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07-23-2006, 06:26 AM
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#1
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Member
Registered: Aug 2005
Distribution: SuSE Linux / Scientific Linux / [K|X]ubuntu
Posts: 273
Rep:
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Completely protect folders in /home
Hi there!
I have read several threads about protecting folders in /home/ by password, chmod, adding new users who have only access to the folder and loop mounting, but the thing is this: I have a folder in /home, say: /home/secret/ that I want to protect with a password without encrypting it, but not even root should be able to open it. Just by clicking on it, I want some password "screen" and then I can access and do whatever I want with the files in the folder (access over the console is okay too). Is it possible to do?
- No access to folder for root (and any users)
- Access only to the one who knows the password
- No encryption
- No crypto partition
Or are there better alternatives?
Thanks.
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07-23-2006, 08:13 AM
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#2
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Member
Registered: May 2006
Location: UK
Distribution: Debian
Posts: 447
Rep:
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Stopping regular users is easy, a simple chmod 600 will set the files permissions to rw-,---,---
so noone but you and root can read and write the file. root on the other hand...
AFAIK root can do as he/she damn well pleases, at least on any distro I've come across. root can change the permissions of a file regardless of who owns it...so unless there is a distribution that allows you to keep things from root...hmm, I could be wrong but this sounds a bit stupid.
From what I can see I think the easiest option is encryption, that way even though root can play with the encrypted archive, he couldn't know the contents without a password.
Is there any reason why you can't use encryption? Just out of interest what are you hiding from root? If I were him I would become a bit suspicious If I saw measures in place specifically to stop him from reading your files (details about his surprise birthday party might be forgiven...)
Anyway I'm not an expert when it comes to this sort of subterfuge, so maybe someone else here will know a way around your problem.
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07-23-2006, 11:22 AM
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#3
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LQ Addict
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: East Centra Illinois, USA
Distribution: Debian stable
Posts: 5,908
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The only way I can think of to keep root out of your files is to put them on removable media. Insert media when you want to get at those files; remove media when done.
Of course, while media is inserted, root can have access.
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07-23-2006, 11:36 AM
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#4
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LQ Guru
Registered: Nov 2004
Location: San Jose, CA
Distribution: Debian, Arch
Posts: 8,507
Rep:
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If you don't trust root, don't use the system. Even with cryptoloop or dm-crypt, root can see your data while its mounted. Without it, root can see your data anytime he/she pleases.
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