VNC User Guide - RealVNC

Chapter 7: Making Connections Secure
UNIX/Linux
Under UNIX/Linux, system authentication is selected using the UNIX password option in the
Authentication dropdown of the VNC Server - Options dialog. More on this dialog.
This means, to connect to VNC Server in either User Mode or Virtual Mode, a user must supply the
credentials of the host computer user starting VNC Server. You can add different users or groups to the
authentication list if you do not want to publish the credentials of this host computer user. For more
information, see Managing users and groups in the authentication list on page 102.
Note that the credentials supplied by a user in order to connect to VNC Server determine the VNC
permissions granted to that user. VNC permissions control which RealVNC remote control features the user
is allowed to use. By default, a Full set of VNC permissions is granted. For more information on what this
means, and how to revoke VNC permissions in order to restrict access to RealVNC remote control features,
see Restricting features for particular connected users on page 114.
Once connected, a user has the same privileges (that is, access rights) on the host computer as the host
computer user starting VNC Server. This need not be a user with administrative privileges even if the
credentials of one were supplied in order to connect to VNC Server. The opposite also holds true: a
connected user has administrative privileges on the host computer if such a user started VNC Server.
100 VNC User Guide