TMO Quick Tip - Lock Down Your Root User
by , 7:30 AM EDT, September 24th, 2007
Mac OS X may sport a friendly user interface, but it is harboring a Unix core underneath. That means the security steps Unix pros take can apply to regular Mac users as well including making sure that root, the ultimate power user on your computer, is under your control and no one else's.
By default, the root user on your Mac is disabled, but it doesn't have a password set, which is a potential security weak point. Setting a password makes it that much more difficult for bad guys to try to hack into your Mac.
I added a password to my root user account, and I also keep that user disabled. Here's how:
NetInfo Manager |
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Enable your root user. |
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Your Mac lets you know if you haven't set a root password yet. |
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Enter a unique password for your root user. |
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Disable your root user. |
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Locking down your root user is important because anyone that gains root access to your Mac can do anything they want including deleting files or user accounts, installing applications without your knowledge, and siphoning off any information they want from your hard drive. That isn't likely to happen, but taking steps to help insure that it won't happen is a pretty good idea.