Re: "linux single" security problem

["Adam Alexander" <adam tjconline com>]

>Sorry, but physical security is REQUIRED for security.  Having a root
>password on "linux single" does not protect you from someone dragging in a
>boot floppy with a kernel on it, or taking the hard drive home and mounting
>it on their Linux system.


Let me clarify - the machines I'm speaking of are located at a cybercafe.
The bios's are password protected and are set to NOT boot from a floppy
drive.  At the cybercafe, someone taking a machine out of its normal
location to open it up and remove a hard drive and attempt to leave the
store with it would cause quite a disruption -- and the perpetrator would
likely be stopped before he reached the door.  Secondly, we want people to
be able to access the CD-ROM drive and the floppy drive, and that leaves the
power switch and reset switch in plain reach.  Even if we removed those, due
to the construction of our computer desks it would be a simple matter for
someone to unplug and replug a computer if he/she were determined enough.
In short -- I asked a simple question (How do I set "linux single" to prompt
for the machine's root password).  Nobody on this list knows my exact
situation or reason for asking this.  I didn't attempt to inform you of
that, I just asked a simple question in hopes of getting a simple answer.
If there is anyone who actually may have some real insight into my question
and is willing to help me do what I want to do, I will sincerely appreciate
any help that is offered.  If anyone else is tempted to blindly attack my
reasoning without knowing the situation and without offering the help I
asked for then please save your breath.  The other users of the list and I
will appreciate it.  =)

Thanks in advance,

Adam Alexander