WK 1 The Wonderful World of Operating Systems Flashcards
Operating system (OS)
It’s the interface between the computer hardware and the user. The operating system, or the OS as it’s commonly called, is responsible for making the computer run as efficiently as possible while also making it easy to use.
Hardware
Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer
Windows and macOS
Windows and macOS are both common operating systems. The Windows operating system was introduced in 1985, and macOS was introduced in 1984. Both operating systems are used in personal and enterprise computers.
Windows is a closed-source operating system, which means the source code is not shared freely with the public. macOS is partially open source. It has some open-source components, such as macOS’s kernel. macOS also has some closed-source components.
Linux
The first version of Linux was released in 1991, and other major releases followed in the early 1990s. Linux is a completely open-source operating system, which means that anyone can access Linux and its source code.
The open-source nature of Linux allows developers in the Linux community to collaborate.
Linux is particularly important to the security industry. There are some distributions that are specifically designed for security. Later in this course, you’ll learn about Linux and its importance to the security industry.
ChromeOS
ChromeOS launched in 2011. It’s partially open source and is derived from Chromium OS, which is completely open source. ChromeOS is frequently used in the education field.
Android and iOS
Android and iOS are both mobile operating systems. Unlike the other operating systems mentioned, mobile operating systems are typically used in mobile devices, such as phones, tablets, and watches.
Android was introduced for public use in 2008, and iOS was introduced in 2007. Android is open source, and iOS is partially open source.
Operating systems and vulnerabilities
Security issues are inevitable with all operating systems. An important part of protecting an operating system is keeping the system and all of its components up to date.
Legacy operating systems
A legacy operating system is an operating system that is outdated but still being used. Some organizations continue to use legacy operating systems because software they rely on is not compatible with newer operating systems. This can be more common in industries that use a lot of equipment that requires embedded software—software that’s placed inside components of the equipment.
Legacy operating systems can be vulnerable to security issues because they’re no longer supported or updated. This means that legacy operating systems might be vulnerable to new threats.
Key takeaways
Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Android, and iOS are all commonly used operating systems. Security analysts should be aware of vulnerabilities that affect operating systems. It’s especially important for security analysts to be familiar with legacy operating systems, which are systems that are outdated but still being used.
