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Date:      Thu, 3 Feb 2005 00:51:54 +0100
From:      Gert Cuykens <gert.cuykens@gmail.com>
To:        Henry Miller <hmiller@intradyn.com>, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: xhost +localhost
Message-ID:  <ef60af09050202155126eef95a@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <200502021724320778.4D494921@mail.intradyn.com>
References:  <ef60af09050202095829be3b6f@mail.gmail.com> <20050202210526.GC77499@keyslapper.net> <42014E0A.5070003@mac.com> <20050202221851.GE77499@keyslapper.net> <ef60af09050202143655b26622@mail.gmail.com> <20050202224322.GF77499@keyslapper.net> <ef60af0905020215055e07b83e@mail.gmail.com> <200502021724320778.4D494921@mail.intradyn.com>

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On Wed, 02 Feb 2005 17:24:32 -0600, Henry Miller <hmiller@intradyn.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> On 2/3/2005 at 00:05 Gert Cuykens wrote:
> 
> >On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 17:43:23 -0500, Louis LeBlanc
> <FreeBSD@keyslapper.net>
> >wrote:
> >> On 02/02/05 11:36 PM, Gert Cuykens sat at the `puter and typed:
> >> > I# xhost local:
> >> > non-network local connections being added to access control list
> >> > I#
> >> >
> >> > ok that seems to work a bit better meaning i dont get the message
> "can
> >> > not start screen saver deamon bl bla bla....." Instead i get a
> message
> >> > in my log that locking is not enabled ?
> >>
> >> Doesn't ring any bells.  What log, and what is the entry?
> >>
> >> Are you still having trouble with xscreensaver?
> >>
> >
> >My xscreensaver is telling me "running in root not allowed" my root
> >needs a pretty screensaver too you know grrrr
> >
> >So how do i enable a root screen saver ?
> 
> You don't.   Root should never have a pretty screensaver.  Screen
> savers are only needed when a CRT will be on (Wasting 100 watts while
> nobody is looking, it adds up to about $.10/day), for long periods of
> time at a screen that is otherwise unchanging over several years.   The
> only burn in I've ever seen is a log in screen, normal users change
> enough on their display that burn-in isn't a problem.
> 
> Root should NEVER log in except when the system is single user, or
> fresh install.  In both cases that is command line only.  If you must
> use some graphical config tool, su from some other user.   As a last
> resort you could log in as root, but even then you should do the job
> and than log off fast, before you make a mistake!
> 
> Programs like xscreensaver are doing FreeBSD a favor by preventing
> people from running as Administrator.   A significant number of
> problems people have with Ms Windows is because users run as
> administrator by default.   When programs like xscreensaver detect that
> you are root and refuse to run it makes it that much less likely that
> you will make a mistake while running as root.   Mistakes when you are
> a normal user are bad enough, mistakes as root are worse.
> 
> xscreensaver is also saving themselves in another way, if there is a
> unexpected bug that is exploitable, by refusing to run as root they can
> at least ensure that your whole system isn't compromised.   This is
> particularly a big deal for xscreensaver where you can expect nobody
> will be around to watch evil people from attempting to break your
> system.
> 
> If all that isn't enough to convince you otherwise: the source is
> there.   Modify it yourself.
> 

And still i think the user should be able to make that desision and
not xscreensaver, it is against the constitution namely freedome of
screensaver :P



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