I know this may very quickly turn into a flamewar, but I'm genuinely curious (as someone who doesn't prefer to use Linspire but who doesn't bash it either), as this topic has been brought up many times.

Do you log in as root to do regular things (email, word process, surf the internet, etc.)?

Or do you create a separate user account and reserve root only for installing software and making system-wide changes?

Please, post in this thread only if you actually use Linspire as your main OS. Do not write about what you think other Linspire users do. Write only about what you do. Thanks.

!!!

Linspire or not, I always observe the following principles with regard to Linux user-ids (and Windows, for that matter!) and consider them to be vitally important:

(1) For regular, daily use of the computer, I use a user-id that is "unimportant in every way." This user is a regular Joe, with no privileges or special access whatever.

(1a) For specific purposes that I use occasionally, such as accounting and work done for confidential customers, I use separate user-ids for these, which are disconnected from my regular account. They are closed books, with their files locked inside. Applications that only they use, and their files, are accessible only to them. As far as privilege is concerned, they too are ordinary.

(2) For system maintenance and software installation purposes that do not require root access, I have a separate system-maintenance account. This account has the privilege of joining restrictive groups other than its home. So, even for this guy, a conscious act is required to gain access to software areas.

(3) For only those specific purposes that can only be done as root, root is used .. and only long enough to finish. root never uses a web browser, and just in case, java/javascript is disabled.

(4) I know about every single user-id that exists, who uses it and why. If the user does not require login, login on that account is not possible. (The shell is /sbin/nologin.) I know about every single service that is defined, every single entry in xinetd.conf. There are no "guests" and no guest access.

As I said, exactly the same principles apply to Windows, OS/X or what-have-you. Do not use Windows routinely as an "Administrator." Never mind that so many people do so... that's a major reason why their systems get successfully attacked by rogue programs. Very sturdy mechanisms exists to thwart these attacks -- they simply must be used. Being cavalier about "root" is a great way to see your system crash and burn. It takes a trivial amount of time and discipline to have things much, much better.

removed by poster, didn't want to offend or upset anyone....

Linspire Computer 1 (my computer) : At the moment, I always run as root. I've been messing around learning linux and playing with the system settings, etc. It is just easier for me to mess around that way. Probably eventually I run as a user on daily basis.

Linspire Computer 2 (my wife's computer) : I have her run as user, because she can mess things up and not have a clue why or how. Have had only a very few minor issues with CNR while running as user.

-Cheers!

User

Have you tried scanning documents in root? Nasty warning from XSane which tells me I'm an idiot - and I'm inclined to agree lol

In any case I have copied the red wallpaper with the bomb on it out of SuSE and use it on the several different Linux distros I have when logged in as root as a reminder!

I have two user accounts; the second is to show other people what Linux is like

I use 4.5 and 5.0 on two different machines with plug-in hard drives in racks.

I also run SuSE 9.3 and Sun's Java Desktop System which is based on Suse 8.1

LOL, Yeah IRC programs like X-Chat do the same if I remember correctly.

Logging in to do your everyday work as root is a general linux no-no. What makes Linux safer is that the regular user account can't damage the system when it's used (and in the unlikely event of getting a virus, it won't be able to do much damage either). The only thing you can screw up is your own home folder. I have one mortal user account for my daily internet surfing, music, emails and stuff. I once was using root to do some adminstration and because of a severe mistake I managed to screw up Gnome in the process (Was able to repair it again soon though).. Go figure.

-A

Ahmed I think that says it all in a few words

I love your sig, btw hehe