Module 12 Study Guide

Mobile, Linux, and macOS Operating Systems

Mobile Operating Systems

Open Source vs. Closed Source

 Open Source: Software where the source code is visible to everyone, allowing for
analysis and modification.

 Closed Source: Software where the source code is not visible or accessible to the public.

Android (Google)

 App Distribution: Available from Google Play and third-party sites (e.g., Amazon App
Store).

 Installation: Apps can be installed directly using an Android Application Package (APK)
file, a process known as "sideloading."

 User Interface:

o Home Screen: The primary screen; additional screens are accessed by swiping
left or right.

o System Bar: Contains navigation icons: Back, Home, Recent Apps, and Menu.

o Notification Area: Accessed by swiping down from the top; displays system icons
(clock, battery, Wi-Fi, provider network) and app notifications. Allows for
responding to, dismissing notifications, toggling settings, adjusting brightness,
and opening the settings menu.

 Settings:

o Auto Rotate: Settings > Display > Advanced > Auto Rotate.

o Brightness: Settings > Display > Brightness.

o Location Services: Settings > Location > Toggle Location Services.

o Wi-Fi Calling: Settings > More > Wi-Fi Calling.

o VPN: Settings > More > VPN > Tap '+' to add.

iOS (Apple)

 App Distribution: Available through the App Store.

  "Walled Garden" Model: Apps must be submitted to and approved by Apple to prevent
malware.

 User Interface:

o Home Screen: Displays actual apps, not shortcuts. No widgets.

o Home Button: Used for waking the device, returning to the home screen, or
activating Siri.

o Notification Center: Displays all alerts in one location.

o Commonly Used Settings: Accessed by swiping up from the bottom; includes

toggles for Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, screen rotation,
brightness, music player, AirDrop, flashlight, clock, calendar, and camera.

o Spotlight: Searches the internet, iTunes, App Store, movie store, and nearby
locations.

 Settings:

o Auto Rotate: Swipe up from the bottom, tap the lock icon.

o Brightness: Swipe up from the bottom, use the brightness bar.

o Location Services: Settings > Privacy > Location Services.

o Wi-Fi Calling: Settings > Phone > Toggle Wi-Fi Calling.

o VPN: Settings > General > VPN > Add VPN Configuration.

Mobile Device Features

 Screen Rotation: Uses an accelerometer (and sometimes gyroscopes) to change

orientation between portrait and landscape mode.

 Brightness Adjustment: Can be manual or automatic (requires a light sensor).

 GPS (Global Positioning System): Uses satellite signals to determine location. Enables
location-specific services (geo-tracking). Can also use Wi-Fi triangulation.

 Wi-Fi Calling: Uses the internet (via Wi-Fi hotspots) for voice calls, useful in areas with
poor cell coverage. Requires at least 1 Mbps throughput for good quality.

 Near Field Communication (NFC): Enables contactless payments and data transfer.

o Premium SMS: Payment requests sent via SMS.

o Direct Mobile Billing: Charges added to the mobile service bill.

 o Mobile Web Payments: Transactions via web or dedicated apps.

o Contactless NFC: Waving the phone near a payment system.

 VPN (Virtual Private Network): Creates a secure, private network connection over a
public network (like the internet). Encrypts data for secure communication.

 Virtual Assistants: Programs (e.g., Google Now, Siri) that understand natural language
and perform tasks using AI, machine learning, and voice recognition.

Securing Mobile Devices

Restrictions on Failed Login Attempts

 Android: Locks after 4-12 failed attempts; unlock requires Google account information.

 iOS: Locks after 10 failed attempts; the screen goes blank, and data is deleted. Requires
restore from iTunes or iCloud. The passcode is part of the encryption key.

Remote Backup

 Copies data to cloud storage (e.g., iCloud, Google Sync, OneDrive, Dropbox).

 Can be configured automatically via Mobile Device Management (MDM) software.

 Data can be restored by accessing the backup app or website.

Locator Apps

 Purpose: To find misplaced or stolen devices. Must be installed and configured

beforehand.

 Android: Android Device Manager (locate, ring, lock, erase data).

 iOS: Find My iPhone app (locate, ring, lock, erase data).

 Additional Functions: Can send messages, play sounds, or provide information to law
enforcement.

Remote Lock and Remote Wipe

 Remote Lock: Locks the device with a passcode to prevent unauthorized access.

o iOS: Lost Mode.

o Android: Locked.

 Remote Wipe: Deletes all data from the device and returns it to a factory state.

o iOS: Erase Phone.

 o Android: Erase.

o Restoration: Requires Gmail account (Android) or iTunes sync (iOS).

Malware Protection

 Antivirus Apps: May have limitations on automatic or scheduled scans, especially on

iOS.

 Sandboxing: Apps run in isolated environments within the OS, limiting their ability to
infect other apps or access unauthorized resources. This makes it difficult for malicious
programs to infect the device.

 Firewalls: Can be used to prevent malicious programs from infecting additional devices.

Rooting and Jailbreaking

 Purpose: To remove manufacturer restrictions and gain privileged access.

