HSC - Software Components Lesson

Software Components

Software provides your computer with the instructions needed to perform a specific task. Your computer includes system software and application software.  System software is designed for computer-specific tasks such as defragmenting your disks.  Application software assists users to perform a specific task such as creating a document using word processing software. The image below provides you with an overview of the software categories.

Flow chart for Software broken into two groups: System Software and Application Software. System Software breaks into Operating System and Device Drivers. Operation System breaks down into Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Unix, and Dos. Device Drivers breaks down to Utilities Programming Languages. Application Software breaks down to Document production: Spreadsheet, Database, Entertainment, Financial, and Web Development. Then Music, Video, Photo Editing, Educational, and Graphics.

Security Software

Security software is designed to protect computers from an assortment of viruses and unauthorized intrusions.  Antivirus software is a type of utility software that looks for and exterminates viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and bots. The software can be purchased as a standalone module or a security suite.  If purchased as a security suite, additional features are added.  This type of software is available for handhelds, personal computers, USB flash drives and servers.  Antivirus software scans for virus signatures in programs, data files, incoming and outgoing e-mail and attachments.  
You will discover that installation and activation guidelines vary for each security software product. Once you have installed your antivirus software it is best to keep it running full time in the background.  By doing so, files and e-mail messages are scanned the second you access them.

Additional Software Options

Click here to view a list of additional software resources. Links to an external site.

 

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