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Can't install TOR as root. - Printable Version

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+---- Thread: Can't install TOR as root. (/showthread.php?tid=5613774)

Can't install TOR as root. - SSYN-UDP - May 2, 2017

Hello all,

I am stuck on two aspects of the TOR browser in Kali Linux. I installed tor using apt-get install tor. This enabled me to now open a terminal and type tor and connect to hide my IP.

However to use the actual tor browser I went over to the website and downloaded the file. However when I click it it says it can't be run as a " root " user. How do I run it as an unprivileged user? Is it a case of having to make a new user account or is it where I am putting the file. It's currently in /root/desktop

* - SIM-1980240 - May 2, 2017

You don't want to do anything on Kali that you would need a normal computer for. Kali is designed for pen-testing only. If you want to use Kali as your main operating system you should create a new user account and add it to the sudo list.

* - SSYN-UDP - May 2, 2017

Is there a simple way to create another user through command line? Thank you for your help. It's very much appreciated.

* - 3 Steps Ahead - May 3, 2017

(May 2, 2017 04:56 PM)SSYN-UDP Wrote:  Is there a simple way to create another user through command line? Thank you for your help. It's very much appreciated.

Code
useradd -m yourusername
passwd yourusername
usermod -a -G sudo yourusername
chsh -s /bin/bash yourusername

Unless they changed this it should still work. Haven't used kali in years.

* - SSYN-UDP - May 3, 2017

when I open terminal and type " useradd -m namehere " then press enter it does not give me an option to add the password to the account. It just says nothing and then goes down to the next line.

actually sorry I sorted that problem. Stupid mistake. It worked thank you.

* - Hera_ - May 3, 2017

Or if you want to run as root [Don't ever do] but here is what you need to do.
Im assuming you've downloaded from the Tor project so once you unziped the file in which you downloaded go the the directory and
go in the folder called "browser" then once your there right click on the file called "start-tor-browser" and open with a text editor then you should be able to find the following code
if [ "`id -u`" -eq 0 ]; then
complain "The Tor Browser Bundle should not be run as root. Exiting."
exit 1
fi
find the code and change it to look like this
#if [ "`id -u`" -eq 0 ]; then
# complain "The Tor Browser Bundle should not be run as root. Exiting."
# exit 1
#fi
then save and close then run the browser then you should good mate

* - ven0m - May 3, 2017

(May 3, 2017 04:57 AM)SSYN-UDP Wrote:  when I open terminal and type " useradd -m namehere " then press enter it does not give me an option to add the password to the account. It just says nothing and then goes down to the next line.

actually sorry I sorted that problem. Stupid mistake. It worked thank you.

You can also use the following format as well (I prefer this because it is detailed).

Code
adduser --home /username username
It will create a /home/username directory and will prompt for a password and general information. After providing the necessary information, press Y to confirm.

If you wish to add the user to the sudo group:
Code
usermod -a -G sudo username

You may wish to change the default shell for the new user as well.
Code
chsh -s /bin/bash username

Source:


* - deadsh0t - May 4, 2017

never run any browser as root

* - SSYN-UDP - May 4, 2017

Ven0m Thank you very much for your detailed response. That had worked a treat for me. It was such a small issue however it was causing me a huge headache. I can't thank you all enough for your help. I must say moving to linux has been a huge change. But I can already see the advantages.