Module II Module II

Computer hardware & software: I/O devices,

definition of software, relationship between hardware and
software, types of software.
Overview of operating system: Definition, functions of
operating system, concept of multiprogramming,
multitasking, multithreading, multiprocessing,
timesharing, real time, single-user & multi-user
operating system.
Computer Virus: Definition, types of viruses,
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 Characteristics of viruses, anti-virus software.
Computer System
• Computer is an electronic machine that is used to solve different
kinds of problems according to a set of instructions given to it.
Computer consists of different units that perform various functions.
All the operations of the computer are controlled by the program
instructions. These program instructions are known as software. A
system is a group of related components that make up a body to
perform a specific function. Therefore computer system is defined
as:
• The computer along with various units and software that performs
different activities in data processing are collectively known a
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 computer system. A computer system is divided into two
subsystems:
1. Computer Software
2. Computer Hardware
Computer Software
A set of instructions given to the computer in machine code that tells
the computer what to do and how to perform the given task of the
user is known as computer software. The software is developed in
computer programming languages. You can not feel, touch or see
software inside the computer memory.

The Computer software is classified into two main categories:

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1.Application software.
2.System software.
Application Software
A set of programs used to solve particular problems of user through
computer is called Application software. It is also known as
application package. The ready packages are also available in market
on CDs for various purposes. These are used by user who does not
know the computer programming. The users solve their problems by
using ready packages more easily and quickly.

Some of application packages are:

1.Word processing software (e.g Word)
2.Spreadsheet software. (e.g Excel)
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 3.Database Management System software. (e.g Oracle, Microsoft
Access)
4.Graphics software (eg: PowerPoint )
5.Communication software (e.g Internet Explorer )

System Software
• The operating system and utility programs are the two major
categories of system software. Just as the processor is the nucleus of
the computer system, the operating system is the nucleus of all
software activity.
• The operating system is the most important program that runs on a
computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating
system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks,
such as
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1. Recognizing input from the keyboard
2. Sending output to the display screen
3. Keeping track of files and directories on the disk
4. Controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

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 System Software
• It is the first program loaded into memory when the computer is
turned on and, in a sense, brings life to the computer hardware.
Without it, you cannot use your word processing software,
spreadsheet software, or any other applications.

• Without an operating system, you cannot communicate with your

computer. When you give the computer a command, the operating
system relays the instructions to the 'brain' of the computer, called the
microprocessor or CPU. You cannot speak directly to the CPU
because it only understands machine language. When you are working
in an application software program, such as Microsoft Word,
 commands that you give the application are sent through the operating
system to the CPU. Windows2000, Window95/98, Mac OS, Unix and
DOS are all examples of operating systems7
.

System Software
• Utility programs help manage, maintain andcontrol computer
resources. These programs are available to help you with the day-
today chores associated with personal computing and to keep your
system running at peak performance.
• Some examples of utility programs include:
• Virus scanning software
• Backup software
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• Scandisk
• Disk defragmenter

Virus Scanning Software are utility programs designed to protect your

computer from computer viruses.

System Software
• Backup software is software that assists you in backing up your files
and even the entire computer hard drive.

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• Scandisk is a utility provided with Windows computers. Scandisk
scans your disks to see if there are any potential problems on the disk,
such as bad disk areas.

• Disk Defragmenter software assists you in keep reorganizing your

disk drives. After files are saved, deleted and resaved again, the disk
can become fragmented --- available space is in small blocks located
throughout the disk. Disk defragmenters gather those free spots and
put them together to enable you to continue to save your data in the
most efficient manner.

Computer Hardware
The physical parts of a computer are known as computer hardware
You can touch, see and feel the hardware. The hardware consists of
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electronic circuits and mechanical equipment etc. used to perform
various functions in the computer.

The hardware components are:

1.Input devices
2.Output devices
3.Central Processing Unit (CPU)
4.Memory unit
5.Storage devices
Input and Input Devices
Input is any data or instructions entered into the computer in the form
of signals. The input into the computer can be entered:
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• Through keyboard (by typing characters).
• By selecting commands (icons) on the screen and then clicking with
mouse.
• By pressing finger on a touch screen.
• By speaking into a microphone.
• By scanning data printed on paper through scanner etc.
• Therefore, the devices that are used to enter data and instructions or
commands into the computer are called input devices or units. The
input devices are the eyes and ears of computers. In old computers
the punched card readers, paper tape readers were used as input
devices.

