Which of the following statements pertaining to protection rings is false?

The correct answer is D. They provide users with a direct access to peripherals. This statement is FALSE and is the correct answer. Protection rings exist specifically to PREVENT direct user-mode access to hardware and peripherals. In a ring architecture (Ring 0 = kernel/OS, outer rings = user applications), user processes must request hardware access…

Submitted by tunde_lagos· Apr 18, 2026Systems and Application Security

Question

Options

AThey provide strict boundaries and definitions on what the processes that work within each
BPrograms operating in inner rings are usually referred to as existing in a privileged mode.
CThey support the CIA triad requirements of multitasking operating systems.
DThey provide users with a direct access to peripherals

How the community answered

(70 responses)

A
1% (1)
B
3% (2)
C
10% (7)
D
86% (60)

Explanation

This statement is FALSE and is the correct answer. Protection rings exist specifically to PREVENT direct user-mode access to hardware and peripherals. In a ring architecture (Ring 0 = kernel/OS, outer rings = user applications), user processes must request hardware access through system calls to the inner privileged rings. The OS mediates all peripheral access. The other statements are true: rings enforce strict process boundaries, inner-ring programs operate in privileged mode, and rings support CIA triad requirements in multitasking environments.

Topics

#Protection Rings#Operating System Security#Privilege Levels#Peripheral Access

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