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From: dhesi%cirrusl@oliveb.ATC.olivetti.com (Rahul Dhesi)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: UMASK: need help explaining it
Message-ID: <2351@cirrusl.UUCP>
Date: 1 Sep 90 21:20:30 GMT
References: <3373@syma.sussex.ac.uk>
Sender: news@cirrusl.UUCP
Lines: 25

Here's a good explanation:

     You are already provided with a file protection default, which
     allows everybody to read your files, but only allows you to change
     them.  All files you created are created such that only you can
     change them.  (However, your default mailbox directory called Mail
     is protected so that nobody else can read or change anything in
     it.)

     If you do not with others to be able to read any of your files,
     look for a line saying "umask 022" in the file {.login,.profile}
     in your home directory and change it to:

          umask 066

     Once you have made this change and logged in again, all files you
     create will be readable and changeable only by you.

     Other values of umask are possible;  however, we recommend you not
     attempt to use them until you have fully understood the meanings
     of these values.  For further information, see the following
     online manuals:  chmod(1), chmod(2), and umask(2).
--
Rahul Dhesi <dhesi%cirrusl@oliveb.ATC.olivetti.com>
UUCP:  oliveb!cirrusl!dhesi