A computer can be used by more than one person.
Describe how an operating system uses access rights to protect each user's files.
Mark scheme
Award up to two marks for a linked description such as:
- Each user/file is given permissions/access rights (1) so other users cannot read/write/open/change that user's files (1)
- A user may be given read-only/read access to a file (1) so they cannot edit/delete/change it (1)
- Each file is given permissions/access rights for different users (1) so the operating system allows/refuses access depending on which user is logged in (1)
- The operating system checks a user's permissions/access rights when a file is opened (1) so a user with read-only/read access cannot save/delete changes (1)
Do not accept responses about asking for a password/username, as this checks who the user is, not what they are allowed to do.
Do not accept 'files are protected/safe' or 'access rights protect files' without saying how access is limited (e.g. read-only access, permissions for different users).
Example answers and how they were marked
A user can be given read-only access to a file, so they can open it but cannot edit or delete it.
Why: Read-only/read access point (1) and linked development that the user cannot edit/delete the file (1).
A user can be given read-only access to a file.
Why: Read-only/read access point (1); no development saying what this prevents, such as being unable to edit/delete the file (0).
The operating system asks for the password again before the file opens.
Why: Describes asking for a password, which checks who the user is, not access rights to the file; no creditworthy point.