Why do computers often come with utility software already installed?

Manufacturers and OS makers include common utilities so the computer can be maintained from the start. Users then do not need to find or buy separate tools.

What does encryption software do to the files on a computer?

Encryption software scrambles files into an unreadable form using a key. Only someone with the correct key or password can decrypt and read the files.

Why would a company install encryption software on its staff laptops?

A lost or stolen laptop could expose all the data stored on it. Full-disk encryption makes that data unreadable to anyone without the key.

OCR GCSE Computer Science J277

Systems Architecture

Topic overview CPU components and the fetch-execute cycle Factors affecting CPU performance Embedded systems

Memory and Storage

Topic overview RAM, ROM, cache and virtual memory Secondary storage: magnetic, optical and solid state Data units and storage capacity calculations Binary, denary and hexadecimal conversions Binary addition, overflow and binary shifts Character sets, ASCII and Unicode Bitmap images, colour depth and resolution Sound sampling, sample rate and bit depth Lossy and lossless compression

Computer Networks, Connections and Protocols

Topic overview LANs, WANs and network performance Client-server and peer-to-peer networks Network hardware, DNS, hosting and the cloud Star and mesh topologies Wired and wireless connections, IP and MAC addresses Protocols, standards and layers

Network Security

Topic overview Malware, social engineering and brute-force attacks Denial of service, data interception and SQL injection Identifying and preventing vulnerabilities

Systems Software

Topic overview User interfaces, memory management and multitasking Peripheral, user and file management Utility software

Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impacts of Digital Technology

Topic overview Ethical and cultural issues in digital technology Environmental impact of digital technology Privacy and digital technology Computer Science legislation and software licences

Algorithms

Topic overview Abstraction, decomposition and algorithmic thinking Flowcharts, pseudocode and structure diagrams Trace tables and correcting algorithms Linear and binary search Bubble, merge and insertion sort

Programming Fundamentals

Topic overview Variables, constants, operators and assignment Sequence, selection and iteration Data types and casting String manipulation and file handling Arrays, records and SQL Functions, procedures and random numbers

Producing Robust Programs

Topic overview Defensive design, input validation and authentication Writing maintainable code Testing, errors and test data

Boolean Logic

Topic overview Logic gates and truth tables Combining gates in logic diagrams

Programming Languages and Integrated Development Environments

Topic overview High-level and low-level languages and translators The integrated development environment (IDE)

Systems Software

Utility software

3 things to know
J277/01

Overview

What utility software does, encryption software, fragmentation and defragmentation, why solid state drives are not defragmented, and data compression utilities.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is utility software?

Key term

Why is utility software needed when a computer already has an operating system?

Key term

What is meant by a housekeeping task?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is utility software?
Model answer
Utility software is system software that carries out housekeeping tasks to maintain and protect a computer. Encryption, defragmentation and compression tools are common examples.
2
Why is utility software needed when a computer already has an operating system?
Model answer
The OS provides the core functions but does not carry out every maintenance task. Utilities add extra tools for security, organising storage and saving space.
3
What is meant by a housekeeping task?
Model answer
A housekeeping task is routine maintenance that keeps a computer running efficiently and safely. Defragmenting a disk and compressing old files are examples.
4
Why do computers often come with utility software already installed?
Model answer
Manufacturers and OS makers include common utilities so the computer can be maintained from the start. Users then do not need to find or buy separate tools.
5
What does encryption software do to the files on a computer?
Model answer
Encryption software scrambles files into an unreadable form using a key. Only someone with the correct key or password can decrypt and read the files.
6
Why would a company install encryption software on its staff laptops?
Model answer
A lost or stolen laptop could expose all the data stored on it. Full-disk encryption makes that data unreadable to anyone without the key.

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Systems Architecture

Memory and Storage

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