Gksu

GKSU: Launch Administrative Applications

Graphical front-end for sudo command, allows launching GUI apps with admin privs

What is Gksu?

gksu is a graphical front-end application for the sudo command in Linux and other UNIX-like operating systems. It provides a convenient way for regular users to run graphical applications with elevated privileges without needing access to the root account directly.

When a graphical application needs to make system-wide changes, modify system files, or access hardware devices, elevated privileges are required. Normally this would mean logging in as the root user which has full administrative access. However, logging in as root for day-to-day graphical application use introduces security risks.

gksu allows regular users to securely run individual applications with administrative privileges temporarily granted by sudo. It prompts the user for their login password and then launches the specified application. Behind the scenes, gksu passes the elevated privileges to the application via sudo for the duration of the process.

This allows normal users to install software, modify system settings, manage devices and perform other privileged tasks safely through the graphical interface without needing access to the root account itself. Key features include integration with the system authentication mechanisms, logging and auditing of privilege escalation events, and fine-grained control over which users and applications can use sudo.

In summary, gksu improves both usability and security for times when graphical apps need more access than a regular user account permits. It grants temporary privileges elevations via sudo without compromising the root account or needing permanent administrative access.

Gksu Features

Official Links