Input Devices
Now-a-days, the commonly used input devices are:
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• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Scanner
• Microphone
• Digital Camera
• Optical Bar Code Reader
• Optical mark recognition (OMR)
• Touch Screen
• Joystick
• Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
It must be noted that floppy drives, hard disks and CD drives are
used for both input and output devices.

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 Input Devices
• Keyboard : The keyboard is still the commonest way of entering
information into a Computer.
• Mouse : A pointing device is any human interface device that
allows a user to input spatial data to a computer .
• Scanners : A scanner allows you to scan printed material and
convert it into a file format that may be used within the PC.
• Microphone : Microphone is an input device used to enter the
sound signals of user into the computer. It is used to record the
voice of the user in a computer. It is also used to talk to others on
the Internet. The user talks to another user on the Internet by
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 sending his message through the microphone and receives the
response on the speaker attached to the computer. For this
purpose you must have the microphone and a sound card with
your computer
Input Devices
• Digital Camera : Digital Camera is an input device used to take
pictures and to store directly in computer in digital form. It
operates on the same basic principle as a traditional or
conventional camera but digital camera sends images directly
inside the PC in digital form instead of storing it on a conventional
film. When a picture is taken with digital camera, the electric
image of the picture is stored in digital form on the floppy disk or

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 CD-R attached with the camera. The stored picture can be loaded
into the computer from the disk for editing.
• Optical Bar Code Reader (OBR) : Data coded in the form of
small vertical lines forms the basis of bar coding. Alphanumeric
data is represented using adjacent vertical lines called Bar Codes.
These are of varying widths and spacing between them used to
uniquely identify books, merchandise in stores, postal packages
etc.
Input Devices
• Optical mark recognition (OMR) : OMR devices can sense
marks on computer readable paper. This kind of device is typically
used by academic institutions to grade aptitude tests whether
candidates need to mark the correct option from a number of
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 alternatives , on a special sheet of paper. These answer sheets can
then be directly read by the optical mark recognition devices and
can be used for further processing by the computer.

• Touch Screen : The touch screen can detect exactly where on its
surface it has been touched. Touch screen are used in lot of fast
food and restaurants because they are easy to keep clean reprogram
if changes need to be made to menu.
Input Devices
• Joysticks: The main function of joysticks is to play computer
games by controlling the way that something moves on the
screen. Joysticks can be used to control movement from side
by side, up and down and diagonally.
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• Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) : is similar to
optical mark recognition and is used exclusively by the bank
industry. MICR devices are used by the banking Industry to
read the account numbers on cheques directly and
subsequently do the necessary processing

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 Output and Output Devices
The processed input data into a useful form is called output when input
data is processed, computer generates several types of output,
depending upon the hardware and software used and the requirements
of the user. The user use output on a screen, prints it on the printer or
hear it through speakers or head sets.

Therefore, output is normally classifieds as:

• Softcopy Output : The output received on the display screen or in
the audio or video form is called softcopy output. This kind of output
is not tangible and can not the touched. The most popular and
commonly used softcopy output device is display screen
• Hardcopy Output : The output printed on the paper is called
hardcopy. The printers and plotters devices are used for this purpose.
• Sound Output : The output received into the form of sound is called
sound output. The speakers are most commonly used to receive 17the
sound output.
Output Devices
• An output device is a hardware component used to get output from
the computer. A number of output devices are available. The
commonly used output devices include display device (Monitor),
printer, speaker and headset, fax machine etc.

OUTPUT DEVICES
• Monitors: The monitor is a popular and most commonly used output
device. The monitor consists of a screen and the electronic
components that produce the output on the screen for a temporary
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 period. The output received on the screen is called softcopy. Most
monitors used in personal computers display text, graphics and video
information.
• Plotters: A plotter is a special output device used to produce
hardcopies of graphs and designs on the paper. A plotter is typically
used to print large-format graphs or maps such as construction maps
or engineering drawings.
OUTPUT DEVICES
• Speaker : A speaker gives you sound output from your
computer. Some speakers are built into the computer and some are
separate.

