Re: Setting a blank password in Redhat 9.0

From: Lenard (Lenard_at_127.0.0.1)
Date: 08/10/05 

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 12:26:46 GMT

"Chris" <no spam thanks> wrote:

>>> 1.) Don't do it unless you have a machine that will never be
>>> connected to the Internet, even indirectly.
>>>
>>> 2.) Don't do it unless you have the machine that conforms to #1,
>>> above, that is in a room that is guarded so no black hat, even a
>>> cleaning lady, your own children or those of neighbors, or anyone
>>> else can ever get in.
>>>
>>> 3.) Don't do it unless you have the machine that conforms to #2,
>>> above, and you never make a mistake.
>>>
>>> If it meets these requirements, just edit /etc/shadow and
>>> /etc/passwd to remove the passwords.
>>>
>>>
>
> I dont understand #2 above. I thought that if someone gained physical
> access to the machine then all bets were off. cant they just boot
> into songle user mode and change the root password anyway?

As long as someone else has physical access to a system then it can be
accessed. Passwords can only keep casual users out, if one has physical
access then passwords are useless. No re-boot needed just turn off the
system and take the hard drive or the entire system. If nobody has
physical access (as in #2 above) then they cannot re-boot the system or
remove and take the hard drive or system. 

-- 
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
 safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."     -- B. Franklin, 1759

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