A computer virus is malicious code that has the ability to duplicate and send copies of itself to other computers throughout the internet. Viruses can alter, corrupt and delete files, freeze your computer and interfere with computer operation. Antivirus software protects your computer from virus threats, including worms, trojans, spyware, adware, phishing, pharming and greyware.
Antivirus software is a computer program which detects, prevents and takes action to disarm or remove malicious software, such as viruses and worms, from a computer.
A quality antivirus program such as Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011, gives your computer virus protection and shields your PC from other malware by automatically scanning suspicious files, websites and e-mails
2. Data Clean up
Disk Cleanup is a system utility which allows scanning the entire hard drive to search for extra room by deleting any unnecessary files such as temporary files from the Internet and cookies. It also allows for deleting Restore Points, uninstalling programs, removing Windows components, and compressing old files all in the click of a mouse.
3. Disk Defragmenter
The Disk Defragmenter is another system utility which is used to reassemble fragmented files. Whenever a
file is modified in any way, the computer stores the file in broken pieces across the hard drive rather than putting the whole file in one spot. This can lead to system malfunction and poor performance because the computer must search for all the pieces of a specific file before it can display it. The Disk Defragmenter searches for all pieces of every file on your hard drive and reassembles the files into a specific location.
This increases the speed at which files are displayed and results in less delay when opening files or programs.
4. System Restore
System Restore is a system utility that allows returning the computer to an earlier time in which it had not encountered an error. System Restore is great for fixing problems that a virus has caused after using antivirus software to rid the computer of the malware. System Restore allows to manually setting Restore Points on a calendar and also automatically creates Restore Points on a regular basis as well as right before the computer goes through any major change such as installing a new program.
5. Disk Compression and Archivers
Disk compression is a system utility that allows for a program to search the hard drive and compress files, particularly old or unused files. This greatly improves the computer’s functionality and performance because it does not have to keep track of so many files at once. It also serves to free up space, which is the main function of disk compression software. Archivers, another form of file compression software, allow compressing a file or folder and then decompressing the file whenever you decide to. The most popular archiver to date is Winrar, which is named after Winzip but has no affiliation. Both Winrar and a plethora of disk compression programs are available on the Internet at no charge.
6. Registry Cleaners
Registry cleaners are programs that allow scanning the computer for any errors in the registry, which is a collection of the core computer files that are essential to performance and functionality, and repairs them if needed. Registry cleaners are widely available on the Internet and give a significant upper hand when cleaning up the mess that a virus or other malware has left on the computer. Likewise, some otherwise safe programs can cause errors in the registry without intending to. Registry files can also be corrupted if the user unknowingly deletes or modifies a file in the registry. This usually occurs when an inexperienced user tries to fix their computer and inevitably causes more damage than before.
7. File Splitters
File splitters are programs that allow to break a file into smaller pieces in order to store or send files. File splitters often come in handy because many online storage services, including email attachments, limit you to a specific file size that can be transferred at one time even though files often exceed these limits. File splitters allow to break the file into two or more pieces, send them simultaneously, and then piece them back together when you are ready to use the file again. A good file splitter is File Splitz. It allows for to break a file of any size into multiple pieces and then rejoin the files together just as easily.
8. Archivers output a stream or a single file when provided with a directory or a set of files. Archive utilities, unlike archive suites, usually do not include compression or encryption capabilities. Some archive utilities may even have a separate un-archive utility for the reverse operation.
9. Backup software are the system utilities that make copies of all information stored on a disk and restore either the entire disk (e.g. in an event of disk failure) or selected files (e.g. in an event of accidental deletion).
10. A clipboard manager expands the clipboard functionality of an operating system and adds functionality to an operating system’s clipboard. Many clipboards provide only one buffer, overwritten by each new “copy”
operation. The main task of a clipboard manager is to store data copied to the clipboard in a way that permits richer use of the data. Clipboard managers enhance the basic functions of cut, copy, and paste operations with one or more of the following features:
1. Multiple buffers and the ability to merge, split, and edit their contents 2. Selecting which buffer “cut” or “copy” operations should store data in 3. Selecting which buffer(s) “paste” operations should take data from
4. Handling formatted text, tabular data, data objects, media content, and URLs 5. Saving copied data to long term storage
6. Indexing or tagging of clipped data 7. Searching of saved data
11. Cryptographic utilities provide command-line tools for code signing, signature verification, and other cryptography tasks.
12. Data compression utilities output a shorter stream or a smaller file when provided with a stream or file.
13. Data synchronization utilities establish consistency among data from a source to target data storage and vice versa. There are several branches of this type of utility:
(a) File synchronization utilities maintain consistency between two sources. They may be used to create redundancy or backup copies but are also used to help users carry their digital music, photos and video in their mobile devices.
(b) Revision control utilities are intended to deal with situations where more than one user attempts to simultaneously modify the same file.
14. Disk partitions can divide an individual drive into multiple logical drives, each with its own file system which can be mounted by the operating system and treated as an individual drive.
15. Disk space analyzers for the visualization of disk space usage by getting the size for each folder (including sub folders) & files in folder or drive. showing the distribution of the used space.
16. File managers provide a convenient method of performing routine data management tasks, such as deleting, renaming, cataloging, uncataloging, moving, copying, merging, generating and modifying data sets.
17. Hex editors directly modify the text or data of a file. These files could be data or an actual program.
18. Network utilities analyze the computer’s network connectivity, configure network settings, check data transfer or log events.
19. Screensavers were desired to prevent phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma computer monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the computer is not in use. Contemporary screensavers are used primarily for entertainment or security.
20. System monitors for monitoring resources and performance in a computer system.
21. System profilers provide detailed information about the software installed and hardware attached to the computer.
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application software consists of Programs that direct computers to perform specific information processing activities for end users. These programs are called application packages because they direct the processing required for a particular use, or application, which users want to accomplish.
KINDS OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application software includes a variety of programs that can be subdivided into general-purpose and application-specific categories.