UPSC CISF-AC-EXE

Consider the following statements about the cache memory:

• It is a non-volatile memory.
• It is a slow-read and inexpensive memory.
• It is a fast-read and expensive memory.
• It is a small-sized memory.

Which of the above statements are correct?
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”3 and 4 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 3 and 4 only” correct=”option2″]

The correct answer is (B) 3 and 4 only. Cache memory is known for being very fast, expensive per unit of storage, and small in size compared to main memory (RAM). It is typically implemented using SRAM (Static Random-Access Memory), which is volatile.

– Statement 1: It is a non-volatile memory. This is incorrect. Cache memory is usually made of SRAM, which is volatile; it loses its contents when power is removed. Non-volatile memory includes ROM, Flash, SSDs, etc.
– Statement 2: It is a slow-read and inexpensive memory. This is incorrect. Cache is designed for fast access (fast-read) and is more expensive than main memory or secondary storage.
– Statement 3: It is a fast-read and expensive memory. This is correct. Cache memory is located closer to the CPU and is significantly faster than main RAM. This speed comes at a higher cost per bit.
– Statement 4: It is a small-sized memory. This is correct. Cache memory is much smaller than main memory due to its high cost and the need for speed (smaller size allows faster access).

Cache memory acts as a high-speed buffer between the CPU and main memory (RAM) to reduce memory access time. It stores frequently used data and instructions so that the CPU can retrieve them much faster than fetching them from RAM. There are typically multiple levels of cache (L1, L2, L3), with L1 being the smallest and fastest, and L3 being the largest and slowest among the cache levels, but still faster than RAM.

Compiler, Interpreter and Assembler are

[amp_mcq option1=”System software” option2=”Hardware” option3=”Application software” option4=”None of the above” correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is (A) System software. Compilers, Interpreters, and Assemblers are programs that are part of the system software stack. They are essential tools used to translate programming code into machine-readable instructions, which are required for the computer hardware to execute programs.

– System software is software that manages and controls computer hardware and provides a platform for running application software. Examples include operating systems, device drivers, utilities, and language processors like compilers and interpreters.
– Compilers translate source code written in a high-level programming language into machine code or an intermediate code all at once before execution.
– Interpreters translate and execute source code line by line.
– Assemblers translate assembly language code into machine code.

– (B) Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system.
– (C) Application software consists of programs designed for end-users to perform specific tasks, such as word processing (MS-Word), browsing the web (Chrome), or playing games.

In computer security, which one of the following means that the information in a computer system can only be accessed by authenticated parties ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Confidentiality” option2=”Integrity” option3=”Availability” option4=”Reliability” correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is (A) Confidentiality. Confidentiality in computer security ensures that information is accessible only to those individuals or systems that have been authorized to access it. This is typically achieved through authentication and authorization mechanisms.

– Confidentiality is one of the core principles of the CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability), which are fundamental goals of computer security.
– Authentication verifies the identity of a user or system, while authorization determines what authenticated users are allowed to do.
– Measures like encryption, access controls, and strong authentication are used to maintain confidentiality.

– (B) Integrity ensures that data is accurate, complete, and has not been tampered with or modified in an unauthorized way.
– (C) Availability ensures that systems, services, and data are accessible to authorized users when needed.
– (D) Reliability refers to the ability of a system to perform its intended function correctly and consistently over time. While related to availability and integrity, it is not the primary term for restricting access to authenticated parties.

Which one of the following is *not* a database management software ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Oracle” option2=”MySQL” option3=”MS-Access” option4=”MS-Word” correct=”option4″]

The correct answer is (D) MS-Word. MS-Word is a word processing software used for creating and editing text documents. It is not designed for managing structured databases.

– A Database Management System (DBMS) is a software system used for creating, managing, and interacting with databases.
– DBMS software allows users to store, organize, retrieve, and manipulate large amounts of data efficiently.

– (A) Oracle is a powerful, widely used commercial relational database management system.
– (B) MySQL is a popular open-source relational database management system.
– (C) MS-Access is a database management system included in the Microsoft Office suite, suitable for smaller databases.
– These three options are indeed examples of database management software.

