Don't keep permissions by default if we are root. diff -aur tar-1.16.orig/src/extract.c tar-1.16/src/extract.c --- tar-1.16.orig/src/extract.c 2006-06-24 18:56:56.000000000 +0200 +++ tar-1.16/src/extract.c 2006-10-22 18:53:38.706626788 +0200 @@ -112,8 +112,6 @@ extr_init (void) { we_are_root = geteuid () == 0; - same_permissions_option += we_are_root; - same_owner_option += we_are_root; /* Option -p clears the kernel umask, so it does not affect proper restoration of file permissions. New intermediate directories will