SALT on LINUX
What is SALT ?
Salt is usully added to one encryption algorithm to make the encryption stronger.
for Example:
we use md5 encrypted passwords in /etc/shadow file where each password is prtected with additional salt value that is randmly choosen by the password program.
Eg: $1$caLZPGSJ$fNw6sNf1GFiZaKUxFih9h.
The structure of this encrypted password is
$......$..............$...................
First $ to second $ shows the Type of Encryption.
Second $ to third $ is the Salt
and rest of the string is the Encrypted value.
so, by adding random SALT we ensure the encryption to be much stronger and difficult to crack.
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TIP 1:-
How to force a users to change their passwords upon first login?
1.) Firstly, lock the account to prevent the user from using the login until the change has been made:
# usermod -L
2.) Change the password expiration date to 0 to ensure the...