Define Operating System Security

Andrew Dick
Assignment #1
Dr. K. Lee
Strayer University
August 8, 2011

Define Operating System security and list/describe examples of Windows system
Operation System security is protecting your OS from malware attacks, phishing scams, adware, spyware and other threats to computer users. When you say you take the time to work on your operating system security most people usually mean. Making sure the AV is updated to the latest version, and running a scan to make sure no threats got into your machine. Update your OS with all the latest patches to stay safe from exploits. Update all programs to prevent them from malicious attacks. Using a secure web browser with add-ons built in that help prevent malware attacks. A computer being secure depends on a number of technologies working properly. A modern operating system provides access to a number of resources, which are available to software running on the system, and to external devices like networks via the kernel. All Windows operating systems come with the ability to create profiles with is a built in security features. As well, they have Windows Defender built in, however, the individual has to turn it on in most cases. The operating system must be capable of distinguishing between requests which should be allowed to be processed, and others which should not be processed. While some systems may simply distinguish between "privileged" and "non-privileged", systems commonly have a form of requester identity, such as a user name. To establish identity there may be a process of authentication. Often a username must be quoted, and each username may have a password. Other methods of authentication, such as magnetic cards or biometric data, might be used instead. In some cases, especially connections from the network, resources may be accessed with no authentication at all (such as reading files over a network share). Also covered by the concept of requester identity is authorization; the particular services and...