Software Utilities

C: Describe the range of utility software.

Utility Software:
Utility software (also known as service program, service routine, tool, or utility routine) is a type of computer software. It is specifically designed to help manage and tune the computer hardware, operating system or application software, and perform a single task or a small range of tasks; as opposed to application software which tend to be software suites. Utility software has long been integrated into most major operating systems.

Disk defragmenters. Examples include a disk defragmenter which can detect computer files whose contents have been not stored on the hard disk in disjointed fragments, and move the fragments together to increase efficiency; a disk checker can scan the contents of a hard disk to find files or areas that are corrupted in some way, or were not correctly saved, and eliminate them for a more efficiently operating hard drive; a disk cleaner can find files that unnecessary to computer operation, or take up considerable amounts of space. Disk cleaner helps the user to decide what to delete when their hard disk is full.
Firewall is an integrated collection of security measures designed to prevent unauthorized electronic access to a networked computer system. It is also a device or set of devices configured to permit, deny, encrypt, decrypt, or proxy all computer traffic between different security domains based upon a set of rules and other criteria.
System profilers: A system profiler can provide detailed information about the software installed and hardware attached to the computer. Backup software can make a copy of all information stored on a computer, and restore either the entire system (e.g. in an event of disk failure) or selected files (e.g. in an event of accidental deletion). Disk compression software can transparently compress the contents of the hard disk, in order to fit more information to the drive.
System Profiler is software utility that has been bundled with Mac OS since Mac OS 7.6 .It compiles technical information on all of the installed hardware, devices, drivers, applications, system settings, system software programs and kernel extensions installed on the host computer. This information is used to diagnose problems. System Profiler can be extremely useful if attempting to diagnose a hardware problem. It has support for scripting automation through AppleScript and some limited support in Automator.


Virus Scanners: A virus scanner is a program which examines all files in specified locations, the contents of memory, the operating system, the unexpected program behavior, and anywhere else relevant with the intention of identifying and removing any malware.

System Utilities - Utility programs that provide a convenient method of performing routine data management tasks, such as deleting, renaming, cataloging, uncataloging, moving, copying, merging, generating and modifying data sets, particularly used on mainframe computers.