system software

• system software is needed by the system to control hardware andrun applications
• some examples of system software are; operating systems, utilities, libraries, translators
• the function of an OS provides a user interface, handles memory management, peripheral/device management and multitasking
• utility programs optimise the performance of the computer and perform useful background tasks.
• some examples of utility programs are: disk defragmenter, automatic backup, automatic updating, virus checker and compression software
• Disk defragmenter reorganises the hard drive so that files are in sequential blocks where possible so that files can be read more quickly
• Data in permanent storage needs to be regularly backed up and therefore automated backups are useful
• the backup process can be automated, specifying where, when, what and how
• automated backup :where - portable hard drive, cloud, local server
• automated backup: when - usually when computer not in use
• automated backup: what - which data should be backed up
• automated backup: how - should backups be compressed
• automatic updating runs in the background detecting software update releases and automatically installing them
• Some updates add new software features
• some important updates fix security issues which could otherwise be exploited by hackers
• virus checker scans permanent storage for viruses by comparing files to known virus definitions
• virus checker may also scan files ‘on access’ as they are opened must be kept up to date with new virus definitions to be effective
• May also scan files ‘on access’ as they are opened must be kept up to date with new virus definitions to be effective
• Heuristics can be used to guess which programs or files may contain a virus, based on their behaviour
• Compression software can reduce the size of files