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Thread ID: 59755 2005-07-12 01:31:00 Longhorn To Have True "Root" Account? vinref (6194) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
371428 2005-07-12 01:31:00 This article (www.theregister.co.uk) from The Register reports an interview with a MS Longhorn engineer saying that Longhorn will have a true "root" account, like that in unix-type systems.

This would be a very good thing as it would make it difficult for non-priviledged users (normal users, non-root processes, trojans, viruses, Russian gangsters etc) to install applications and do various other tasks. However, this is also one thing that is reported by new users to be the most troublesome aspect of switching to Linux. But then if people got used to the idea of a root account on an MS system, it would make the transition to Linux a lot easier.
vinref (6194)
371429 2005-07-12 01:36:00 Also found this (www.tomshardware.com) just now.
Looks like a nice addition as well.
CYaBro (73)
371430 2005-07-12 01:37:00 MS will delibretly incorperate holes in it so their partners can gain access, after all hotbar will be useless if it can't even install, granted hotbar is worse then useless now but you may get my drift,the real MS customers (Dell,HP, Yahoo etc) will not stand being locked out and will want access to chode the system up with Adverts,redirects and spyware (as they currently do) The even less desirable elements will take advantage of the same routes. Metla (12)
371431 2005-07-12 08:44:00 MS will delibretly incorperate holes in it so their partners can gain access, after all hotbar will be useless if it can't even install, granted hotbar is worse then useless now but you may get my drift,the real MS customers (Dell,HP, Yahoo etc) will not stand being locked out and will want access to chode the system up with Adverts,redirects and spyware (as they currently do) The even less desirable elements will take advantage of the same routes.
They'll have to pay up and have their software certified (similar to the WHQL approved drivers)
Jeremy (1197)
371432 2005-07-12 09:20:00 So Longyawn will not run ActiveX or will run is outsite the OS kernal along with IE (or whatever it is by then). Yeah right.

I agree Mets, the partners will want their monies worth. But hey, "Trusted Computing" was always about MS and the "Trusted" partners (those able to stump up with the dosh) rather than you and me, wasn't it.

Still, it's huge lurch in the right direction.

Below the Longyawn article was a link to virtualisation, that's the way to go IMO. EG, run an OS and anything else you need for a particular session, walled off from your main/real OS, when your done, it's gone "poof", except for what you wish to save to disk. I could get to like the idea of a poofy OS instead of a ersatz one.
Murray P (44)
371433 2005-07-12 09:51:00 ,the real MS customers (Dell,HP, Yahoo etc) will not stand being locked out and will want access to chode the system up with Adverts,redirects and spyware (as they currently do) The even less desirable elements will take advantage of the same routes.Easy.. install the spyware as root, same as one does for any application in a *nix system

Having the superuser as the only one to install will simply leave it open to those jo-blows who think they know what they are doing to install all the toys.

See? It does get in! :D
personthingy (1670)
371434 2005-07-12 10:03:00 Linux is also stepping away from the 'root is all-powerful' philosophy with the likes of SELinux Chilling_Silence (9)
371435 2005-07-12 10:14:00 Linux is also stepping away from the 'root is all-powerful' philosophy with the likes of SELinux SELinux????
How is this so?
personthingy (1670)
371436 2005-07-12 10:54:00 SELinux basically determines limitations that even the root user cant get past.

For example, lets say you're running BIND (DNS Server), and somebody r00ts your b0x3n. Normally you're fsck'd right?

BUT.... If you have SELinux, even if somebody happens to get into the b0x (or even be sitting at it), they're limited.

You might say that BIND or root can only write to a certain folder, and only a certain amount of data can be written... whilst no access to other folders... root might not be able to export $VARIABLES... Im not 100% sure on the inner workings, but download the hardened-gentoo LiveCD (Approx 120MB IIRC) for a good Live working demo of it that you can play with safely :)

Otherwise Google for it
Chilling_Silence (9)
371437 2005-07-12 11:11:00 I think Linux users should get their own forum if they are going to post so much, it is of no interest to the majority of members and it is getting distracting with the number of them appearing recently. Safari (3993)
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