Password

Linux and Unix-Like Ubuntu
1

Hi,

I just want to know some things in Linux.

  1. Where is the password file found in linux? is it /etc/passwd?
  2. If so, how can we know the original password using that file?
  3. How does the password encryption and decryption works? Does it follow any algorithm?

:b:

2
  1. /etc/shadow
  2. You have to decrypt the password, a difficult thing to do
  3. yes

Have a look at:

Linux Password & Shadow File Formats

Note the section on PAM also:

Linux Security HOWTO: Password Security and Encryption

1 Like
3

Well thanks jim,

But i have another doubt. Whenever we install a fresh copy of ubuntu, we will be prompted to create a new user. But it is also creating another user known as "GUEST". And there is no need of the password for the user guest. Why is it so?

Does guest takes any default password by itself and do we have any chance of making changes to the password of the user guest????

4

Try setting the password for guest with the passwd command. sudo passwd guest

5

K... I am aware of changing passwd. But is there any code written or any file there mentioning the user is to be created without any password.????

6

Why not look at the files mentioned above and see?

(Do NOT edit them, just look.)