Protection in Operating System

Association between process and domain

In computer security, the association between a process and a domain is a fundamental concept. A domain represents a set of access rights or permissions associated with an entity, such as a user or a process. Processes are typically associated with a specific domain or security context, which determines their access privileges to system resources. This association ensures that processes can only access resources for which they have been authorized, helping to enforce security policies and prevent unauthorized access or malicious actions. By controlling the association between processes and domains, operating systems can effectively manage resource access and maintain system security.

Security measures of Operating System

Users can utilize the operating system's security features to their advantage. Here are a few examples:

• At all times, the network utilized for file transfers must be secure. No alien software should be able to harvest data from the network during the transfer. Network sniffing is what it's called, and it may be avoided by using encrypted data transfer routes. Furthermore, the OS should be able to withstand intentional or unintentional infringement.
• Passwords are a good way of authentication, but they are also the most common and susceptible. Passwords are very easy to crack.
• No one is allowed on the premises or has access to the systems, among other security precautions implemented at various levels. To gain access to the system, the best authentication options include a username-password combination, ocular retina scan, fingerprint, or even user cards.

Authentication

To build a strong password and a formidable authentication source, one-time passwords, encrypted passwords, and cryptography are employed.

1. Single-use password : 
   It is a method that is distinct for each user login. It is a combination of two passwords that grant access to the user. The system generates a random number, which the user must match. For the system and the user, an algorithm generates a random number, and the output is matched using a common function.
    
2. Secure Passwords:
   It is also a very effective method of access authentication. Encrypted data is sent over the network, which transfers and verifies passwords, allowing data to transit without being intercepted.
    
3. Cryptography:
   It's yet another approach to prevent unwanted users from accessing data sent over a network. It facilitates the secure transfer of data. It introduces the concept of a key for data protection. In this circumstance, the key is critical. When a user sends data, he encodes it using a computer key, which must be decoded by the receiver using the same key. As a result, even if the data is stolen throughout the process, the unauthorized user is unlikely to get access to it.

Components of protection in an operating system

1. Access Control:

• Determines who can access what resources and under what conditions.
• Enforced through authentication, authorization, and auditing mechanisms.

2. Isolation:

• Ensures that processes and resources are separated to prevent interference and unauthorized access.
• Implemented through memory protection, virtualization, and sandboxing techniques.

3. Resource Management:

• Manages the allocation and usage of system resources such as CPU, memory, and I/O devices.
• Enforces fairness and prevents resource starvation through scheduling algorithms and quotas.

4. Authentication:

• Verifies the identity of users and processes before granting access to resources.
• Uses credentials such as passwords, digital certificates, or biometric data for authentication.

5. Encryption:

• Protects data from unauthorized access or interception by encrypting it using cryptographic algorithms.
• Ensures confidentiality and integrity of data during storage, transmission, and processing.

6. Auditing:

• Monitors and logs system activities to track user actions, detect security violations, and investigate incidents.
• Provides accountability and helps in forensic analysis and compliance auditing.

You can also read about layered structure of operating system and Batch Operating System.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main goals of OS?

The main goals of an operating system are resource management, abstraction, protection, concurrency, fault tolerance, and providing a user-friendly interface for interaction.

What is an operating system's main purpose?

An operating system serves two primary functions:

Its goal is to keep a computer system running smoothly by monitoring and managing its computational activities.

It provides a setting for program development and implementation.

What does a real-time system entail? 

When the operation of a processor is subjected to strict time constraints, a real-time system is utilized. It has well-defined and well-defined temporal limits.

What purpose does paging serve in an operating system?

In an operating system, paging is employed to solve the problem of external fragmentation. This method ensures that the information you require is provided as soon as feasible.

Are there any other Data Structures and Algorithms content in Coding Ninjas Studio?

Yes, Coding Ninjas Studio lets you practice coding while also answering common interview questions. The more we practice, the more probable we will land a job at our ideal firm.

Conclusion

In this article, we have extensively discussed the ‘Protection in Operating System'. Protection mechanisms are essential components of modern operating systems, ensuring the security, integrity, and reliability of computer systems. By implementing access controls, isolation, resource management, authentication, encryption, and auditing, operating systems can effectively protect against unauthorized access, interference, and system failures.

Recommended Readings: 

• Fork() System Call
• Types of OS 
• Operating System Tutorial
• Types of Operating Systems
• Multiuser Operating Systems

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