Where should the new password hash be stored after changing a user's password on a Linux system?

Where should the new password hash be stored after changing a user's password on a Linux system?

• A. Passwd file
• B. Shadow file
• C. Home directory
• D. /root directory

Answer: (B)

Linux uses a shadow file to store password hashes for all users. This separation keeps password hashes out of the publicly readable account file. When a password is changed, the system updates the hash in the shadow file; the passwd file just contains user fields and a placeholder, not the actual hash. The home directory and /root are for user data, not password secrets.

Linux uses a shadow file to store password hashes for all users. This separation keeps password hashes out of the publicly readable account file. When a password is changed, the system updates the hash in the shadow file; the passwd file just contains user fields and a placeholder, not the actual hash. The home directory and /root are for user data, not password secrets.