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New Linux Distros Insecure by Default?

Posted by timothy on from the no-good-down-that-road dept.

An anonymous reader submits Two articles on Codefez and NewsForge review releases of Linspire 5.0 and Linare. Both these distributions let the user run as Root by default after installation, and don't prompt to set up a user ID. Is this a start of a new trend of 'dumbed down' Linux distributions that will damage the Linux reputation for security?"

2 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. Morons by Usquebaugh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I mean they have the chance to sell a reasonably secure OS and insted they do this. Hanging's to good for em.

  2. Re:Ubuntu got it right... by adric · · Score: 5, Informative
    After some consultation on IRC, I learned that Ubuntu has no root account by default
    Not quite. Ubuntu doesn't set a root password by default, which leaves the account locked (to interactive logins), but it's still very much present. The traditional behaviour can be restored simply by running the passwd command via sudo.
    --
    not plane, nor bird, nor even frog...