Thread: Are there Maemo viruses? Is anti-virus software available or necessary?
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Big Phat Jan is offline Big Phat Jan
2010-01-25 , 11:04
Posts: 134 | Thanked: 91 times | Joined on Nov 2009 @ Imperial College London
#85
Originally Posted by MrWeasel View Post
Usually the linux privileges and user system prevents harmful (to the system) virusses well.

But: on almost every n900 root access is available via 'sudo gainroot' WITHOUT password. So I do actually see a security hole there and I wish there was a away to restrict root access with a password as usual (at least there is no way I know about).
While I haven't tried it, I think it would be quite easy to require a password for root access. Read up on the sudoers file. You'll find a line in it concerning gainroot.

I don't want to give step by step instructions here because it's too easy to lock yourself out of the device if you make a mistake, so it's best you read up on it. It's a relatively simple change.

If you do decide you want to undertake the change, make sure you use visudo rather than editing the sudoers file directly. A misplaced space could spell your doom!

Cheers,
Jan