Unit 2: Task 5: D1

Task 5 (D1)

Expand on your notes for Task 3 explaining the purpose of different software utilities to explain how each can improve the performance of a computer system. You need to cover:

• security virus protection and/or firewalls;
• clean up tools for removal of cookies and/or internet history and/or defragmentation;
• drive formatting

Software utilities help allow you to control your programs through different management and controls. They can be applications such as Windows, which will then perform the functions required and control the computers management with things such as the firewall, internet security and drive formatting. 

Security virus protection and firewalls:-

• Firewalls put up a barrier to block out unauthorized  access that may be trying to enter the PC.

• Firewalls help prevent any data leakage, as if hackers have accessed the PC they are unable to withdraw any files or information from the device.  
• Firewalls are capable of blocking traffic to ensure that nothing untoward may enter the network via the web address. 
• Firewalls block out any software that may contain Trojans or that can be harmful to the system in any way.
• Simplistic firewalls block out traffic whereas more complex firewalls look within the network traffic in order to prevent any leakage or unwanted hackers accessing through files.
• The main role of a firewall software is to prevent any malicious material entering the device, it protects both identity theft and analyses the programs and software that try to connect with the PC.  
• Security virus protection is used to protect your PC from any malicious material or programs and prevents it from getting any viruses. 
• It helps allow you to eliminate infection that may be harmful to your device by doing a scan of the system.
• It can quarantine any harmful or infected programs .
• It will scan all files and data on the device checking each individual segment to ensure that any infections are slowing your computer down and that anything is beaching the security on your computer.
• Virus protection will scan any downloads or attachments by running a scan whilst other task can be completed in the mean time.
• Antivirus can control the blocking of pop-ups and when scanned data it will give you an alert so the threat can be removed before it corrupts your computer.
• Antivirus is also against spyware.
•  It is generated so that by restricting access from outer parties that may have a high risk of endangering your computer system and the files stored within it.  By the computer being connected to a internet network the security is always at risk especially if using a private network as there is not as secure protection provided with it. By having this issue a firewall will resolve the issue and ensure safety when using private networks that require a network key that will connect you to the modem safely with no risk of intruders.Some Firewall packages can be provided free on the internet providing that extra protection when browsing/surfing the internet.  The Firewall must be activated on the system for it to protect your computers safety, enabling it to secure your files and software that may be installed in the PC's hard drive. If an intruder is capable to bypass the firewall they initially are then able to wipe the whole hard drive clean so it is best to ensure that the Firewall is enabled and active at all times. The Firewall essentially acts as a funnel permitting only authorized users access, this then eliminates and cautions of unauthorized users from access. By being able to monitor all your information (passwords and email addresses) and network it then will alert you if any pernicious activity that may be a threat to your system.  There is a cleanup tool that allows the erasing of malicious material that may have entered your computer without your knowledge. It is also capable of blocking and un-blocking inappropriate material that may intrude your web browser.  Security software and firewalls can be customized to how you run your system to block specific data entering and being stolen.  It prevents unwarranted connectivity to protectt you from intrusions and safeguard your system and files stored on the PC. 

Clean up tools for removal of cookies and internet history and defragmentation:-

                                     

• All data that has been accessed on the internet is automatically saved and stored onto your computer. The caches that may be saved can be deleted when deleting all history through the settings on the web browser. 
• Some websites may leak cookies which can be saved so it is best to erase these from your history file or block them all together.
• Internet clean-up utility can clear and remove and dangers that may have stored itself among your files. 
• By performing this it will track and allows you to rid any of your browsing history or saved internet data that would have already been saved on your hard disc. 
• It allows you to erase any cookies that have the availability of tracking your activity if not removed. 
• Defragmentation consolidates data on the hard disc and makes it work more effectively. 
• A disc defragmenter tool rearranges data and it can be run automatically or manually to change settings and monitor what is happening. Example is Windows.
• Deleting the cookies on your internet history it provides more privacy when online. When you clear your internet history, cookies and cache it enables your computer to run slightly faster as it uses memory to store the cookies that you have used or that are on your device. Cookies are automatically stored onto your system and it will forever increase whist your on the internet and not clearing them as you go along. Some data may be lost even though cookies only take up a small amount of room by deleting cookies, e.g data such as stored passwords and log ins that may have been saved, it is best to back these up on another location so that are not permanently lost. Cookies are able to track your searches and activity online, many can be used as adverts or to provide you with accurate suggestions for your search preferences. Deleting them offers a greater sense of security and by deleting them it avoids them making a virtual profile you due to your internet use. Clean up programs can help clean your cookie files and cache. 

Drive formatting:-

                          

• All data needs formatting before it can be used. It involves configuring the disc using a file system so that the data/information can then be stored onto the system.
• Any new computer that runs Windows has the files already formatted. 
• Formatting will erase any files that had previously existed on the hard drive.
• Storage devices come preformatted so when connected it is not necessary to the format the data and files that are then shared. 
• CD's and DVD's use a different format than removable storage devices. 
• Disk formatting allows you a quick format option where it will create a new file table on the hard drive but will not erase the disc. 
• All software or removable devices must been installed and formatted when connected to the system for example NTFS before software such as Windows can store it on the hard drive/disc.
• Reformatting will erase everything using patricians, all programs and data would then need to be re-installed and personal information and data files would be restored via back up discs and syncing to other devices. 
• System support recovery can restore this data on up to date devices so reformatting and re-installing will then be the final option to recover all deleted files and programs that may be lost.
• There are few benefits of drive formatting, through the installation it can prevent any glitches and conflicts that may occur on your data. It will prevent any loss of this data as it shall be formatted and will overall improve the computers performance immensely.  Drive formatting allows you to restore and delete all files that may be stored on your system and erase personal data instantly.  Drive formatting allows for you to write data onto CD or DVD ROM's,  high capacity hard drives (especially external hard drives) come already formatted so it does not require you formatting data manually.  You are notified when installing new devices or software that you should format/reformat the data. External hard drives can be reformatted at any time necessary. Formatting can also benefit your security, as it is capable of wiping clean any stored data, it removes files and personal data. The internal hard drive has patricians which can all  be individually formatted when needed.  Formatting is an advantageous was of freeing up space on your system as it initially is deleting stored data off your system.  The files that have been deleted cannot be recovered so it would be best to store it on an external hard drive to clear up space.