Hello world,
I know that this is a common gripe from those who transition from Windows to Linux. I know the Linux/Unix design philosophy is heavily focused on security and why things are set up the way that they are. I know that any response to this post is likely to be prefaced with ‘you shouldn’t want to do things like that’, but…
Having to type out my user password numerous times every session to achieve the most mundane of tasks like installing applications is… carefully choosing my words… beyond frustrating.
When I install Windows on a machine the very first thing I do on first boot is turn UAC (user account control) to it’s lowest possible setting as being prompted ‘Is this okay?’ every time you issue a command is in my opinion, excessive.
“Hey, you know the thing you just asked me to do?”
“Yeah?..”
“Should I do it?”
“Yes, that’s why I asked you to do it… Why do you always make me repeat myself?”
Windows saving grace is that at least 1) UAC settings can be changed so that it will no longer prompt you or 2) If UAC settings are left at their default level at least it is only a matter of clicking the ‘okay’ button; where as here we have to type out our entire password each and every time.
So, to get to the question: can anything be done about this? Can I edit my user credentials/privileges to a higher level permanently or even just use a command in the terminal to raise privileges until reboot so that I will no longer be prompted for a password every time I want to scratch my butt?
I know that wanting to circumvent the Linux security design philosophy makes me a bad person. What can I say, I’m a Windows plebian; but my user philosophy is that I’d rather break things and learn from mistakes than be wrapped in cotton wool.