Computer Software - SS1 ICT Past Questions and Answers - page 3

Antivirus software plays a critical role in maintaining computer security by detecting, preventing, and removing malicious software (malware) such as viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware. It scans files, emails, and other data to identify and neutralize threats that could compromise the system's integrity, steal personal information, or cause other harm. Regular updates to antivirus software ensure that it can recognize and defend against the latest threats. With the increasing prevalence of cyberattacks, antivirus software helps users protect their sensitive data and maintain the overall health of their computer systems.

Both compilers and interpreters are used to translate high-level programming code into machine code that the computer can execute. The main difference lies in how they perform this translation and execution:

Compiler: A compiler translates the entire source code of a program into machine code all at once. It checks for errors in the entire code before generating an executable file. This file can be executed multiple times without recompilation. Although compilation takes more time upfront, the resulting program tends to run faster since it's already translated into machine code.

Interpreter: An interpreter reads the source code line by line and translates and executes each line immediately. This means that errors are identified as the interpreter encounters them in the code. While execution can start faster than with a compiler, each line is translated every time it's executed, potentially leading to slower overall performance.