1. Computer Software

2. Chapter Contents Section A: Software Basics
Section B: Popular Applications
Section C: Buying Software
Section D: Installing Software and Upgrades
Section E: Security Software
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3. Software Basics Software Categories Application Software
Utility Software
Device Drivers
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4. Software Categories
Figure 3-1
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5. Application Software
Productivity software can be defined as any type of application software that has the potential to help people do their work more efficiently
Groupware is designed to help several people collaborate on a single project using local networks or Internet connections
Figure 3-2
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6. Utility Software
Utility software (a type of system software) is designed to help you monitor and configure settings for your computer system equipment, the operating system, or application software
A desktop widget is a specialized utility program that appears on a computer’s screen-based desktop
Figures 3-3 and 3-5
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7. Device Drivers
A device driver is software that helps a peripheral device establish communication with a computer
Windows Device Manager
Figure 3-6
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8. Popular Applications Document Production Software Spreadsheet Software
“Number Crunching” Software
Database Software
Graphics Software
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9. Popular Applications Music Software
Video Editing and DVD Authoring Software
Educational and Reference Software
Entertainment Software
Business Software
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10. Document Production Software
Assists you with composing, editing, designing, printing, and electronically publishing documents
Word processing
Desktop publishing
Web authoring
Figure 3-7
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11. Document Production Software
Document production software may include:
Spelling checker
Spelling dictionary
Thesaurus
Grammar checker
Feature to analyze the reading level
Readability formula
Search and Replace feature
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12. Document Production Software
The format for a document refers to the way that all elements are arranged on the page
Figure 3-9
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13. Document Production Software
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14. Document Production Software
Mail merge automatically creates personalized letters by combining the information in a mailing list with a form letter
Additional capabilities of word processing software include:
Automatically generating table of contents and index
Numbering and positioning footnotes
Providing document templates
Exporting to HTML format
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15. Spreadsheet Software
A spreadsheet uses rows and columns of numbers to create a model or representation of a real solution
Spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel, provides tools for creating worksheets
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16. Spreadsheet Software When a cell contains a formula, it displays the
result of the formula
rather than the formula
itself. To view and edit
the formula, you use the
Formula bar.
You can think of the formula
as working behind
the scenes to perform
calculations and then
display the result.
Figure 3-13
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17. Spreadsheet Software
A formula tells the computer how to use the contents of cells in calculations
Cell references
Relative reference
Absolute reference
Mathematical operators
Functions
Automatic recalculations
Figure 3-14
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18. Spreadsheet Software As shown in the examples, relative references
within a formula can
change when you change
the sequence of a worksheet’s rows and columns. An absolute reference is anchored so that it always refers to a specific cell.
Figure 3-15
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19. “Number Crunching” Software
Provides a structured environment dedicated to a particular number crunching task
Statistical software
Mathematical modeling software
Money management software
Personal finance software
Tax preparation software
Figure 3-16
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20. Database Software A database is a collection of data
Database software helps you enter, find, organize, update, and report information stored in a database
Figure 3-17
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21. Database Software
Database software provides tools for specifying fields for a
series of records.
Figure 3-19
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22. Database Software
A query language such as SQL (Structured Query Language) provides a set of commands for locating and manipulating data
Natural language query
Query by example
Figure 3-20
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23. Graphics Software
Designed to help you create, manipulate, and print graphics
Paint software
Photo editing software
Drawing software
3-D graphics software
CAD software
Presentation software
Figure 3-21 and 3-22
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24. Graphics Software
A computer-based presentation consists of a series of slides, created with presentation software.
