Question

If a user tries to remove (rm) a readonly file (444 permission), What will happen?

1) The file is removed successfully (and silently)
2) The rm command prompts for a confirmation, the command is successful upon confirmation
3) The rm command prompts for a confirmation, however the operation fails because of insufficient permissions

Answer 1

A readonly file with 444 permissions can be removed with the rm command if the user has write permissions on the directory containing the file. The system will not prompt for confirmation due to the file's read-only status.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a user tries to remove a readonly file with 444 permissions, the expected behavior is that the file should not be removed, since the permissions allow for read-only access and not deletion. However, whether or not the file can be removed doesn't depend solely on the file's permissions. It also depends on the directory's permissions. If the user has write permissions on the directory containing the file, they can remove the file even if it is read-only for the user.

In a typical scenario, without additional access controls configured, the system will not prompt for confirmation due to the file's read-only status. The rm command will remove the file assuming the user has sufficient directory permissions. Therefore, the correct answer is typically 1) The file is removed successfully (and silently), given that the directory's permissions allow this operation.