Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

[Bruce B]

Puppy by default boots straight into the root account without any intervention from this user. If for some reason you want Puppy to stop require a login and password, this very simple (simplistic?) post shows you how to do it.

Here is the default /etc/inittab file:

[John Doe]

[trapster]

After I set up xlock, I just put /usr/sbin/xlock into /.xinitrc before the exec currentwm line.
When I don't want to use it, I just comment it out.

[PaulBx1]

This is pretty modest protection. About as good as a BIOs password. However it does not protect your data, especially in the case where you are booting off an easily-stealable or -losable flash drive. For that you need an encrypted pupsave, and for data off the pupsave you need truecrypt or something of that nature. I suppose you could use the same programs used for encrypting a pupsave to make another encrypted volume as well.

I don't agree with Lobster's contention on that other thread, that encryption (even "heavy" encryption) slows your computer. I haven't noticed it. Maybe in some situations, like heavy compiling work, it might be noticed, but not for the usual web surfing and email...

[Vettephil]

[Lobster]

[trapster]

Vettephil -

I am currently using the xlock in puppy300 retro with no issues. It works with jwm and icewm.

[Lobster]

[BarryK]

The default password for 'root' in Puppy 3.01 is 'woofwoof'.
I don't know what it is in earlier puppies.

[HairyWill]

in earlier puppies there is no password
I use CTRL-ALT-F2 a lot if X locks up
I was a bit thrown with 3.01 but remembered it from your blog on printers(?)

This could do with being a bit more visible.

[ll l ll lll ll l ll]

well i have a silly request
i have puppy 4.2.1 on pen drive(8gb). pup save file is 512mb. ram 1gb. p4 3ghz.
Puppy displays "puppypc login:" (changed the inittab --> tty1::respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1 ). i want to change this login prompt so that another user will not know that the sys is asking for username /pass.ie i want to change the words "puppypc login:" and "password" to something else like say a funny one liner, idiotic philosophy, puzzle, etc that is totally unrelated to login. i have no serious reasons to do this other than to amuse myself. ( i find this playing around to be a better way to learn )
i tried pfind, grep and murga-linux.com to locate the file containing these words but no sucess. I am new to the internal working of unix but eventually googled to /etc/inittab, getty, /etc/issue, issue escapes, /bin/login etcetra. (i couldnt open /bin/login file in geany). learnt related things other than the one originally intended.

So my question:
How do i hide/camouflage the login prompt. It could be anything from funny to something that totally freaks out the unsuspecting user.Any pre-existing standard/classical pranks too are welcome. just show me the direction i will catch on.

[Gorilla no baka]

[Ed Howdershelt]

re: passwords at bootup...

Do you keep your CDs in the same room as your computer?
If so, they can be found and used, particularly the Puppy CD.
Boot from that and you can likely run any of the Puppy progs on your HD.

Do your potential intruders have access to other Live CDs?
If so, they can bring one of their own and boot right past your password to snoop through your files.

However... you can password-protect or encrypt a deliberately misnamed file containing all your web-activity login infos.
Or... email it to yourself at a place like Yahoo Mail or Hotmail.
Login there, open the message, use the info, and close the website when finished.
When you shut down it will disappear.

You can also keep only your system files on the HD and keep all others containing any sensitive stuff on a flash drive or portable HD.

If your info is where someone can find it, it's vulnerable.

[shadower_sc]

Having a password on boot isn't secure in and of itself. The only way to have any real amount of security is having an encrypted file system that is password protected. Anyone with any reasonable amount of technological know how can get access to your data, if they have access to your physical computer.

This does come in handy, if you have small children who are just learning computers. This kind of protection would probably work to keep technophobes off your computer as well.

A simple password at boot would also keep your system fairly secure, if you had the physical machine locked in a cabinet or case of some kind. (Make sure the cabinet/case has plenty of ventilation.)

[Bruce B]