Configure the minimum password length on Linux systems

Linux and password strength One of the options to improve password security is by setting a minimum length. This prevents users from choosing easy passwords. As part of Linux system hardening, you don’t want your passwords to be cracked too quickly by modern password crackers. Configuration Login settings The first area where you can set a password length is in /etc/login.defs. The related setting is PASS_MINLEN and already tells us it is about the minimum length of a password. Modern Linux […]

File Integrity of Password Files

Authentication Security Password files on Linux are used to store user details, like your unique user ID and name. It defines who you are on the system, your access to files, and the permissions you have. Proper password management, together with file integrity of your password files, is important. It keeps your system and user accounts safe. Password Files For most Linux distributions there are two related files available: /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow. The first file defines what local users […]