Root access 2 Easy

Asked by Raghnall

I have just run Live Ubuntu from USB on my mate's netbook. With command "sudo -s" I gained root access and was able to browse through his personal files as well as change his password and more.
I do agree this could come handy when you forget your own password but theoretically it gives access to your files to anyone in your home/school/work...
Is that a bug or standard practice? How can my personal files be safe when we have this?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#1

You have physical access which circumvents any security you can possibly implement. Root on ANY system has full access over that system as it is the most powerful account.

If you create a BartPE bootable CD using XP, you ca access the data in the same fashion as you are the system Administrator by default. Users in the admin group have full access, its that simple

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mycae (mycae) said :
#2

If the data is that important, you can use full disk encryption. This slows things down a little though.

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