NAME

newgrp − log in to a new group

SYNOPSIS

newgrp [ group ]

DESCRIPTION

Newgrp changes the group identification of its caller, analogously to login(1). The same person remains logged in, and the current directory is unchanged, but calculations of access permissions to files are performed with respect to the new group ID. 

Newgrp without an argument changes the group identification to the group in the password file; in effect it changes the group identification back to the caller’s original group. 

A password is demanded if the group has a password and the user himself does not, or if the group has a password and the user is not listed in /etc/group as being a member of that group. 

When most users log in, they are members of the group named other. 

FILES

/etc/group
/etc/passwd

SEE ALSO

login(1), group(5). 

BUGS

There is no convenient way to enter a password into /etc/group. 
Use of group passwords is not encouraged, because, by their very nature, they encourage poor security practices. Group passwords may disappear in the future.

May 16, 1980