Here is a perfect summation of why it's absolutely correct to disable
root login by default, from #mandrake IRC:
<WNxSquee> Can someone please explain to me how to logon as root with
Mandrake 9.1 using KDE? Need to install something and I want it for all
users.
<Roobarb-Work> WNxSquee: su to root and run the installer from the
commandline
<WNxSquee> su??
<carlos> # su <ENTER>
<WNxSquee> K tnx installing now
<-- WNxSquee has quit ("Using WNIrc Created By WNxFalcon")
Had he been able to login as root by default, he would simply have done
so, and probably carried on with this incorrect and dangerous practice.
Since he couldn't, he asked for information on how he could, and the
channel was able to instruct him in the proper way to do the task he
needed to do. He's satisfied and has learnt how to do something
properly, and his system is less of a security risk to the rest of the
world. Everyone's happy.
--
adamw
