(a)Explore more on the categories of operating systems and note the difference between them.
Operating System (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between computer hardware
components and the user. Every computer system must have at least one operating system to run
other programs.
Categories of operating system are:
Batch Operating System
Multitasking/Time Sharing OS
Multiprocessing OS
Real Time OS
Distributed OS
Network OS
Mobile OS
Batch Operating System
Some computer processes are very lengthy and time-consuming. To speed the same process, a
job with a similar type of needs are batched together and run as a group.
The user of a batch
operating system never directly interacts with the computer. In this type of OS, every user
prepares his or her job on an offline device like a punch card and submit it to the computer
operator.
Multi-Tasking/Time-sharing Operating systems
Time-sharing operating system enables people located at a different terminal (shell) to use a
single computer system at the same time.
The processor time (CPU) which is shared among
multiple users is termed as time sharing.
Real time OS
A real time operating system time interval to process and respond to inputs is very small.
Examples: Military Software Systems, Space Software Systems are the Real time OS example.
Distributed Operating System
Distributed systems use many processors located in different machines to provide very fast
computation to its users.
Network Operating System
Network Operating System runs on a server. It provides the capability to serve to manage data,
user, groups, security, application, and other networking functions.
Mobile OS
Mobile operating systems are those OS which is especially that are designed to power
smartphones, tablets, and wearable’s devices. Some most famous mobile operating systems are
Android and iOS, but others include BlackBerry, Web, and watchOS.
(b)Five (5) key factors that underline Open source operating systems to be superior security
Open source operating systems are those kinds of operating systems which allow anyone to
inspect the source code. In this way there are many various advantages.
Those with sufficient
technical knowledge can customize the OS and fix problems as they arise by diving into the
source code. It also allows the development of open-source operating systems to be communityled, or at least influenced, with technical users suggesting changes to an open-source operating
systems codebase.
1. Privileges
Linux systems are by no means infallible, but one of their key advantages lies in the way account
privileges are assigned. In Windows, users are generally given administrator access by default,
which means they pretty much have access to everything on the system, even its most crucial
parts. So, then, do viruses. It's like giving terrorists high-level government positions.
With Linux, on the other hand, users do not usually have such "root" privileges; rather, they're
typically given lower-level accounts. What that means is that even if a Linux system is
compromised, the virus won't have the root access it would need to do damage system wide;
more likely, just the user's local files and programs would be affected.
2. Social Engineering
Viruses and worms often spread by convincing computer users to do something they shouldn't,
like open attachments that carry viruses and worms. This is called social engineering, and it's all
too easy on Windows systems. Just send out an e-mail with a malicious attachment and a subject
line like, "Check out these adorable puppies!"--Or the porn equivalent--and some proportion of
users is bound to click without thinking. The result? An open door for the attached malware, with
potentially disastrous consequences organization wide.
3. Virus removal
In open source operating systems, viruses can be more easily removed. On open source, systemrelated files are owned by the “root” super user. If infected, viruses can be easily removed as
they can only affect the user account where they were installed, and they do not affect the root
account.
4. Diversity
Microsoft Windows still dominates most of the computing world. In the world of e-mail, so too
do Outlook. And there lies the problem, it’s essentially a monoculture, which is no better in
technology than it is in the natural world. Diversity is a good thing in the natural world because
it minimizes the effects of deadly attacks, it helps protect users. Harm is more done where there
are more people/hosts/vulnerabilities
5. Code review
It has a large community of developers reviewing its code and making sure there are no back
doors. Some have called Linux the most secure OS simply on the grounds of its large “team”
of Linux user-developers around the globe
Tags:
Operating System (OS)