path: root/doc/manual/installation/nix-security.xml

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      xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
      xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
      version="5.0"
      xml:id="ch-nix-security">

<title>Security</title>

<para>Nix has two basic security models.  First, it can be used in
“single-user mode”, which is similar to what most other package
management tools do: there is a single user (typically <systemitem
class="username">root</systemitem>) who performs all package
management operations.  All other users can then use the installed
packages, but they cannot perform package management operations
themselves.</para>

<para>Alternatively, you can configure Nix in “multi-user mode”.  In
this model, all users can perform package management operations — for
instance, every user can install software without requiring root
privileges.  Nix ensures that this is secure.  For instance, it’s not
possible for one user to overwrite a package used by another user with
a Trojan horse.</para>

<xi:include href="single-user.xml" />
<xi:include href="multi-user.xml" />

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