Comment by oarsinsync
8 hours ago
> It is astounding to me that someone would complain that a non-root user cannot install software.
Depends on what you mean by "install software".
If your definition is "put an executable in a directory that is in every other user's standard $PATH", then yes, this is an absurd complaint. Of course only root should be able to do this.
If your definition is "make an executable available to run as my user", then no, this is not absurd. You absolutely should not need root to be able to run software that doesn't require root privileges. If the software requires root, it's either doing something privileged, or it's doing it wrong.
I don’t think you understood my comment.
> You absolutely should not need root to be able to run software that doesn't require root privileges.
But root can approve or disapprove you running that software. Have you heard of SELinux or AppArmor? The root user can easily and simply preventing you from running an executable even as your own user.
A malware can run as your own user and exfiltrate files you have access to. The malware does not need root privileges. Should root have the capability to prevent the malware from being installed? Regardless of what your definition of “install” is, the answer is unequivocally yes.