Entry

Can I check Unix system passwords from PHP?

Aug 3rd, 1999 00:03
Nathan Wallace, Martin Koistinen

Do you really want PHP to authenticate your users based on their system
passwords?  This is probably not a good idea.

Have you considered a simple database of web users or at least Apache's
AUTH DB?

By authenticating your users with their system passwords, you are 
asking them to send their passwords in cleartext over the internet 
each time they log in.  You are also creating more accounts which 
ultimately increases the likelyhood of a break-in.