 Rooting (Android): Gains root-level access for modifying code or installing unauthorized
software.

 Jailbreaking (iOS): Removes manufacturer restrictions, allowing execution of user code,

full access to the kernel, and customization.

 Risks: Can compromise security, stability, and void warranties. May void the device's
warranty.

Updates and Patches

 Operating System Updates: Add functionality, improve performance, or fix security

vulnerabilities.

 Patches: Fix specific security problems or hardware/software issues.

 Delivery: Usually automated, with notifications to the user.

 Radio Firmware: Includes Preferred Roaming List (PRL) for network communication and
Primary Rate ISDN (PRI) for data rates between device and cell tower.

Linux and macOS Operating Systems

Unix and its Derivatives

 Unix: A proprietary operating system written in C.

 macOS and iOS: Based on the Berkeley Standard Distribution (BSD) version of Unix.
  Linux: An open-source operating system kernel used in embedded systems, wearables,
smartphones, PCs, and servers.

o Distributions (Distros): Many variations exist, including Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian,

CentOS, Red Hat, and Mint. Android relies heavily on the Linux kernel.

 macOS: Developed from the Unix kernel; considered a closed-source operating system.
Supports NetBoot for remote network installation.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

 Linux: The GUI depends on the specific distribution and what the user installs.

o Subsystems: Can be removed or replaced.

o Example: Ubuntu uses Unity as its default GUI.

o Features: Ability to have multiple desktops or workspaces.

 macOS:

o Aqua GUI: A significant feature in modern versions.

o Mission Control: Quickly view open applications, organize apps on multiple

desktops.

o Finder: Similar to Windows File Explorer for navigating the file system.

o Screen Sharing: Allows remote viewing and control of the Mac.

Command Line Interface (CLI)

 Access: Accessed through a terminal or terminal emulator application.

 Shell: Interprets commands from the keyboard and passes them to the operating
system. The login program starts the shell after successful login.

 Kernel: The core of the OS; manages CPU time, memory, file systems, and responds to
system calls. Users interact with the kernel through the shell.

 macOS Terminal: Uses the "Terminal" application; third-party emulators are also
available.

 Linux Terminal: Similar terminal applications are available.

Backup and Recovery

 Linux: No built-in backup tool; relies on commercial or open-source solutions (e.g.,

Amanda, Bacula, FWBackups, Deja Dup).
  macOS: Includes Time Machine, which performs incremental backups to an external
drive or internal storage.

Disk Utility Tools

 Purpose: Diagnose and solve disk-related problems.

 Linux (Ubuntu): "Disk" utility for partition management, mounting/unmounting,

formatting, querying, analysis, and reporting.

 macOS: "Disk Utility" supports verifying and repairing disk permissions, disk verification,
imaging, and recovery from image files.

 Common Tasks: Partition management, mounting/unmounting, formatting, checking for

bad sectors, querying SMART attributes.

Scheduled Tasks

 Cron Service (Linux/macOS): Runs in the background to execute tasks at specified times.
Uses a "crontab" file that can be edited with the crontab command.

 Importance: Maintenance tasks like backups and disk checks should be scheduled to
prevent human error and ensure regular performance.

Updates and Patches

 OS Updates: Released periodically to address vulnerabilities and improve functionality.

Unscheduled updates are common for major security flaws.

 Firmware Updates: Provide low-level functionality for devices, stored in non-volatile

memory (ROM, Flash).

 Antivirus/Anti-malware: Relies on code signatures, which need continuous updating as

new threats emerge.

Security Credentials Management

 Purpose: To manage various security credentials (usernames, passwords, digital

certificates, encryption keys).

 Linux (Ubuntu): GNOME Keyring (accessed via Dash > "Passwords and Keys").

 macOS: Keychain Access (Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access).

 Third-Party: Apps like Bitwarden can also be used.

Unix File Permissions

  Purpose: Organize the system and enforce boundaries.

 Permissions: Define access rights for the owner, group, and others (read, write,
execute).

 Root User: The only user who can override file permissions. Root access is often
required for administrative tasks.

 ls -l Command: Displays file permissions, link count, owner, group, file size, date/time,
and file name.

Linux Administrative Commands

 passwd: Change user password.

 ps: Monitor user processes.

 kill: Stop a process.

 ifconfig: Configure network interfaces (similar to ipconfig on Windows).

 iwconfig: Set and view wireless settings.

 chmod: Change permissions of files owned by the user.

 sudo: Execute commands with root privileges without changing the user's profile.

 chown: Change the owner and/or group of a file.

 apt-get: Install and manage software on Debian-based distributions.

 shutdown: Halt or reboot the operating system.

 dd: Disk duplicate; used for copying files, partitions, and creating swap files.

Basic Troubleshooting Processes

The six fundamental troubleshooting steps remain consistent across operating systems:

1. Identify the problem.

2. Establish a theory of probable cause.

3. Test the theory to determine the cause.

4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution.

5. Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures.

6. Document findings, actions, and outcomes.