Where are User-Specific Passwords Stored in a Linux OS?

Where are User-Specific Passwords Stored in a Linux OS?

In a Linux operating system, user-specific passwords are stored in the /etc/shadow file. The /etc/shadow file is a system file that contains password hashes for user accounts on the system. It is crucial for providing security to user accounts by storing password information in an encrypted format.

Access to the /etc/shadow file is restricted to users with administrative privileges for security reasons. This helps prevent unauthorized access to sensitive password data stored in the file.

It is important to note that user passwords are not stored in plain text in the /etc/shadow file. Instead, they are stored as hashed values, which are one-way cryptographic representations of the passwords. This adds an extra layer of security to prevent easy decryption of passwords even if the file is somehow compromised.

Therefore, in a Linux OS, user-specific passwords are securely stored in the /etc/shadow file to protect user accounts from unauthorized access and maintain overall system security.