Which one of the following is a pointing device ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Scanner” option2=”Optical Mouse” option3=”Printer” option4=”Keyboard” correct=”option2″]

The correct answer is (B) Optical Mouse. An optical mouse is a standard input device used to move a cursor or pointer on a computer screen, allowing users to interact with graphical user interfaces.

– Pointing devices are hardware input devices that allow a user to control a cursor in a GUI (Graphical User Interface) and select objects.
– Examples of pointing devices include mouse (mechanical, optical, laser), trackball, touchpad, pointing stick, joystick, light pen, and touchscreen.

– (A) Scanner is an input device that captures images or documents but is not used for controlling a pointer.
– (C) Printer is an output device that produces hard copies of digital documents.
– (D) Keyboard is an input device primarily used for entering text and commands, not for pointing.

Eavesdropping is a computer fraud technique to

[amp_mcq option1=”listen to private voice or data transmission.” option2=”prevent the system from processing or responding to the legitimate users.” option3=”disable the network connectivity.” option4=”delete data.” correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is (A) listen to private voice or data transmission. Eavesdropping, in the context of computer security and networks, refers to the unauthorized interception of private communications, such as data packets or voice calls, being transmitted over a network.

– Eavesdropping is a passive attack, meaning the attacker intercepts data without altering it or disrupting the communication flow.
– It is a breach of confidentiality, one of the key principles in computer security.
– Common methods include packet sniffing, wiretapping (in a broader sense extending to network cables), and intercepting wireless signals.

Options (B), (C), and (D) describe other types of malicious activities:
– (B) preventing the system from processing or responding to legitimate users is characteristic of a Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack.
– (C) disabling network connectivity can be a form of DoS attack or physical sabotage.
– (D) deleting data is a form of data tampering or destruction, related to breaches of integrity and availability.

Which one of the following is a computer security device ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Modem” option2=”Compiler” option3=”Firewall” option4=”Interpreter” correct=”option3″]

A Firewall is a computer security device.

– A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.
– It acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks (like the internet).
– Modems are networking devices for internet access. Compilers and Interpreters are software tools for programming languages.

Firewalls can be implemented in hardware, software, or both, and are essential for protecting networks and individual computers from unauthorized access and various forms of cyber threats.

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the different states of a process in process management function of an operating system ?

[amp_mcq option1=”New, Ready, Waiting, Executing, Terminating” option2=”New, Waiting, Ready, Executing, Terminating” option3=”New, Waiting, Ready, Terminating, Executing” option4=”Ready, New, Waiting, Executing, Terminating” correct=”option1″]

Option A lists the common process states in an order that represents a possible, although simplified, transition sequence in process management: New, Ready, Waiting, Executing, Terminating.

– Standard process states include: New (process being created), Ready (waiting to be assigned to a processor), Running/Executing (instructions are being executed), Waiting/Blocked (waiting for some event to occur, e.g., I/O completion), and Terminated (process has finished execution).
– A typical transition sequence is: New -> Ready -> Running -> Terminated.
– From Running, a process can go to Waiting (e.g., for I/O) or Terminated.
– From Waiting, a process goes back to Ready when the event occurs.
– While the transition Ready -> Waiting is not standard in basic models, Option A includes the key states in an order that, compared to the clearly incorrect sequences in B, C, and D, is the most plausible interpretation of a simplified or specific state model used by the question setter, where perhaps ‘Waiting’ represents a state a process enters after being Ready but before getting the CPU if certain resources are needed immediately. However, the standard transition from Waiting is back to Ready, not directly to Executing. Despite this, A lists the common states in an order that is less incorrect than the others.

The most standard simplified diagram shows transitions: New -> Ready -> Running -> Terminated, and Running <-> Waiting. A process moves from Ready to Running when scheduled, from Running to Waiting on I/O request, and from Waiting back to Ready on I/O completion. From Running, it moves to Terminated upon completion.