Operating System Security

This article focuses on the security of the operating system, a fundamental component of ICT that enables many different applications to be used in a variety of computing hardware. While, the original operating systems for large centralised computing focused their security efforts primarily on separating users, operating systems security has had to adapt to cater for a wider range of technology, such as desktop computers, smartphones and cloud platforms, and the different threats that have evolved as a consequence. This article examines some of the core security mechanisms that every operating system needs and the gradual evolution towards offering a more secure platform.