security 12.04

[fattyz]

Hi can I password protect 12.04 and prevent rebooting or unplugging from getting around it? My HP computer does not have an option for a BIOS level password.

Thanks

[Frogs Hair]

There is nothing that can be done about a power outage unless you are hardwired to surge protector and have backup power in the form of a battery and generator. You may be able to prevent non administrative users from shutting down and secure the boot loader. The links are dated , so search for newer information.

Password Protect Boot loader:http://www.howtogeek.com/102009/how-...s-boot-loader/

Prevent Shutdown:http://embraceubuntu.com/2006/03/20/...-normal-users/

[Gone fishing]

Have a look at this http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1369019
to password protect grub 2, this will prevent users starting up the machine without a password.


I'm guessing that changing the permissions of /sbin/shutdown will prevent users shutting down.

[Cheesemill]

Anyone with physical access to the machine can get root access.

The only way around this is to encrypt your hard drive with a strong password.
They will still be able to use the hardware but they won't be able to access any of your data.

[isa.dsouza]

Anyone with physical access to the machine can get root access.

The only way around this is to encrypt your hard drive with a strong password.
They will still be able to use the hardware but they won't be able to access any of your data.

Does this mean that a partition that is ext4 with ownership taken by admin. can be accessed by a live usb with root privileges?

[Cheesemill]

Yes.

Without encryption anyone who has physical access to a machine can easily access everything on it.