What is an Operating System? Pt.1

What is an operating system? An operating system is the software that supports a computer’s simplest functions, such as scheduling the upcoming tasks, implementing applications.

It oversees the computer’s memory, software/hardware, and processes. It translates between computer speak to layman’s terms. It organizes the computer’s memory and storage. It makes sure that every program your computer is trying to run will run to its ability. They determine which applications should run, in which order they run, and how long each needs to run.

It manages the sharing of the internal memory for each different application. It oversees the output and input from the hardware devices like printers, hard disk, etc. It can send messages from the application to the user regarding the status and any errors that may happen to arise. It can offload the printing applications, freeing up the system to do other tasks.

It can also run dual processing and manage dividing the programs to run on several processors at a time.

Without the operating system, your computer wouldn’t have the main software that runs a pc. A computer is just a paperweight without an O.S.

The operating system is loaded into the personal computer by a boot program initially. The applications are programs that use the operating system by requesting services through a specific application program interface (API).

Typically, an operating system is already installed on the computer when it is purchased, and most users will use this pre-installed operating system. But there are other options; Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

Operating systems use something called a GUI (sounds like gooey). The Graphical User Interface (GUI) allows your mouse to click the buttons, menus, and icons. Everything is displayed clearly with graphics and texts.

Each system’s GUI looks different; therefore, some users are hesitant to switch to an operating system they haven’t used before. But, operating systems are designed to be user friendly and most of the basic designs are the same.

The operating system contains the bootloader, which is software that controls the process of booting the computer. The kernel is the core of the system. The kernel manages the memory, the CPU and the other devices connected to the computer. It is considered the most basic part of the operating system.

The Graphical Server is a sub-system that puts images on the monitors. It is also called the X or the X server.

The desktop is the main part that most of the pc users will interact with. There are several desktop environments and each of them has built-in apps like file managers, web browsers, games etc.

Let’s talk about the security features of an operating system. Why is it even important?

Operating System Security is the process of keeping the integrity and confidentiality of the operating systems and the user’s personal information. The operating security protects the system from threats, viruses, worms, malware, and hackers. An ounce of preventative is better than a pound of cure, as the old saying goes. The same is true for operating systems.

The security preventative keeps the computer assets safe from being stolen, compromised, or deleted. The operating system’s security allows applications that have been scanned for viruses and deemed clean to run smoothly. It allows the system to perform required tasks and prevent unauthorized programs from running.

The operating system’s security will perform normal operating system’s patch updates. It will also install the latest antivirus software. The operating system’s firewall will scan the outgoing and incoming network traffic.

Over 300 thousand brand new malware (software whose only purpose is to damage or disable computers and their operating systems) are created every day. Even 87% or managers or people in authority have been known to accidentally leak data. 63% of hacks were managed by poor passwords. Data breaches have cost up to $3.5 million per incident.