Chapter 8 Operating Systems and Utility Programs

System Software consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and the devices. System software serves as the interface between the user, the application software, and the computer's hardware The two types of system software are operating systems and utility programs. An operating system is a set of programs containing instructions that work together to coordinate all the activities among computer hardware resources. Most operating systems perform similar functions that include starting and shutting down a computer, providing a user interface, managing programs, managing memory, and many others. This chapter also discusses a virus. A virus is a potentially damaging computer program that affects, or infects, a computer negatively by altering the way a computer works without the users knowledge. While enrolled in this class, my home laptop got injected with a virus. The virus made my computer extremely slow, caused a lot of pop ups, and got to the point where I could not even connect to the Internet. I took my computer to Best Buy and had them download the best virus protection one could buy, and since then I have not had a problem with my computer.