Re: Telnet/pop3 Problem

[Bruce Richardson <brichardson lineone net>]

On Thu, 1 Apr 1999 Mark_Wilkinson spe sony com wrote:

> 
> I'm trying to telnet to my linux box and login as root. Doing the same trying to
> read the mail for root.
> Is there some "extra" security arount the root account that prevents you logging
> in remotely and if
> so, how do I disable it (in a very very secure fashion)?
> 

Congratulations!  You asked the number one
guaranteed-to-irritate-grouchy-Linux-veterans question ;-)  But you don't
win a prize because almost everyone asks it.

/etc/securetty contains a list of terminals from which root can log in.
The pseudo terminals created by telnet are called ttypN BUT I urge you not
to add this.  It's MAJOR bad practice - a huge security hole.  Instead.
telnet in as a normal user and do

su -

This then logs you in as root.