GIAC Cybersecurity Technologies Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Prep

The command used to change user privileges in Unix-like operating systems is "sudo." This command allows a permitted user to execute a command as the superuser or another user, as specified by the security policy. It is particularly important for performing administrative tasks that require elevated privileges, allowing users to run commands without switching accounts entirely.

"sudo" promotes a safer method of granting root-level privileges, as it records all commands executed in its log files, which can be useful for auditing purposes. This controlled access helps minimize potential risk or security issues associated with constant root access.

The other commands serve different purposes: "chmod" is used to change file permissions; "chown" changes the ownership of files or directories; and "su" allows a user to switch to another user account, usually without logging the actions. While "su" can also be used to gain higher privileges, it requires knowledge of the target user's password and does not provide the same level of logging and control as "sudo."