CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

What does the 'w' in file permissions signify in Linux?

1. Read permission

2. Write permission

3. Execute permission

4. Control permission

The correct answer is: Write permission

The 'w' in file permissions in Linux signifies write permission. This means that a user or a group with write permission can modify the content of the file or create new files in a directory. With write permission, a user can add, delete, or alter the data contained within the file. Understanding file permissions is crucial for managing security in Linux systems. Each file or directory has a set of permissions that dictate what actions can be taken by the owner of the file, members of the group associated with the file, and all other users on the system. The permission set includes read ('r'), write ('w'), and execute ('x'), which collectively control access and modification rights. The other options refer to different types of permissions or do not exist within the context of standard file permissions. Read permission allows users to view the contents of a file, and execute permission enables them to run a file as a program. Control permission is not a recognized term in the context of file permissions in Linux. Understanding these specific permission types is essential for effective system administration and ensuring the security of the files and directories in a Linux environment.