two bogus messages to this list

[Jim Wise]

On Mon, 11 Nov 1996, Rabid Wombat wrote:

> Um, not to disagree with you re Intel/Micro$loth, but most UNIX systems 
> can be brought up in single-user mode and the root password changed by 
> anyone with physical access to the system. You could end up with even 
> more trouble than if someone messed with your M$ box.

This is far over-simplified.  Most BSD derived Unices provide the _option_
for single-user mode not to be password protected (depending on whether the
console is marked secure in /etc/ttys).  A few default to this behavior,
but on all it is either a configuration choice or a password is always
required (as it is in USG'ish unices).

--

				Jim Wise
				System Administrator
				GSAPP, Columbia University
				jim at santafe.arch.columbia.edu
				http://www.arch.columbia.edu/~jim
				* Finger for PGP public key *