CNIT 131 Bowne HW 11

Viruses and Spyware, or Reviewing Programs

25 Points Maximum

Overview

There are two ways to complete this homework assignment -- one intended for PC users, and the other for Macintosh users.

• If you use a PC, scan it for viruses and submit a printout or screen image showing the results of a completed scan, and then also scan it for spyware and and submit a second printout or screen image showing the results of a completed scan. Instructions are attached for scanning your machine with the Trend online scanner, and Spybot, but if you want to use another virus scanner and/or another spyware scanner, feel free. Your final result should be two printouts, or two screen images sent to me by email.
  
  
• If you use a Macintosh, you may not be interested in viruses or spyware. In that case, choose a topic that interests you, like Media players, graphics software, Web browsers, or any other type of software for which several alternative programs ara available. Then research them on the Web and write a report on your findings. Your report must have these required elements:
  
  
• A description of the purpose of the software you are researching.
  
  
• At least three different software packages, from different companies, that do the purpose you are researching. Each package must be named, and you must describe its essential features.
  
  
• You must download at least one of the packages and try it out yourself, and explain what you found. For that reason, choose a fairly common topic so that there is a freeware package available, or at least a trial version you can get.