[SOLVED] Is there any file in the home folder needed to be executable?

[InChrist]

chmod -R a-x+X /path/to/folder
Is this secure to do also with the whole home folder including .cache, .config ... or does any of the files in there need to be executable?

[altair4]

No matter how many times you ask the same question you are likely to get the same answer.

You should not be changing any ownership or permissions on your home folder recursively.

Are you going to post this question in Networking next?

[Pjotr]

Somehow this topic (and its sister-topic) gives me the giggles.

[gm10]

Somehow this topic (and its sister-topic) gives me the giggles.

/thread

lmfao

(this is his 3rd thread btw, so more like sibling topics, haha)

[InChrist]

OK, I need to get back to work, I feel that some answers are missing on some questions I asked. Instead you are laughing.

And a new one:
Would it be secure to use inside Documents, Pictures ...?

[gm10]

OK, I need to get back to work, I feel that some answers are missing on some questions I asked. Instead you are laughing.

And a new one:
Would it be secure to use inside Documents, Pictures ...?

Just don't use it. Full stop. I can not think of any good reason to ever mass-strip executable attributes.

[Pjotr]

Indeed. Why intentionally make a mess of things? Why on earth are you so intent on breaking stuff?

[BenTrabetere]

Why intentionally make a mess of things?

Are you familiar with Cunningham's Law? The best way to get the right answer on the Internet is not to ask a question, it’s to post the wrong answer.

[Hoser Rob]

OK, I need to get back to work, I feel that some answers are missing on some questions I asked. Instead you are laughing.

And a new one:
Would it be secure to use inside Documents, Pictures ...?

You got a perfectly straghtforward answer, don't do this in /home, ever. Note that Documents and Pictures are in /home. Are you waiting for someone to say it's OK? Because they'll be an idiot.

[jimallyn]

Would it be secure to use inside Documents, Pictures ...?

Um, ordinarily, one does not run a document or a picture as a program. Don't do it.

[Flemur]

chmod -R a-x+X /path/to/folder
Is this secure to do also with the whole home folder including .cache, .config ...

Probably, because your command doesn't seem to do anything when I run it:

Code: Select all

$ ls -al | grep temp
drwxr-xr-x  2 username username    4096 Jul  9 14:52 temp
$ chmod -R a-x+X temp
$ ls -al | grep temp
drwxr-xr-x  2 username username    4096 Jul  9 14:52 temp
$

or does any of the files in there need to be executable?

Maybe. But probably not.

What's with the "X"? I've never used it:

"execute/search only if the file is a directory or already has execute permission for some user (X),"

[InChrist]

There is probably a very sophisticated way of determining which file should have the execute bit and which one should not but I am not a sophisticated person.

So if I found myself in a situation where I mistakenly did a recursive octal chmod and everything ended up executable I would probably resort to this:

Code: Select all

chmod -R a-x+X /path/to/folder

The "-x" would remove the execute bit on everything including folders. The "+X" will add it back for folders only.

But the command I used did not work I guess - that was my luck, thanks to God. I could find now changes when checking permission differences betweeen source and target.

I will not use it anymore. And follow Altairs advice "You should not be changing any ownership or permissions on your home folder recursively."


Thanks for the competent and clear answers.