Antivirus Software
(Virus Checker)
Keep the Computer software healthy and free of
virus’ that can harm the function of the computer.
Scan and check anything (downloads, new disks,
etc.) They also monitor system operations for
“suspicious” activity.
Homeowners and Business owners use antivirus
software, the most popular are Norton and McAfee;
virus’ are spread thru email messages.
Firewall: acts as a boundary for your
computer protecting it from intruders. Is
the first line of computer defense against
unauthorized access.
Personal Firewall:
•
Software based (McAfee
Personal Firewall/Norton
•
Protects personal computers
from hackers who gain personal
information.
•
Many windows computers
already have personal firewalls
already installed.
Network Firewall:
• Used by companies/businesses
• Combination of hardware and
software and companies may
add a hardware device(firewall
device/proxy server)
• Screens all communications
between networked computers
preventing unauthorized access.
Firewalls check messages
whether it is from an authorized
use, if not the message is
blocked.
Diagram of a firewall that prevents unwanted information from
coming in and out of your computer system
Diagnostic Utility
• Checks the Computer software
and other programs and
diagnoses, (just like a doctor’s
prescription) and creates a
report of the problems.
• This diagnoses also suggests
the actions that can be
performed and fix some of the
problems. Windows systems
contain diagnostic utility,
however the software can be
purchased from software
vendors.
Uninstallers, Disk Scanners and
Disk Defragmenters
Uninstallers:
• Removes software
programs and
other files related
from taking up
valuable space.
• The user can
remove the file
themselves but
other files can
stay on the hard
disk, the
uninstallers
remove both the
program and
related files.
Disk Scanners:
• Checks hard and
floppy disks for
problems thru
scanning.
• Sectors and
clusters that are
damaged are
unusable and
notifies users of
problems.
• Scan Disk is the
most used program
in Microsoft
windows systems.
Disk Defragmenters:
•Scans hard/floppy disks and
reorganizes files and unused
space that allow for faster
access to files and data.
•“Defragmenting” the files means
they are stored in order.
Microsoft Windows already have
disk defragmenters.
•Files and Data are stored in the
first available sector, if a sector
already has data the files are
stored in separate sectors
elsewhere resulting in
“fragmented” files and longer
access time.
File Compression
Utilities
Shrinks the size of a file so
that it takes up less space.
• Compressed files (zipped)
usually have a .zip file
extension, users must
compress, zip the file
when received it must be
uncompressed, unzipped
to restore to its original
form.
• These files are
compressed by reducing
their binary rows and
graphics, examples of
compression utilities are
WinZip, PKZIP and StuffIt.
Backup Utilities and Disk Toolkits
Backup Utilities:
• Allow to make copies of
information on
disks/tapes
• Can back up all
information on a file or
just selected files.
• Will compress backup
files for less disk space
and include a restore
program for
uncompressing the
files.
Disk Toolkits:
• Repair physical and
diagnose problems on
the hard/floppy disk
• Identify and Correct
problems problems
within the hard/floppy
disk
• One of the most popular
programs is the Norton
Utilities Disk Doctor.
Unwanted email messages such
as advertisements for anything
are known as SPAM and make
up more than 80% of Internet email traffic. SPAM Blockers
such iHateSpam, Matador,
Spam Catcher and
SpamSubtract PRO are widely
used spam blocking programs
that filter incoming SPAM
messages.
Anti Spyware
Spyware, Malware or malicious software are unknowingly
downloaded to your computer via a third party and track
your activities on the internet thru keystrokes or web
activity, these are harmful as they can access to personal
information and passwords that lead to credit card fraud
and Identity Theft.
•Adware, another type of spyware tracks your visited
websites and collecting sensitive information used for
marketing and advertising; other adware is disguised as
pop-ups that are games, contests. etc.
•Some popular anti spyware software are: Webroot Spy
Sweeper, Lavasoft’s Ad Aware, Bayden System’s Pop-up
Blocker.
•However not all anti virus protects internet users from
spyware, but separate anti spyware and anti virus
software is available.