1.5.2

• Utility software:

  • Not essential
  • Helps configure and maintain a computer
  • Many utilities are installed with the operating system, but extra utility software can be installed to perform additional tasks
• Utility software- examples:

  • Data compression
  • Disk organisation/defragmentation
  • Backup software
  • Security- encryption software
  • Anti-virus/anti-malware
• Encryption:

  • Encrypts data so anyone intercepting it can't read it
  • Prevents unauthorised accessing of data
  • Can only be decrypted with a key
• Defragmentation:

  • Gaps appear in the hard disk as files are changed
  • When you save a large file, it may not fit on the disk in consecutive memory locations.
  • In order to read the file, the drive head will need to move to more locations- this makes it slower to access files and programs
  • Defragmentation software reorganises the same file fragments and collect free space
  • Shouldn't be done to SSDs
• Compression:

  • Reduces the size of the files
  • Compressed files take up less disk space and are quicker to download
  • Standard file formats include .zip and .rar
  • Compressed files need to be extracted before they can be used