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• Printers: These are most commonly used output devices used to
get prints of documents on the paper. The output printed on the
paper is called hard copy. The hard copy is also called as print out.

Two types of Printers:

1. Impact printer
2. Non-Impact printers

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 Printer
Impact Printers : An Impact printer prints characters and graphics on
the paper with the strikes of hammer on a ribbon. A simple example
of an impact printer is typewriter, which uses small hammers to strike
the ribbon. Each hammer is embossed with the shape of alphanumeric
character that shape is printed on the paper through inked ribbon.
There are many types of impact printers but the most popular and
commonly used is the dot matrix printer.

Non-Impact Printers: The printers that produce the output on a paper

without striking the paper are known as non-impact printers. The main
features of non-impact printers are:
• Faster than impact printers.
• Print high quality output.
• Produce no noise during printing.
• Examples of non-impact printers are Laser printer, Inkjet printers20etc.
Impact Printers
• Dot-Matrix Printers : are called Impact printers because they
print by hammering the pins on the inked ribbon to leave ink
impressions on a paper. Hence, they can be used to produce
multiple copies by using carbon paper or its equivalent.

• A dot matrix printer makes a hard copy by printing one character

at a time.

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 Non-Impact Printers
• Inkjet Printers : are called Non-Impact printers because they print
by spraying ink on the paper. Being of non-impact type, they
cannot be used to produce multiple copies of a document in a single
printing.

• Laser Printer: A Laser printer is the fastest and high quality

nonimpact printer. Laser printers are most expensive than Inkjet
printers and their print quality is also higher. The print quality and
printing speed of Laser printers make them ideal for offices and
business. The price of Laser printer depends on the quality and
printing speed. The color printers are most costly than black and

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white Laser printers. The higher the resolution and speed the more
expensive the printer.

Operating System (OS)

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 Operating System
An Operating System (OS) is
a software that acts as an
interface between computer
hardware components and the
user.

Every computer system must have at

least one operating system to run
other programs.

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Applications like Browsers, MS Office, Notepad Games, etc., need some
environmentto run and perform its tasks.

History Of OS
• Operating systems were first developed in the late 1950s to
manage tape storage.
• The General Motors Research Lab implemented the first OS in
the early 1950s for their IBM 701.
• In the mid-1960s, operating systems started to use disks.
• In the late 1960s, the first version of the Unix OS was developed.
• The first OS built by Microsoft was DOS. It was built in 1981 by
purchasing the 86-DOS software from a Seattle company.

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• The present-day popular OS Windows first came to existence in
1985 when a GUI was created and paired with MS-DOS.
Examples of Operating System with
Market Share

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 Memory Management
• The operating system manages the Primary Memory or Main Memory.
Main memory is fast storage and it can be accessed directly by the CPU.
For a program to be executed, it should be first loaded in the main
memory. An Operating System performs the following activities for
memory management:

• It keeps track of primary memory, i.e., which bytes of memory are used by
which user program. The memory addresses that have already been
allocated and the memory addresses of the memory that has not yet been
used. In multiprogramming, the OS decides the order in which processes
are granted access to memory, and for how long. It Allocates the memory
to a process when the process requests it and deallocates the memory
when the process has terminated or is performing an I/O operation.

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 Processor Management
• In a multi-programming environment, the OS decides the
order in which processes have access to the processor, and
how much processing time each process has.

• This function of OS is called process scheduling.

• An Operating System performs the following activities for

processor management.
– Keeps track of the status of processes.
– Allocates the CPU that is a processor to a process.
– De-allocates processor when a process is no more required.
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 Device Management
An OS manages device communication via their
respective drivers. It performs the following activities
for device management.

– Keeps track of all devices connected to the system.

– Designates a program responsible for every device known
as the Input/Output controller.
– Decides which process gets access to a certain device and
for how long.

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 – Allocates devices in an effective and efficient
way.
Deallocates devices when they are no longer required.

