Software

Question 1

Adware

Answer 1

A program that repeatedly and disruptively displays

advertisements on a user’s computer.

Question 2

Anti-malware

Answer 2

A utility that searches for and removes any malware on a

computer.

Question 3

Antivirus

Answer 3

A utility that searches for and removes any viruses on a

computer.

Question 4

Custom-written software

Answer 4

Software that is produced on commission, specifically for

a user.

Question 5

Device driver

Answer 5

System software that is used by the operating system to

contol peripheral devices.

Question 6

Disk formatting

Answer 6

Initialising a disk for storage by identifying the data

blocks on the disk and creating the file allocation table.

Question 7

File allocation table

Answer 7

An index of all the files that are stored on a disk and their
allocation. It also keeps a record of free space on the disk.

Question 8

File management software

Answer 8

Utilities that allow the user to perform common

operations on files such as copying, deleting and moving.

Question 9

File transfer protocol (ftp)

Answer 9

An agreed system and set of rules that allow different
programs to transfer files across different computers over
the internet.

Question 10

Firewall

Answer 10

A utility or device that monitors the traffic between a
computer and the internet and only allows connections
that are authorised.

Question 11

Malware

Answer 11

Any program, such as viruses, worms, trojans and
adware, that are designed to be harmful to the computer
on which they are run.

Question 12

Memory management

Answer 12

A function of the operating system that involves
allocating memory to programs and data which are
being used.

Question 13

Multi-tasking

Answer 13

A function of the operating system, where the processor
is made to appear to perform several tasks at the same
time by switching rapidly between the tasks.

Question 14

Off-the-shelf software

Answer 14

General purpose software that is produced first and then

made available for customers to buy.

Question 15

Open-source software

Answer 15

Software where the developer makes the source code
available and gives the user permission to copy and
change the program.

Question 16

Operating system

Answer 16

System software that controls the overall running of
the computer. It provides a platfom on which all other
programs run.

Question 17

Peripheral

Answer 17

A hardware device that is connected to the computer.

Question 18

Peripheral management

Answer 18

A function of the operating system that involves ensuring
that all the peripherals which are connected to the
computer are working as they should.

Question 19

Proprietary software

Answer 19

Software where the developer is protecting their
copyright and restricts the licence. The source code is not provided and users are typically not allowed to change or copy the program.

Question 20

Repository

Answer 20

A one-stop server which contains updates for many
programs and drivers so that an update utility only needs
to check the repository for all available updates.

Question 21

Software licence

Answer 21

The permissions that the software developer allows the

user of the software.

Question 22

Spyware

Answer 22

A program that runs silently on a user’s computer and
collects personal data from it which it makes available to
other users.

Question 23

System diagnosis utility

Answer 23

A utility that scans the computer for common faults and
problems and presents the results (and suggestions for
the solution) to the user.

Question 24

System information utility

Answer 24

A utility that displays information about the performance

of the hardware on a computer.

Question 25

System software

Answer 25

Software that enables the program to operate.

Question 26

System update tool

Answer 26

A utility that checks for new, improved versions of
software from the Internet and downloads and installs
them.

Question 27

Trojan

Answer 27

A malware program that runs silently on a user’s
computer and enables another user to connect to the
computer and take control of it.

Question 28

User interface

Answer 28

The tools provided by the operating system to allow
the computer and the user to give instructions to the
computer and receive and understand the results.

Question 29

Utility

Answer 29

Systems software that performs a common

maintenancece task.

Question 30

Virus

Answer 30

A malware program that attaches itself to files and is
designed to spread within a computer and to other
computers, usually causing the computer to become
unreliable.

Question 31

Worm

Answer 31

A malware program that uses the resources of the
computer in which it is installed to spread to other
computers and cause the computers to become
unreliable. (Unlike a virus, a worm does not attach itself
to files.)