Running in root

**morbidpalooza** · 10-02-2005, 04:24 PM

is it safe to run you computer and surf the net in root?

**OErjan** · 10-02-2005, 04:44 PM

NO

**morbidpalooza** · 10-02-2005, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by OErjan

NO

May I ask why?

**OErjan** · 10-02-2005, 05:38 PM

simply put, if you execute something as root it WILL be done.
it si OK in most cases but if you slip...
not only net access is dangerous, EVERYTHING is, you do NOT have windows failsave, you are in free fall as root.
if you wish to study some (or sheer bad luck) you can overwrite bios or other as interesting things as root.
of cource in 95% of cases you are OK as root. but if something goes wrong EVERYTHING is affected.
as user, at worst your own settings, files...
so if you fumble with something (like a copy paste of dd if=/dev/urandom of=/), whatever it is will also have root access to the system. or even a malicuois java... may be BAD.
and to make things interesting some (cautious) ISP's block any computeracess by root...

**Harry Kuhman** · 10-02-2005, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by OErjan

.....and to make things interesting some (cautious) ISP's block any computeracess by root...

I completely agree that root should not be used in the manner discussed here and that it is a dangerous and even stupid thing to do. But how could an ISP block access by root???? There's no information in any packet that the ISP sees that gives a uersname, or as far as I know any other information that would allow the ISP to determine if the packet was sent by root or not.

**OErjan** · 10-02-2005, 06:05 PM

access i said, not blocking EVERYTHING, no true it is NOT displayed,
BUT, if i go out with ftp, irc... my login name is sometimes used, perhaps all do not even realize it, but in some http filetransfers it is also used.