File Management
A file systemis organized into
directories for efficient or easy
navigation and usage. These
directories may contain other
directories and other files. An
Operating System carries out the
following file management
activities.
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 – It keeps track of where information is stored, user access settings and
status of every file, and more…
– These facilities are collectively known as the file system.

Types of Operating System (OS)

Following are the popular types of OS (Operating
System):
• Batch Operating
System
• Multitasking/Time
Sharing OS
• Multiprocessing OS
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• Real Time OS
• Distributed OS
• Network OS
• Mobile OS

Batch Operating System

• Some computer processes are very lengthy and time-consuming. To speed
the same process, a job with a similar type of needs are batched together
and run as a group.
• The user of a batch operating system never directly interacts with the
computer. In this type of OS, every user prepares his or her job on an
offline device like a punch card and submit it to the computer operator.

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 Multitasking/Time Sharing OS
• Time-sharing operating system enables people located at a
different terminal (shell) to use a single computer system at
the same time. The processor time (CPU) which is shared
among multiple users is termed as time sharing.
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 Multiprocessing OS
• Multiprocessing is the use of two or more CPUs (processors) within a single
Computer system. The term also refers to the ability of a system to
support more than one processor within a single computer system. Now
since there are multiple processors available, multiple processes can be

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 executed at a time. These multi processors share the computer bus,
sometimes the clock, memory and peripheral devices also.

Real Time OS
• When a computing device must interact with the real
world within constant and repeatable time
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 constraints, the device manufacturer may opt to use
a real-time operating system.
• In these systems, the time interval for processing
and responding to inputs is very small. Therefore,
due to this quality, these are used in real-time
situations. For example in missile systems, robots,
etc.
• An RTOS must function without buffering, processing
latencies and other delays, which are perfectly
acceptable in other types of operating systems.

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 Distributed OS
• In this system, there is more than one CPU present. The OS
distributes the tasks among all the processors. The processors
do not share any memory or clock time. OS handles all
communication between them through various
communication lines.

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 Network OS
• In these OS various
systems are connected
to a server. It allows the
system to share
resources such as files,
printers, applications,
etc. Moreover, it gives
the capability to serve to
manage these resources.

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• Examples are UNIX, LINUX, Microsoft Windows Server 2008,
etc.

Mobile OS
• Mobile OS are designed to accommodate the unique needs of mobile
computing and communication-centric devices, such as smartphones and
tablets. Mobile devices typically offer limited computing resources
compared to traditional PCs, and the OS must be scaled back in size and
complexity in order to minimize its own resource use, while ensuring
adequate resources for one or more applications running on the device.

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 FEW TERMS
• Multiprogramming – Multiprogramming is known as
keeping multiple programs in the main memory at
the same time ready for execution.
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• Multiprocessing – A computer using more than one
CPU at a time.
• Multitasking – Multitasking is nothing but
multiprogramming with a Round-robin scheduling
algorithm.
• Multithreading is an extension of multitasking

Multi programming
• In a modern computing system, there are usually several concurrent
application processes which want to execute. Now it is the responsibility
of the Operating System to manage all the processes effectively and
efficiently. Now the main memory is too small to accommodate all of
these processes or jobs into it. Thus, these processes are initially kept in
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 an area called job pool. This job pool consists of all those processes
awaiting allocation of main memory and CPU. CPU selects one job out of
all these waiting jobs, brings it from the job pool to main memory and
starts executing it.

Multiprocessing
• In a uni-processor system, only one process executes at a time.
Multiprocessing is the use of two or more CPUs (processors) within a
single Computer system. Now since there are multiple processors
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 available, multiple processes can be executed at a time. These multi
processors share the computer bus, sometimes the clock, memory and
peripheral devices also.
• With the help of multiprocessing, many processes can be executed
simultaneously. Say processes P1, P2, P3 and P4 are waiting for execution.
Now in a single processor system, firstly one process will execute, then the
other, then the other and so on.
• But with multiprocessing, each process can be assigned to a different
processor for its execution. If its a dual-core processor (2 processors), two
processes can be executed simultaneously and thus will be two times
faster, similarly a quad core processor will be four times as fast as a single
processor.

