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/bin/false is not security

www.semicomplete.com Essays & writing Essays & articles Security & privacy Candidate

Resurfaced independently across 3 calendar years, with breakout response in 2 of them.

submissions
3
submitters
3
observed span
2011–2017
peak thread · 64 comments
140 pts
latest 20+ return · 2017-12-28
110 pts

Submission timeline

2007–2026

One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.

First comments on top threads

HN comment order

If you have a server where only a few people should ever SSH in, use AllowUsers. If you have a larger number, assign them to a group and AllowGroup. Simple, fast, and effective. If you can turn off password auth in favor of keys, do that, too.

dsr_·140-point thread·

I recall reading of one Unix implementation that when executing /bin/false noticed that the spawned shell (/bin/false) had failed (because that’s what /bin/false does, by design) and helpfully launched /bin/sh so you could debug it. True or false (pun intended), this is why I use /bin/true to stand in as a shell in this capacity.

bch·110-point thread·

The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.

Breakout years
2

100+ points or 50+ comments

Total points
255

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Total comments
87

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Every submission

DateTitle as submittedByPointsComments
2011-09-16/bin/false is not securityjluxenberg50
2012-02-04/bin/false is not securityFirst breakout · Best threadparenthesis14023
2017-12-28/bin/false is not security (2005)Latest 20+ point returnjessaustin11064