[W] Create a Passwordless / Guest Login

Create a Passwordless / Guest Login

Step 1:
Make sure you have created a user. For the sake of this example, let's say you called the account username guest. You can give it any temporary password you want. We're going to change that password shortly anyway. I'm assuming you know how to do this already. If you don't, I can assure you that this HowTo is not one you should be following, and you would be very likely to screw up the next step.

Step 2
Next, go to the terminal and type this command:

sudo nano -B /etc/shadow


This will open the /etc/shadow file (the one that contains all the passwords) in a text editor called Nano.

Once you have it open, find the appropriate line for the account in question. It'll look something like this:

guest:$1$2TUdk8Z0$tb2Fn6Idgo8dq9EgYv4xZ0:13721:0:99999:7:::


Change the second part (in bold here) to match this second part (also in bold):

guest:U6aMy0wojraho:13721:0:99999:7:::


Then save the file (Control-X, Y, Enter).

Now you should be able to log into the guest (or whatever you called it) account without entering a password.

Warning: Even though this method is simple (few steps), it is extremely dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. Do not attempt this if you are worried that you might mess up the /etc/shadow file, thus screwing up ur Ubuntu system.


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