http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=1045864


in reply to Is there a way with IPC::Run to hide command options from process table?

I'd love to see your legitimisation for this.

  1. If this is to run on a system you 'own'; why would you need to hide this from yourself.
  2. And if you don't 'own' the system; what right or reason do you have to hide this from the owner.
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Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
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  • Comment on Re: Is there a way with IPC::Run to hide command options from process table?

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Re^2: Is there a way with IPC::Run to hide command options from process table?
by DeadPoet (Scribe) on Jul 23, 2013 at 13:51 UTC

    Browser, I always love and respect your comments, as well as the guidance that you provide. However, there are cases where data need not be displayed in the process table. Let us take a simple usermod example to illustrate the point. Would one really want to display in the process table?

    Linux:
  /usr/sbin/usermod -p <value> account
HP-UX:
  /usr/sam/lbin/usermod.sam -p <value> account

    [download]

    The point is that there are cases where one is just better off not displaying every command argument in the process table regardless of device ownership.

[reply]
[d/l]

      IIRC, you are still able to get that information by inspecting the information associated with the process table entry. This will only give a false sense of security.

      That being said, it is sometimes helpful to set what shows in the process table (with default ps options) to something that actually means something to the viewer, such as what Sendmail does (sendmail: accepting connections on port....)

      --MidLifeXis

[reply]
[d/l]
[select]

      Hm. You mean that information is visible to other users? Sounds like a security flaw in *nix.

      With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
      Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
      "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
      In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
[reply]

        There is no argument there! UNIX has numerous "features" what are less than optimal. Being the glutton for punishment that I am, I still love UNIX. So to your point, yes the information is visible and that is not always a good thing.

[reply]

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