How to create hidden files in Linux?

Question

In my program, I have to make a file hidden in order to avoid removal or modification of the file.

PATH=/etc/
NAME = file

Is there a function in

Answer 1

If you use a kernel >= 3.11, you might want to try the O_TMPFILE-flag. This kernel have been released on the 14.09.2013. Debian Jessie uses Kernel 3.16. so this feature should be available on all recent popular distributions.

The news about this sounds promising. The file will be unreachable from the outside. No other process or may access this file .. neither read nor write. But the file will be lost as soon as the handle gets closed. Or link it to a regular file. But then, it will be accessible as any other file.

If this is not an option for you (e.g. your file needs to be persistent): bad luck. There is no real "hidden" file in linux. You can hide your persistent files as secure as files on windows with the hidden attribute: prepend the name with a dot. As stated by others: ls -a will show them nevertheless.

Also, you can create a user specifically for your use and make the file read- and writable only for this user or put it in a folder, where only your user have rw-access. Other users may see this file but wont be able to access it. But if root comes along and want to look into it, you have lost.