Utility software

• Utility Software 


  A type of system software that is needed to maintain a computer system

  Helps users manage their computer’s hardware, software and data more efficiently
• Types of Utilities software

  Antivirus

  Back-up

  Data compression

  Disk defragmentation

  Formatting

  File copying

  Deleting
• Antivirus 


  Anti malware software as it deals with other threats such as adware and spyware as well as viruses
• How anti virus works

  Anti virus monitor continuously monitors system and detects unusual behavior and prevents them from being executed so they cannot cause damage to files or programs

  Checks on the system for malware that may already be on the system
• Back ups 


  A software program that enables users to create backup copies of their important data, files and software applications
• Purpose of backing up

  To provide a means of restoring data in case of loss or damage due to

  • system failure
  • user error
  • virus attack
  • other unforeseen events
• Types of backups 


  Full back up

  • creates a copy of all the data and files on a system

  Incremental backup

  • only copies the data that has changed since the last back up

  Differential back up

  • copies all the data that has changed since the last full back up
• Data compression utility 


  A software tool is used to reduce the size of the computer files or data
• Reasons for data compression

  To save storage space

  To reduce the time required to transfer data over a network
• Compression process 


  Data compression is the process of encoding data in such a way that it requires less space to store or less time to transmit
• Types of data compressions

  Lossless

  Lossy
• What is Lossless data compression

  Compression algorithms that reduce the size of the data without losing any information
• What is Lossy data compression 


  Compression algorithms that sacrifice some information in order to achieve greater compression ratios
• Disc Formatting 


  A software tool used to prepare a disk for use by creating a file system on it

  Process of organizing the tracks on the disc into sectors
• How disc formatting works

  Formatting is the process of organizing a disk to store data by setting up the necessary structures

  It erases all data stored in the device therefore important to back up crucial files
• When is formatting needed

  Done when a disc is first purchased

  When disc becomes corrupted or needs to be prepared for a different operating system
• Formatting structures

  Boot sector

  File Allocation Table (FAT)

  Master File Table (MFT)
• Deleting utility 


  A software program designed to remove files or data from a computer’s storage system
• Types of deleting utilities 


  Basic

  • simply remove files from the file system

  More advanced

  • overwrites the data with random characters to make it unrecoverable
• File copying utility 


  Allows users to duplicate or move files from one location to another

  Used to make backups of important files or to transfer files between devices or storage media
• How copying works 


  The ability to copy entire directories

  Select specific files to copy

  Preserve file attributes and permissions

  Verify the integrity of the copied files

  Handle errors or conflicts that may arise during the copying process
• Fragmented files

  Occurs when a file is stored in non-contiguous sectors on a hard drive causing it to take longer to open and decreases overall performance
• Consequences of fragmentation 


  Slows down access time

  • as the disk drive has to seek out each piece of the file separately

  Decreased system performance
• Disk defragmentation

  The process of rearranging fragmented data on a hard disk drive so that it can be accessed more quickly and efficiently
• How disk Defragmentation works

  Utility scans hard drive and identifies fragmented files and moves the fragments so they are contiguous

  Done by moving fragmented parts of files to free space on the disk
• Custom-written software 


  Has to be specially written for a particular task and is developed for a specific company or business
• Features of custom-written software

  Customized to the needs of the client

  Designed and developed by an in house development team or by a third party software development company
• Off-the-shelf software 


  Software which already exists and is purchased online or from a shop

  Written for a general purpose that is likely to be useful to a large market
• Features of off-the-shelf software

  Designed to serve a wide range of users with common needs
• Proprietary software

  Refers to software that is privately owned and distributed under a specific license that limits its use, modification and distribution
• Features of proprietary software

  Source code of software is not freely available and users must agree to the terms of the license to use software

  License agreement typically restricts copying or distributing the software without permission from the owner
• Open source software 


  Refers to computer software whose source code is available to anyone for viewing, modifying and distributing
• Features of open source software

  Does not require any purchases to alter the code and use the software

  Developed collaboratively by a community of developers who share a common goal of creating high-quality free software that can be used by anyone
• Comparison between Proprietary and Open source software

  The collaborative approach of the open source software can lead to software that is more secure and adaptable than proprietary software that is developed by a single company or individual