Thread: How secure is Linux's secured files?

  1. #1
    Registered User Machewy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Posts
    42

    How secure is Linux's secured files?

    I notice that in windows I can pretty much...
    open any file I want to
    read any file I want to
    write to any file I want to
    delete any file I want to

    However, I notice that Linux is very secure with it's files that it doesn't grant permission for one to examine. Of course, me being very ambitious, I had to find a way to override it.

    I programmed like 45 different programs, and none of them worked.

    Here is the situation:

    I am located at: /home/matt
    My sister's is at: /home/lizardbreath

    Let's say that I want to access a text file called mybigsecret.txt

    How in the world is it promatically possible, without me just typing in my root password?
    Note: it's my computer!

    Does anyone know if it is?

    Best Regards,
    Matt.
    "All things come to an end"

  2. #2
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    2,718
    >>How secure is Linux's secured files?
    How secure are Linux's secured files?

    I doubt that it's possible without root access. If there were flaws like that, the open-source community probably would have patched them up pretty darn quick.
    Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

    You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

  3. #3
    Registered User linuxdude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Louisiana
    Posts
    926
    if you want to open it you should become root and chmod it or chown it or chgrp it man those three for info. If Linux let you do stuff like that then it would be as secure as Microsoft
    If you want to open/read/write any file you want just become root and run around as that(JUST KIDDING HIGHLY UNSTABLE) You could accidently delete something you don't want to. Here is what I accidently did while I ran around as root(learned my lesson) I had a file called / on accident. Naturally I did
    rm / -rf. Of course that deletes root directory. I sould've done
    rm \/ -f Always being root is not a good thing. Why do you think it is so secure

  4. #4
    Me -=SoKrA=-'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    448
    >>without me just typing in my root password?
    Try a local root exploit that would give you root-level access. That's just a way around the su'ing into root, since you are really the superuser.
    SoKrA-BTS "Judge not the program I made, but the one I've yet to code"
    I say what I say, I mean what I mean.
    IDE: emacs + make + gcc and proud of it.

  5. #5
    still a n00b Jaguar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    187
    Note that you also need "excute bit on" for the directory, files reside. Kinda "drwxrwxrwx".
    [edit] If you are not a root
    slackware 10.0; kernel 2.6.7
    gcc 3.4.0; glibc 2.3.2; vim editor
    migrating to freebsd 5.4

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    20

    This is Something I was Wondering...

    How in the world is it possible that an OPEN SOURCE OS has so much security... Means when it is possible to HACK a Closed SOurce.. then why in this world, an Open SOurce still prevails UNHACKED...

    When the whole Source is known to a person, can't he find a way out of getting access to the files..I suppose that is possible..

    The key aspect of the whole security of Linux is probably just a myth that LINUX is most Secured OS in the World... although I am sure that it offers a higher level of security than does a CLosed Source like WINDOWS.

    A really amusing aspect...

    Don't u guys Agree with me...
    Just b Crazy abt Life and Programming.....

  7. #7
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    2,718
    >>When the whole Source is known to a person, can't he find a way out of getting access to the files..I suppose that is possible..
    No, because when most people find an exploit like that, they patch it up, and let the community know.
    Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

    You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

  8. #8
    Registered User linuxdude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Louisiana
    Posts
    926
    Originally posted by thecrazycoerian
    When the whole Source is known to a person, can't he find a way out of getting access to the files..I suppose that is possible..
    If you mean look at the source and figure a way into root then that is impossible. Or if you mean look at the encryption algorythm and figure out how to decrypt it, then you are wrong again. Not every encryption has a decryption. Linux is the most secure OS nothing around it

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. Create Copies of Files
    By Kanshu in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 05-09-2009, 07:53 AM
  2. Reading .dat files from a folder in current directory...
    By porsche911nfs in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 04-04-2009, 09:52 PM
  3. Batch file programming
    By year2038bug in forum Tech Board
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 09-05-2005, 03:30 PM
  4. reinserting htm files into chm help files
    By verb in forum Windows Programming
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-15-2002, 09:35 AM