is there any way to find out the user id and password on a linux pc or live cd without actually logging in?

2 Responses to is there any way to find out the user id and password on a linux pc or live cd without actually logging in?

1. gfery | December 25, 2009 at 8:29 pm |

   The linux passwords are stored irreversibly in hashes (you can’t retrieve the password from existing data). All you can do is two things:

   1. Run a brute force attack to try and recover the root passwd from /etc/passwd file.

   2. Burn a new CD with other than default passwd (and this time write it down on something other than toilet paper).

   I suggest the latter, since it’s faster. However, the first method could give you an insight on how great hackers work.

   All the best.

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2. gnobody | December 25, 2009 at 9:31 pm |

   It sounds like you may have installed in OEM mode. Have you tried OEM as the user name with the password you created?

   If that doesn’t work, boot into recovery mode (its an option from the GRUB menu) and then type this;

   cd /home
   ls

   That will show you any user accounts on the system, If you see your user account there, (or OEM), and the password you made still wont work / cant be remembered……
   Boot back into recovery mode from GRUB menu and at the prompt, change the password for that user, john (assuming john is the username…)

   passwd john

   Or you can reset it this way as well.
   Boot back into recovery mode and add another administrative user account;

   adduser “WHATEVER_NAME_YOU_WANT”
   adduser “NEW_NAME_YOU_JUST_MADE_UP” admin
   reboot

   This will add a new administrative user, with whatever user name you entered in the step above. This user will be fully privileged, and can delete the original user account , thats not working.

   That should fix the problem : )

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