Chapter 2. Security in the Microsoft Windows Operating System

ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT TASKS when securing any computer system or network is identifying where to start. There are many components in any computing environment. Each component is a potential point of attack. Since the operating system provides the ability for software and hardware to interact it is a good starting point for securing an entire environment. On any computer, the operating system enables software to access physical resources. For example, it is the operating system that governs how any application actually reads from, or writes to, a physical disk. Consequently, the operating system is a prime candidate for attack and a valuable resource to protect.

From an attacker's ...

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