Access Control Lists

An access list is basically a table that tells the OS(operating system) of a computer which access rights is granted for each user to a specific system object such as a file directory. Each access list is identified by the security attributes of each object. These access lists define the access privileges each user have such as the ability to read or modify the content in a file.

The above picture is an example how we can set simple account privileges for each user just by checking or un-checking the boxes. For example, David wants to write a file. I can be a jerk to David and prevent him from writing a file  check the read/write attribute so that he can read and write a file!