What does the '--privileged' flag do when running Docker containers?

The '--privileged' flag is used to run a Docker container with extended privileges. When this option is enabled, the container is granted access to all devices on the host and can perform various operations that would normally require elevated permissions. This includes capabilities such as manipulating kernel parameters, accessing host devices, and altering network configurations, among others.

This increased level of access is particularly useful for containers that need to run applications requiring deeper integration with the host system, such as those that manage hardware or interact closely with the operating system. However, this also means that using the '--privileged' flag should be done with caution, as it increases the security risks by allowing a container to potentially interfere with the host operating system and other containers.

The other options do not accurately describe the purpose of the '--privileged' flag: restricting access to network resources pertains to network configurations; mounting additional volumes is a separate feature related to Docker's storage options; and running a container in a read-only file system is used to limit modifications to the container's file system, which is not a function of the '--privileged' flag.