Protected memory

Protected memory is a system where each program is given an area of memory to use and is not permitted to go outside that range. Use of protected memory greatly enhances both the reliability and security of a computer system.

Without protected memory, it is possible that a bug in one program will alter the memory used by another program. This will cause that other program to run off of corrupted memory with unpredictable results. If the operating system's memory is corrupted, the entire computer system may crash and need to be rebooted. At times programs intentionally alter the memory used by other programs. This is done by viruses and malware to take over computers.

Protected memory assigns programs their own areas of memory. If the operating system detects that a program has tried to alter memory that doesn't belong to it, the program is terminated. This way, only the offending program crashes, and other programs are not affected by the error.

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1. What is computer memory? What types do you know?

2. What is RAM? How does it operate?

3. What types of RAM do you know? What is the difference between them?

4. Can we say that technological advance will make RAM non-volatile?

5. What is Hard Disc Memory? What is it necessary for?

6. What is Cache memory? What levels do you know?

7. How do all types of memory interact?

8. What is the difference between the secondary and the primary memory?

9. How does virtual memory differ from other types? What is it very useful?

10. What is protected memory?

Exercise 2: Find in the main text English equivalents for the following words or word combinations.

компьютерная память работать (о процессоре) среднестатистический потребитель относиться к основная функция памяти устройство постоянного хранения приложение сохранять содержимое сложный преобладать, господствовать постоянное энергопитание обладать всеми преимуществами иметь рабочую скорость обращаться к данным

подсоединяться предотвращать процессор от разгона постоянно хранить данные обычно измеряться первичная память вторичная память резко увеличивать более действенная передавать надежность системы безопасность системы непредсказуемые результаты вредоносное программа

Exercise 3. Find Russian equivalents for the following words or word combinations from the text.

an internal storage area Cache Memory RAM virtual memory a hard drive to keep up with ROM video memory BIOS non-working to run a computer down to access memory a continuous cycle volatile to interface to a regular refresh cycle worthwhile a recent advance multi-layer ferromagnetic film added advantage to be utilized within

to allow high integration density to sync a basic overview memory upgrade the most frequently used data advanced cache to retrieve data to be directly accessible to to come into place to degrade performance a current program to thrash kernel to relocate program code protected memory to enhance a bug to corrupt memory to take over to detect to terminate

Exercise 4. State whether it is true or false. Correct false statements, if any.

1. There are different types of memory such as RAM, ROM, BIOS, Cache Memory, virtual memory, etc.

2. Computer memory is always temporary.

3. Since every action on your computer requires some form of memory, whether it is actual or virtual memory.

4. Every file or application opened is placed in RAM.

5. The CPU requests data from RAM, processes it and then saves new data back to RAM.

6. There are two types of RAM: SRAM and DRAM.

7. DRAM is easy to interface, so it dominates.

8. MRAM, being volatile, can offer all the advantages in speed and size that any volatile memory offers.

9. Cache Memory holds the most frequently used data or instructions to be processed.

10. There are two levels of Cache memory that are located on the motherboard to speed up the processes.

11. Virtual memory is a device to control all the system.

12. When a program needs memory it requests the CPU and the CPU locates the data in the RAM.

13. If the operating system detects that a program has tried to alter memory that doesn't belong to it, the program is removed.

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences using the information from the text

1. The most common types of memory average consumers know about are … .

2. The primary function of memory in your computer … .

3. Every file or application opened is placed in RAM. Any information the computer needs or uses becomes part of a continuous cycle where … .

4. . MRAM stores information magnetically, so … .

5. Cache Memory is used in-between the CPU and the RAM and … .

6. Primary memory is the memory that … .

7. There is another division of memory into… .

8. The most familiar forms of secondary memory are… .

9. Virtual memory typically comes into place when … .

10. The operating system will place actively used memory in physical RAM because… .

11. When the amount of RAM is not sufficient to run all the current programs, it can result in a situation where… .

12. If the operating system's memory is corrupted… .

13. At times programs, like viruses and malware, intentionally … .

Exercise 6. Read the text. Answer the questions.