LFCS · Question #23
Which character in the password field of /etc/passwd is used to indicate that the encrypted password is stored in /etc/shadow?
The correct answer is D. x. The character 'x' in the password field of /etc/passwd indicates that the user's encrypted password is not stored there, but instead in the more secure /etc/shadow file.
Question
Options
- A
- B
- Cs
- Dx
How the community answered
(25 responses)- A4% (1)
- B4% (1)
- D92% (23)
Why each option
The character 'x' in the password field of `/etc/passwd` indicates that the user's encrypted password is not stored there, but instead in the more secure `/etc/shadow` file.
The `*` character usually indicates a locked or disabled account, or a password that cannot be used for login.
The `-` character is not a standard indicator for shadowed passwords in `/etc/passwd`.
The `s` character is not used to indicate a shadowed password in `/etc/passwd`.
The `x` character in the second field (password field) of a user's entry in `/etc/passwd` is a standard indicator that the user's encrypted password is stored separately in the `/etc/shadow` file, enhancing system security by restricting access to password hashes.
Concept tested: Shadow password file indication in /etc/passwd
Source: https://linux.die.net/man/5/passwd
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