Operating Systems

Security Attacks from

outside

Dr. M. Tanvir Afzal

 Security Attacks from outside

Why Secure?

 As OS is overall in-charge of Computer

System.
 Its role in maintaining security is
important.
 Designing of dependable OS is vital

2
 Security Attacks from outside

Security Issues
 Reliability: Flaw in the file manager
could cause loss in the part of the file.
 System Crash: Defect in the dispatcher
leads to system failure.
 Development of secure systems is not
studied in OS, rather Software
Engineering.

3
 Security Attacks from outside

Stopping Unauthorized Persons

 Accounts for various types of users.
 User name, password, and privileges
 Login Procedure.
 Super-user/Administrator

4
 Security Attacks from outside

Auditing Software
 Administrator can monitor activities.
 Malicious or accidental
 record and analyze the activities.

5
 Security Attacks from outside

Auditing Software - Examples

 Flood of attempts to login using

incorrect passwords
 Impossible Travel.
 Violating past behavior
 Presence of Sniffing Software.

6
 Security Attacks from outside

Sniffing Software
 That records user activities and report
them to intruder.
 An old example is fake simulation of
login procedure of OS.

7
 Security Attacks from outside

Major reasons of computer security

 Carelessness of users.
 Selection of user names and
passwords.
 Sharing of passwords with
friends
 Fail to change password on
time.
8
 Import unapproved software.
 Summary

Security Attacks from Outside

 Reliability & System
crash
 Login
 Auditing Software
 Sniffing software
 Reasons of Computer
security
9