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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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How is running transmission as a dedicated user more secure? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I noticed Debian does this by default and Arch wiki recommends is citing improved security and upstream.

I don't get why that's more secure. Is this assuming torrents might be infected and aims to limit what a virus may access to the dedicated user's home directory (/var/lib/transmission-daemon on Debian)?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

The point is also to minimize potential damages caused by a bug in the software. Just this year there have been multiple data-destroying bugs in publicly released software. If the app runs as a server it's usually trivial to have it run as a dedicated user, with just enough permissions to do its job.

It's just good practice, even though the risks might be low why risk it at all?