File Permissions Portfolio Activity

Project Description

In this activity, I examined and updated Linux file permissions in a simulated enterprise environment. I ensured that sensitive data in the /home/researcher2/projects directory was properly protected by using commands like ls -la, chmod, and chown. This strengthened my understanding of Linux-based access control.

Check File and Directory Details

I used the following command to list all permissions:

ls -la /home/researcher2/projects

This revealed the following files and their permissions:

• project_k.txt
  - User: read, write
  - Group: read, write
  - Other: read, write
• project_m.txt
  - User: read, write
  - Group: read
  - Other: none
• project_r.txt
  - User: read, write
  - Group: read, write
  - Other: read
• project_t.txt
  - User: read, write
  - Group: read, write
  - Other: read
• .project_x.txt
  - User: read, write
  - Group: write
  - Other: none

Describe the Permissions String

Example: -rw-r--r--

• -: regular file
• rw-: owner has read and write
• r--: group has read-only
• r--: others have read-only

Change File Permissions

I removed write access for "other" on project_k.txt using:

chmod o-w project_k.txt

This ensures that unauthorized users cannot alter the file.

Change File Permissions on a Hidden File

I secured .project_x.txt by removing all permissions from others and giving read-only to user and group:

chmod u-w,g-w,g+r .project_x.txt

Change Directory Permissions

I changed permissions for the drafts directory to limit access to group from drafts directory:

chmod g-x drafts

Summary

Through this project, I demonstrated the ability to audit and manage Linux file permissions using commands such as ls -la and chmod. I protected sensitive project files by restricting access and verifying permission configurations. This exercise improved my readiness for real-world cybersecurity scenarios involving multi-user environments.

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