this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2023
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Linux

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Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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EDIT: Removing unnecessary comment to focus on what's this about.

~~Linux keeps prompting me for password when I don't need it to (installing programs, changing settings etc.) but when I would actually want it to - viewing passwords saved in web browser - it doesn't~~. I'd like Linux to prompt me to enter password when viewing passwords saved in browsers. This works by default in Windows. Anyone know how to ~~fix~~ set it on Linux?

System: Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon (but it was the same in 21.1).

Browser: Vivaldi 6.1.3035.111 (Stable channel) stable (64-bit), but it's the same in Waterfox.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago

That's application specific. In firefox you can set a main password to protect your saved passwords.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-master-password-firefox-android

The reason Linux asks for your password to install programs is to prevent users without the password from installing and to give you a 2nd chance to ponder if you really want to install HaXXor Pwned.exe.

[–] RovingFox 7 points 1 year ago

Probably heavy depends on your process to save and use saved passwords. I personally stopped using the web browsers to save my passwords.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Nothing to really fix because thats the design. In userland you can do anything, system wide needs elevated credentials. If you don't want the password prompt, look into aliases and sudoers/pkexec

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Sounds like a browser config issue rather than a linux issue

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It asks for password on brave browser. Seems like a browser setting issue.

Edit: I use latest Linux mint.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

This depends on browser support. I recommend bypassing the issue altogether by using a password manager like Bitwarden (a free as in freedom SaaS) or KeepassXC (a program for using .kdbx password databases which can be synced between devices by you in any way you want, like Nextcloud or Dropbox).

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

You can configure sudo so that it doesn't require you to enter a password. However I would strongly discourage this, since it also allows any script or program to execute root commands without your approval.