🚀 go-pugleaf

root@e3315636.slip.cc.uq.oz.au (System Administrator) writes:

>System Administrator (root@e3315636.slip.cc.uq.oz.au) wrote:

>On a different note, several people have commented on how I probably
>shouldn't be reading news as root.  While I understand this is probably not
>in-line with net etiquette, I have grown very accustomed to running as root
>all the time on my Linux box.  I am continuously changing the system and
>found running as root to be more convenient that su-ing to me root ac all
>the time.  As a result none of my other user accounts are set up to get my
>ppp link setup and access net utilities etc.

You missed the whole point about root.  While it is nice to have your name
present for email replies, it is really NOT the issue.  Running as root
all the time is convenient because you can change anything.  It's also
very dangerous because you can change anything.  You have essentially
subverted all of the protection mechanisms on the system for convenience.

Nothing you run is protected from each other, because they are all ROOT.
Every piece of code on your system could potentially corrupt it and trash
it, whether maliciously or just mistakenly.  Try sudo.  It provides a very
convenient but secure way of getting privileges when you need it (and you
shouldn't need it very often if you configured the machine right)  Your
"need" to be root has resulted from your use of root as a user account.
Just go set up a user account properly and you will have few reasons for
root privilege.  If you don't bite this bullet it WILL bite you, and 
restoring your complete system will take a lot more time than configuring
a user account.  

Colin

ps.  Did you summarize to the net the suggestions for an HTML editor?  If
you didn't would you please?  If you did could you email me a copy? Thanks.