-23 11:04 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-23 12:32 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-23 15:00 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-23 18:16 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-01-23 09:32 -0800
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-23 18:19 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-24 14:22 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-25 09:45 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-01-25 17:14 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-25 21:52 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-01-25 15:31 -0800
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-26 12:00 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-23 21:00 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-23 22:30 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-23 22:30 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-24 14:21 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-24 21:05 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-25 15:05 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Stéphane CARPENTIER <sc@fiat-linux.fr> - 2026-01-24 11:31 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-24 14:19 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-23 12:30 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-22 21:06 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2026-01-23 15:10 +0000
              Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-01-22 21:05 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-01-22 22:48 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-23 12:32 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-23 11:40 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-23 18:17 +0100
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-01-23 18:20 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-01-23 22:36 +0000
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-01-23 21:44 -0800
                Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-24 14:23 +0100
  Re: “What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it” Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2026-01-21 09:12 +0100

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