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Date:      Thu, 18 Dec 2003 09:15:12 -0600
From:      "Micheal Patterson" <micheal@tsgincorporated.com>
To:        "Rhys John" <elite_bizkit@hotmail.com>, <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>
Subject:   Re: master.passwd -- securing
Message-ID:  <5c8e01c3c579$bd737140$4df24243@tsgincorporated.com>
References:  <LAW10-F49DmiMzaABwu00044cd3@hotmail.com>

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rhys John" <elite_bizkit@hotmail.com>
To: <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 5:44 AM
Subject: Re: master.passwd -- securing


> Both accounts are now active but i would like to remove the encrypted
> password from master.passwd and replace it with a *. Is this possible with
> "vipw"?
>
> Thanks for your reply hugle

In normal stand alone operation, no. It's not possible at all. There has to
be a password hash local to the machine. Now, if you're configured to use
another method of password storage as has been previously mentioned, that's
a different story. Although, best practice would be to have at least one
user account in wheel, and the root user with a valid login password. If
you're worried about someone viewing the master.passwd file and obtaining
the hash, don't. Only root, by default, can touch that file. If you have
someone that has breeched the system to the point they're able to open that
file, then the problem of them viewing the password hash is quite moot.

--

Micheal Patterson
TSG Network Administration
405-917-0600

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