Changing Your Password with passwd


Changing Your Password with passwd

Virtually all Unix systems require passwords to help ensure that your files and data remain your own and that the system itself is secure from hackers and crackers (malicious hackers). Code Listing 1.1 shows how you change your password.

Code Listing 1.1. Change your password regularly using the passwd command.

$ passwd Changing password for ejr (current) Unix password: New UNIX password: Retype new UNIX password: passwd: all authentication tokens updated  successfully $ 

The SSH Preferences Dialog

In the Preferences dialog, you can fix some of the idiosyncrasies that are caused by how your SSH program talks to the Unix system. You can't identify these idiosyncrasies until you actually start using your Unix system, but you should remember that you can fix most problems here. For example:

  • If your and keys don't work, look for an option in your SSH or telnet program that defines these keyboard functions.

  • If you start typing and nothing shows up onscreen, set local echo to on.

  • If you start typing and everything shows up twice, set local echo to off.

  • If you want to be able to scroll up onscreen to see what's happened during your Unix session, change the buffer size to a larger number.

Exactly which options you'll have will vary from program to program, but these are ones that are commonly available. Click OK when you're done playing with the settings.


Throughout your Unix adventure, you'll likely change your password often:

  • You'll probably want to change the password provided by your system administrator after you log in for the first time. Hint, hint.

  • You'll probably change your password at regular intervals. Many Unix systems require that you change your password every so oftenevery 30 or 60 days is common.

  • You might also change your password voluntarily if you think that someone might have learned it or if you tell anyone your password (although you really shouldn't do that anyway).

To Change Your Password:

1.

passwd

To start, type passwd.

2.

youroldpassword

Enter your old passwordthe one you're currently using. (Of course, type in your old password, not the sample one we've used here!) Note that the password doesn't show up onscreen when you type it, in case someone is lurking over your shoulder, watching you type, and asking, "whatcha doing?"

3.

yournewpassword

Type in your new password. Check out the Lowdown on Passwords sidebar for specifics about choosing a password.

4.

yournewpassword

Here, you're verifying the password by typing it again.

The system will report that your password was successfully changed (specific terminology depends on the system) after the changes take effect. This is also shown in Code Listing 1.1.

Tips

  • Double-check your new password before you log out of the system by typing su - yourid at the prompt. Of course, substitute your real username (or login name) for yourid here. This command (switch user) lets you log in again without having to log out, so if you made a mistake when changing your password and now get a failed login message, you can find out before you actually disconnect from the system. If you have problems, contact your system administrator before you log out so you can get the problem resolved.

  • In some environments, you will use yppasswd, not passwd, to change your password, or even use a Web page or other means. When in doubt, defer to what your system administrator told you to do. ("The Rays said to use this other command" is likely to get all of us in trouble.)


The Lowdown on Passwords

In addition to following any password guidelines your system administrator mandates, you should choose a password that is

  • At least six characters long

  • Easy for you to remember

  • Not a word or name in any dictionary in any language

  • A combination of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols

  • Not similar to your username

  • Not identical or similar to one you've used recently

  • Not your telephone number, birth date, kid's birth date, anniversary (even if you can remember it), mother's maiden name, or anything else that anyone might associate with you





Unix(c) Visual Quickstart Guide
UNIX, Third Edition
ISBN: 0321442458
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 251

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