Difference between Multi

programming and Multi processing
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• A System can be both multi programmed by having multiple
programs running at the same time and multiprocessing by
having more than one physical processor. The difference
between multiprocessing and multi programming is that
Multiprocessing is basically executing multiple processes at
the same time on multiple processors, whereas multi
programming is keeping several programs in main memory
and executing them concurrently using a single CPU only.

• Multiprocessing occurs by means of parallel processing

whereas Multi programming occurs by switching from one
process to other (phenomenon called as context switching).

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 Multitasking
• As the name itself suggests, multi
tasking refers to execution of
multiple tasks (say processes,
programs, threads etc.) at a time.
• Multitasking is a logical
extension of multi
programming. The major way in
which multitasking differs from
multiprogramming is that
multiprogramming works
solely on the concept of
context switching whereas

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 multitasking is based on time sharing alongside the concept of context
switching.

Multi threading
• Multithreading is the ability of a program or an operating
system to enable more than one user at a time without
requiring multiple copies of the program running on the
computer.

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 Computer Virus
A computer virus is a malicious application or
authored code used to perform
destructive activity on a device or local
network.

The code’s malicious activity could damage

the local file system, steal data, interrupt
services, download additional malware, or any
other actions coded into the program by the
malware author.

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Many viruses pretend to be legitimate programs to trick users into
executing them on their device, delivering the computer virus payload.
Malware attacks worldwide from 2015 to first half 2022

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https://www.statista.com/statistics/873097/malware-attacks-per-year-worldwide/ .

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 Boot Sector Virus
• Your computer drive has a sector solely responsible
for pointing to the operating system so that it can
boot into the interface.
• A boot sector virus damages or controls the boot
sector on the drive, rendering the machine unusable.
• Attackers will usually spread this virus type using a
malicious USB device.
• The virus is activated when users plug in the USB
device and boot their machine.
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Web Scripting Virus
• Most browsers have defenses against malicious web scripts,
but older, unsupported browsers have vulnerabilities that
allow an attacker to run code on the local device.

Browser Hijacker
• A virus that can change the settings on your browser will hijack
browser favorites, the home page URL, your search
preferences and redirect you to a malicious site. The site
could be a phishing site or an adware page used to steal data
or make money for the attacker.

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Resident Virus
• A virus that can access computer memory and sit dormant until
a payload is delivered is considered a resident virus. This
malware may stay dormant until a specific date, time, or a
user performs an action.

Direct Action Virus

• When a user executes a seemingly harmless file attached with
malicious code, direct action viruses deliver a payload
immediately. These viruses can also remain dormant until a
specific action is taken or a timeframe passes.
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Polymorphic Virus
• Malware authors can use polymorphic code to change the
program’s footprint to avoid detection. Polymorphic viruses
make it more difficult for an antivirus to detect and remove
them.

File Infector Virus

• To persist on a system, a threat actor uses file infector viruses
to inject malicious code into critical files that run the
operating system or important programs. When the system
boots or the program runs, the virus is activated.

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 What Is a Computer Worm?
• A computer worm is malware, just like a virus, but a worm
takes a copy of itself and propagates it to other users. Worms
can also deliver a payload and exhaust resources.

• For example, an email worm sends a copy of itself to

everyone on an infected user’s email contact list. When it
reaches recipient inboxes, anyone who runs the worm sends
it to their contact list.

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• Email worms exhaust storage space and spread very quickly
across the internet, so they create issues differently than a
virus.

Symptoms of Computer Virus

• Popup windows, including ads (adware) or links to malicious websites.
• Your web browser home page changes, and you did not change it.
• Outbound emails to your contact list or people on your contact list alert
you to strange messages sent by your account.
• The computer crashes often, runs out of memory with few active
programs, or a blue screen of death in Windows.
• Slow computer performance even when running few programs or the
computer was recently booted.

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• Unknown programs start when the computer boots or when you open
specific programs.
• Passwords change without your knowledge or your interaction on the
account.

Task
• https://purplesec.us/resources/cybersecurity-
statistics/

• Analyze the website collect the relevant

information, and prepare the notes.
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 References
• https://purplesec.us/resources/cyber-security-statistics/
• https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/computer-
virusesand-malware-facts-and-faqs
• https://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-reference/computer-virus
• https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/computer-virus

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