revision pp definitions

Question 1

what are programs?

Answer 1

instructions that are carried out or executed by the computer’s processor, which provides other instructions for the rest of the computer

Question 2

system software

Answer 2

Programs that are designed to maintain or operate the computer system are known as system software.

Question 3

utility software

Answer 3

Utility software is one form of system software, which carries out configuration and maintenance tasks.

Question 4

disk defragmentation utilities

Answer 4

they reorder the fragments of data so that they are stored as close to each other as possible

Question 5

what does defragmentation do?

Answer 5

puts the data back in order so that the read/write head does not have the search the disk for fragments of data

Question 6

what do compression utilities do?

Answer 6

reduces the original size of a file or set of files

Question 7

what is disk formatting?

Answer 7

-prepares storage media such as a hard disk drive or USB flash drive for its first use

Question 8

operating systems

Answer 8

allows the user to control and manage the computer’s hardware

Question 9

what is print spooling?

Answer 9

the OS keeps each page in a queue ready for printing

Question 10

describe the process of authentication

Answer 10

-OS give users secure access to a computer’s storage and other hardware through usernames and passwords, biometric scanning or personal access cards.

Question 11

what is a processor made up of?

Answer 11

one or more central processing units

Question 12

what do CPUs do?

Answer 12

carry out software instructions

Question 13

what are processor speeds measured in?

Answer 13

clock cycles per second
hertz

Question 14

what is the processor speed?

Answer 14

-number of times per second the processor can carry out one or more instructions

Question 15

what are protocols

Answer 15

rules and standards for the exchange of data

Question 16

VoIP

Answer 16

Voice over Internet Protocol- technology that allows people to use broadband internet connections to speak to other people

Question 17

IP

Answer 17

a unique address that networked devices use to send data to each other

Question 18

what is a WEP?

Answer 18

wireless encryption protocol is used to secure the wireless transfer of data
-least secure
-every device uses the same key for every transfer
-hackers can identify the key

Question 19

what is a WPA?

Answer 19

wi-fi protected access is a security protocol designed to provide better encryption than WEP
-generates a new key for each device on the wireless network

Question 20

what is HTTP?

Answer 20

-Hypertext transfer protocol secure
-enables communication between web clients and web servers
-authenticates payment servers and proved encryption

Question 21

name some internet protocols

Answer 21

-IMAM- email
-FTP- sending files
-SSH- secure remote logins
-VoIP- voice call

Question 22

what is a wireless access point?

Answer 22

allows devices with wi-fi connectivity to connect to a wired network

Question 23

what is a switch?

Answer 23

connects devices on a network- has ports to connect to devices through cables

Question 24

gateway

Answer 24

connects to different types of networks together

Question 25

router

Answer 25

stores device addresses that are connected to it so it can forward network traffic to its destination using the quickest route

Question 26

booster

Answer 26

amplifies the signal in a network so its range is extended

Question 27

server

Answer 27

a computer that shares its resources with connected devices- computers connected are called clients

Question 28

authentication server

Answer 28

checks usernames and passwords

Question 29

print server

Answer 29

manages multiple printers at a time, dealing with requests from client computers and adding jobs to a queue so that individual printers are not overloaded with requests

Question 30

file server

Answer 30

allow users to access shared and private storage

Question 31

application server

Answer 31

provide clients with access to applications that can be run directly from the server

Question 32

web server

Answer 32

process requests for data made via HTTP

Question 33

web browser

Answer 33

type of software application used to request and display information stored on web servers

Question 34

internet service provider

Answer 34

to connect to the internet, users need to subscribe to an ISP- they provide connections to the telecommunications infrastructure that forms the framework for the internet

Question 35

search engine

Answer 35

provides users with a way to find information in web pages stored on web servers

Question 36

filter software

Answer 36

prevents users from accessing inappropriate information- compared with a blacklist and whitelist