Protecting Files & Folder on Linux
How to protect files and folders from deleting on Linux?
Protect Files
to prevent files from deletion on linux
Protect a file from deleting
$ sudo chattr +i file.txt
Revoke protection on file
$ sudo chattr -i file.txt
Explanation
this will change the permission on the file to :
$ lsattr file.txtthe remove {rm command) will give the following warning.
— — i — — — — -e — — file.txt
rm: cannot remove ‘file.txt’: Operation not permitted
Protect Folders
this will protect the folder and its content from accidental deletion and/or modification in linux.
Protect folder for deletion
$ sudo chattr -R +i dirname
Revoke protection
$sudo chattr -R -i dirname
Explanation
this will protect the folder and its content from accidental deletion and/or modification in linux.
Protect Folders but allowing file modification
to prevent files and folders from deletion, but allow the file for writing in append mode only
Allow writing on file which is protected from deletion
$ sudo chattr +a file.txt
Allow writing in append mode for folders/directoies.
$ sudo chattr -R +a dirname
