Systems Software

Systems Software

1. Utility software

   • File compression
     • Lossy: Some of the original data is lost so the original file can not be re-created.
     • Lossless: no data is lost so the original file can be re-created.
   • Disk Defragmentation
     • When a hard disk drive is new, files get added onto the disk in order.
       • All files are deleted: this leaves gaps so when new files are saved then the files fill these gaps and become fragmented
         • Defragmentation software groups these fragmented files back together
   • File Repair
   • Disk formatting
   • Disk backup/restore
     • Disk copying
   • Anti-Virus
   • Encryption
     • Encryption means to scramble data so it cannot be read by anyone without the key.
     • Data is encrypted using a key and decrypted also using a key, this makes it unreadable for anyone who intercepts it.

2. Operating system