How to Implement Automatic Logout in Linux Bash Session After 5 Minutes of Inactivity

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If you’re looking to enhance the security of your Linux system, setting up an automatic logout for the bash session after a period of inactivity is a great step. Here’s how to implement a 5-minute timeout policy:

1. Set the Timeout Policy: Open the `~/.bash_profile` or `/etc/profile` file in your preferred text editor. Add the following lines to set a 5-minute (300 seconds) timeout:

   # Set a 5 min timeout policy for bash shell
   TMOUT=300
   readonly TMOUT
   export TMOUT
   

   This code sets the `TMOUT` variable to 300 seconds. The `readonly` command ensures that the timeout duration cannot be modified during the session, and `export` makes it available to all shell sessions.

2. Disabling the Timeout: If you need to disable the automatic logout feature, you can do so by running one of the following commands:
   1. To temporarily disable the timeout for your current session:

      # Disable timeout for the current session
      export TMOUT=0
      

   2. Or, to remove the `TMOUT` setting completely from your session:

      # Unset the TMOUT variable
      unset TMOUT
      

3. Important Considerations: It’s crucial to note that the `readonly` attribute can only be reset by the root (administrator) user. This can be done either in the global bash configuration file (`/etc/profile`) or in a user’s custom bash configuration file (`~/.bash_profile`).

By following these steps, you can effectively manage the automatic logout feature for your Linux bash sessions, enhancing the security and efficiency of your system.