Password-protecting fedora.

[Robin Laing]

Jeff Vian wrote:
> 
> 
> Maynard Kuona wrote:
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: fedora-list-admin at redhat.com 
>> [mailto:fedora-list-admin at redhat.com] On
>> Behalf Of Tom Needs a Hat Mitchell
>> Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 10:38 AM
>> To: fedora-list at redhat.com
>> Subject: Re: Password-protecting fedora.
>>
>> On Sun, Mar 07, 2004 at 09:01:20AM +0100, Sturla Holm Hansen wrote:
>> ....>  
>>
>>> I know about the built-in security, I was just asking if it was possible
>>> to pw-protect evolution the way I described because then I wouldn't have
>>> to lock my screen for leaving the computer for a few minutes and I
>>> wouldn't have to log in with another account when somebody wanted to
>>> borrow it for something...
>>>   
> 
> This leads to the whole thing of
> "I want to allow everyone around to use my computer/account but I want 
> privacy on my mail."
> 
> Guess the OP needs to learn a few basic security practices.
> 
> When not at the computer either lock the screen or log off.
> The only alternative that is feasible is don't use anything you don't 
> want the world to see and don't give yourself access to anything you 
> don't want the world to use.
> 
> Basic security on ANY pc is to do that, and to have a guest account of 
> some form that casual users can use if you allow them to sit and use 
> your computer unsupervised.
> 
> Having a separate account for casual users (snoopers) provides a means 
> of tracking what is being done by them.  Allowing them to use *your 
> account* means anything they do is recorded as being done by you.
> 

My feelings are the same.

I would rather create a junk account that a casual user could use and 
not change anything in my account.  The 20 seconds to logout/in is 
better than having someone decide that they would change my bookmarks 
or worse.  At least there is some control and ability to monitor the 
casual user to a greater degree.

If someone wanted to view your mail they could do it in other ways 
without having a password.  Mail would be the least of my worries.

-- 
Robin Laing