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Legacy Forums => General Discussion (Legacy) => Topic started by: Tim Jabaut on November 07, 2001, 08:18:50 PM

Title: Can't Telnet as ROOT
Post by: Tim Jabaut on November 07, 2001, 08:18:50 PM

I am not able to TELNET into my new e-Smith v5 box. I have been able to execute a chsh to allow a user to TELNET in no problem, and I can also login via SSH as ROOT, but I am unable to get plain TELNET access as ROOT.

I know that it seems trivial, but I would just like to know why I can not do this.

Title: Re: Can't Telnet as ROOT
Post by: sage on November 07, 2001, 10:22:03 PM

RTFM

Its a security thing,  telnet sends passwords as cleartext so anyone can snoop your root password.

Sage

Title: Re: Can't Telnet as ROOT
Post by: Kees on November 07, 2001, 10:45:44 PM

Try Putty!

Title: Re: Can't Telnet as ROOT
Post by: Micheal Kelly on November 08, 2001, 01:14:40 AM

Ack!  Bad!  Bad!  Evil!  Nasty!

As someone else has already pointed out (and I'm going to repeat, so the message gets across), telnet is BAD.  Telnet sends *everything*, including those passwords you type, across the network in plaintext.  Which means anyone with a packet sniffer can *easily* grab your root password and compromise your security.

SSH on the other hand, encrypts traffic from client to server and vice versa.

Title: Re: Can't Telnet as ROOT
Post by: Scott Smith on November 08, 2001, 02:09:55 AM

And just to make sure everyone understands, putting double locks on all the doors will keep most criminals from using your doors -- especially if the windows are wide open...

Title: Re: Can't Telnet as ROOT
Post by: Scott Smith on November 08, 2001, 02:11:20 AM

... and if the double locks are of low quality, they may choose to use the doors anyway.