Superusers

A superuser is a user account with elevated privileges that allow it to override standard access controls and perform administrative tasks on a computer system, network device, or software application. Superuser privileges are critical for configuration, maintenance, and problem resolution but carry increased risk if misused.

In Unix and Linux systems, the superuser account is called root and has uid 0; in Windows, the built-in Administrator account or groups such as Administrators grant similar capabilities. Many systems use a mechanism such as sudo to grant temporary elevated privileges to a normal user for specific commands.

Typical capabilities include installing software, changing system configurations, managing users and permissions, starting or stopping services, accessing protected files, and performing kernel or core system changes. Because of the power to bypass security controls, superusers are prime targets for attackers.

Best practices include limiting the number of superusers, applying the principle of least privilege, requiring strong authentication, using separate accounts for administrative tasks, implementing role-based access controls, and logging and monitoring privileged actions. Regularly auditing privileges and enabling session auditing, along with using tools like sudo with command restrictions, helps reduce risk. It is also common to avoid logging in as the superuser for routine tasks.

See also: root, Administrator, sudo, privilege escalation, least privilege. In computing culture, Superuser is also the name of a Stack Exchange site about computer hardware and software.