Why Can't Non-Admin Users Install Software?
This Is Probably Something I Don't Understand Since I Am Used to Windows and Am Only Starting out with Ubuntu. I Know That Software in Linux Comes in Packages...
This is probably something I don't understand since I am used to Windows and am only starting out with Ubuntu. I know that software in linux comes in packages what I don't understand is why can't non-admin users install software.
I mean, every application is run by a specific user, and that user will only be able to run that applciation with his privilages, so if he has no admin privileges, the application also won't be able to access unauthorized directories etc.
I want most of the time to work on my PC with a non-admin user since it seems more safe to me, most of the time I have no need for admin privileges. and even though I know viruses in linux are uncommon I still think the best practice is to work on the computer in a state that you yourself can't make any changes to important files, that way viruses also can't harm any important files, but I need to install software for programming and web-design etc. and first of all I don't want to switch users all the time. But also it sounds safer to me that everything being done on the PC will be done through the non-admin user.
I'll be glad to know what misunderstanding I have here, cause something here doesn't sound right.
6 Answers
Must Read
Why you're asked for a password
Most software is designed to touch sensitive files, i.e. sensitive to the security of your private data or the systems integrity. This is why software installation is a potential risk and should be validated by a user who knows what he is doing. Even for open source Software you can not be sure that no bad code bits arrive with your percious new audio player until someone checked. And even then something could have been overlooked or packages could be manipulated on the way. Who knows what's hidden in the depth of the program? One user should.
Ubuntu provides a comfortable way of installing software. Software developers can rely on that comfort and make the assumption that synaptic/software center/apt enables them to access these sensitive files. Canonical checks the software repository for bugs and malicious code. But the ultimate responsibility is yours.
If the software in question does not need access to sensitive files, it can (in principle) be installed in the home folder though not in the Ubuntu way. You will for instance have to compile the source code yourself or run a custom install script. Beside the greater efforts of that it has the disadvantage of not allowing other users access to your just installed program (as they have no right to access your home-folder). They will need to installed it a second time. So this way of installation makes no sense in a large scale and in a small scale it's usually easier to type a password than to install software manually.
So that's why Synaptic aaks for a password and why it's good that it does.
Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.
