[Bug 1070449] [NEW] "Login without password" option effectively locks super user out!

[Mikko Saarinen]

Public bug reported:

I installed Ubuntu 12.10 with the option to log my main user with a password.
Then I added two other users and changed all three accounts to log in without a password.

This nulled my main user's password and stopped the ability to sudo and make any system wide changes!
Also the password can not be set back on, as there is no valid password to authorize any actions! In effect, you are completely left without a super user for your computer and cannot install updates or programs or do a whole lot of anything.

There is a remedy to this and it is to go to the terminal and typing
passwd, after which you can re-set your password. However this is not
clear to many users, and that's why the Users panel simply should not be
able to null your password even if you prefer to login without one.

Very critical to get fixed asap!

** Affects: ubiquity (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Description changed:

  I installed Ubuntu 12.10 with the option to log my main user with a password.
- Then I added two other users and changed all three accounts to log in without password.
+ Then I added two other users and changed all three accounts to log in without a password.
  
  This nulled my main user's password and stopped the ability to sudo and make any system wide changes!
  Also the password can not be set back on, as there is no valid password to authorize any actions! In effect, you are completely left without a super user for your computer and cannot install updates or programs or do a whole lot of anything.
  
  There is a remedy to this and it is to go to the terminal and typing
  passwd, after which you can re-set your password. However this is not
  clear to many users, and that's why the user settings -program simply
  should not be able to null your password even if you prefer to login
  without one.
  
  Very critical to get fixed asap!

** Description changed:

  I installed Ubuntu 12.10 with the option to log my main user with a password.
  Then I added two other users and changed all three accounts to log in without a password.
  
  This nulled my main user's password and stopped the ability to sudo and make any system wide changes!
  Also the password can not be set back on, as there is no valid password to authorize any actions! In effect, you are completely left without a super user for your computer and cannot install updates or programs or do a whole lot of anything.
  
  There is a remedy to this and it is to go to the terminal and typing
  passwd, after which you can re-set your password. However this is not
- clear to many users, and that's why the user settings -program simply
- should not be able to null your password even if you prefer to login
- without one.
+ clear to many users, and that's why the Users panel simply should not be
+ able to null your password even if you prefer to login without one.
  
  Very critical to get fixed asap!

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1070449

Title:
  "Login without password" option effectively locks super user out!

Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  I installed Ubuntu 12.10 with the option to log my main user with a password.
  Then I added two other users and changed all three accounts to log in without a password.

  This nulled my main user's password and stopped the ability to sudo and make any system wide changes!
  Also the password can not be set back on, as there is no valid password to authorize any actions! In effect, you are completely left without a super user for your computer and cannot install updates or programs or do a whole lot of anything.

  There is a remedy to this and it is to go to the terminal and typing
  passwd, after which you can re-set your password. However this is not
  clear to many users, and that's why the Users panel simply should not
  be able to null your password even if you prefer to login without one.

  Very critical to get fixed asap!

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