What is the “pppd” tool?

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billmac5 Author

Level 1

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What is the “pppd” tool?

What is the “pppd” tool? it wants permission to access my keychain. why?

dual 867 mhz powerpc g4, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Oct 28, 2009 12:20 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Oct 28, 2009 12:56 PM in response to billmac5

PPP is a dial-up protocol. If the daemon is running then you may have activated a dial-up via Network preferences. It may also appear if you use a DSL connection that requires a telephone dial-in to connect.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Oct 28, 2009 12:59 PM in response to billmac5

NAME
pppd - Point-to-Point Protocol Daemon

DESCRIPTION

PPP is the protocol used for establishing internet links over dial-up modems, DSL connections, and many other types of point-to-point links. The pppd daemon works together with the kernel PPP driver to establish and maintain a PPP link with another system (called the peer) and to negotiate Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for each end of the link. Pppd can also authenticate the peer and/or supply authentication information to the peer. PPP can be used with other network protocols besides IP, but such use is becoming increasingly rare.

http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/m an8/pppd.8.html

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Answer 3

billmac5 Author

Level 1

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Oct 30, 2009 4:14 AM in response to BDAqua

I have been using my dialup connection now for several years without problems. Recently when I tried to establish a connection I received the message “pppd wants permission to use the “PPP Password” item from your keychain. Do you want to allow this?” . Why did I start getting this message? I have not changed anything on my computer since I last went online? Could this be a security problem? Who is allowed to access my keychain if I let this occur? I am concerned about security of my computer and keychain.

Thank you for your earlier helpful response.

Bill

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Oct 30, 2009 10:50 AM in response to billmac5

It's one of the recent Security updates, nothing to worry about.

If this is a consistent problem we can fix it, it's just that it reoccurring could be a few things.

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