Figure 3-23
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25. Music Software
Allows you to make your own digital voice and music recordings
Audio editing software
CD ripper software
Audio encoding software
Ear training software
Notation software
Computer-aided music software
MIDI sequencing software
Figure 3-24
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26. Video Editing and DVD Authoring Software
Provides a set of tools for
Transferring video footage from a camcorder to a computer
Clipping out unwanted footage
Assembling video segments
Adding special visual effects
Adding a sound track
Figure 3-25
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27. Educational and Reference Software
Educational software
Helps you learn and practice new skills
Reference software
Provides a collection of information and a way to access that information
Generally shipped on CD or DVD, or accessed on the Web
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28. Entertainment Software
Computer games are the most popular type of entertainment software
Role-playing
Action
Adventure
Puzzle
Simulation
Sports
Strategy
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29. Business Software
Vertical market software is designed to automate specialized tasks in a specific market or business
Horizontal market software is generic software that just about any type of business can use
Payroll software
Accounting software
Project management software
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30. Buying Software Consumer Basics Software Copyrights and Licenses
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31. Consumer Basics
Most operating systems include a handful of small applications and a good variety of useful utility software
Figure 3-27
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32. Consumer Basics
A software suite is a collection of application software sold as a single package
Figure 3-28
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33. Consumer Basics Available in many types of stores
Software contained on distribution media
Make sure your computer meets the system requirements
Figure 3-29
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34. Software Copyrights and Licenses
A copyright is a form of legal protection that grants the author of an original “work” exclusive rights
Copyright notice
Software licenses define the ways in which you may use a computer program
Single-user
Site
Multiple-user
Concurrent
Shrink-wrap
Figure 3-31
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35. Software Copyrights and Licenses
A EULA (end-user license agreement) is displayed on-screen when you first install software
Different types of software licenses
Commercial software
Demoware
Shareware
Freeware
Open source
BSD
GPL
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36. Installing Software and Upgrades
Installation Basics
Installing Local Applications
Installing Portable Software and Web Apps
Software Updates
Uninstalling Software
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37. Installation Basics
Software installation is a process that places a program into a computer so that it can be run or executed
Figure 3-34
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38. Installing Local Applications
Figure 3-37
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39. Installing Local Applications
Figure 3-38
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40. Installing Portable Software and Web Apps
Portable software is designed to run from removable storage, such as a CD or USB flash drive
Installation is simply a matter of getting program files to the media on which they are supposed to run
A Web application is software that is accessed with a Web browser
May require client-side program to be installed
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41. Software Updates Software publishers regularly update their software
Add new features
Fix bugs
Update security
Software patches replace part of the software you currently have installed
Service packs correct problems and address security vulnerabilities, usually in operating systems
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42. Software Updates
Updates are usually available online for registered software
Always install patches and service packs when they become available
Many software publishers require users to type in a validation code to complete an update
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43. Uninstalling Software
Uninstall routines delete the software’s files from the various folders on your computer’s hard disk
Figure 3-42
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44. Security Software Security Software Basics Security Suites
Antivirus Modules
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45. Security Software Basics
Security software is designed to protect computers from various forms of destructive software and unauthorized intrusions
The terms malicious software and malware refer to any computer program designed to surreptitiously enter a computer, gain unauthorized access to data, or disrupt normal processing operations
A blended threat describes malware that combines more than one type of malicious program
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46. Security Software Basics
Computer virus
Computer worm
Mass-mailing worm
Trojan horse
Keylogger
Remote Access Trojan (RAT)
Bot
Zombie
Botnet
Spyware
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47. Security Software Basics
What does malware do?
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48. Security Software Basics
The term rootkit refers to software tools used to conceal malware and backdoors that have been installed on a victim’s computer
A virus hoax usually arrives as an message containing dire warnings about a supposedly new virus on the loose
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49. Security Suites
A security suite integrates several security modules to protect against the most common types of malware, unauthorized access, and spam
A security suite costs less than purchasing standalone security modules
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50. Security Suites
The Norton Protection Center includes modules for scanning viruses, detecting spyware, and
activating a firewall against unauthorized
intrusions
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51. Antivirus Modules
Antivirus software is a type of utility software that looks for and eradicates viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and bots
A virus signature is a section of program code, such as a unique series of instructions, that can be used to identify a known malicious program, much as a fingerprint is used to identify an individual
Virus signatures and other information that antivirus software uses to identify and eradicate malware is stored in one or more files usually referred to as virus definitions
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52. Antivirus Modules
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53. Antivirus Modules
Most experts recommend that you configure your antivirus software to periodically scan all the files on your computer
If, during the scanning process, your virus protection software identifies a virus, worm, Trojan horse, or bot in a file or attachment, it can try to remove the infection, put the file into quarantine, or simply delete the file
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