On Tue, Aug 10, 1999 at 04:49:45AM +0200, HARDY.BOEHM@LHSYSTEMS.COM wrote:
Hi Folks!
Would someone please explain to me, why I shouldn't use my system as root but as a "normal" user instead?
Ok. This is the biggest reason: (don't try this at home, I am a trained professional, I just needed to say that ;) # rm -rf / You can run this command as root, and any Unix operating system won't ask you about what you are telling it to do. Basically, this command wipes out your _entire_ filesystem, deleting every single file and directory (except for some very very special expceptions). When you are logged in as root, the computer does what you tell it to. This in itself can be especially dangerous when combined with deleting files, partioning utilities, formatting utilities and other things that can basically wipe out your system. You can and probably will destroy your system on accident. This is the biggest reason. If you absolutely need to do something as root, is it so hard to switch to a different virtual terminal and log in? Or just use su, or pop up a new xterm, and su there, or whatever. It is two seconds, and you don't have to worry about what you might do to your system when you are just using your computer.
I think I got the principle from some posts, but I want to make sure I get it right...
So please use the Version for 3-Year-Olds :-)
That was my standard "don't run as root" lecture.. I hope it's understandable. -- Jeff -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.12 GCS/M/>P d-(pu) s+:- a17>? C++(++++) L+++ UL++(+++)@>++++$ P+ E W++@ N+ o? K- w--- O? M V- PS+ PE(--)@ Y++@ PGP t+ 5 X++@ R++@ !tv@ b++ DI++++ D- G e- h! r++ y? ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------