IT Fundamentals Quiz

Study Notes

Definition: The process of connecting computers, devices, and systems to facilitate communication, data exchange, and resource sharing.
Types of networks:
- LAN (Local Area Network): Connects devices in a limited geographical area.
- WAN (Wide Area Network): Connects devices over a larger geographical area.
- Wi-Fi: Wireless network connecting devices using radio waves.
- Internet: Global network of interconnected computers and servers.
Network protocols:
- TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): Standard protocol for internet communication.
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): Protocol for transferring data over the web.
- FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Protocol for transferring files over a network.
Network devices:
- Routers: Direct traffic between networks.
- Switches: Connect devices within a network.
- Modems: Connect to the internet via a broadband connection.

Definition: The development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Types of AI:
- Narrow or Weak AI: Designed to perform a specific task, such as facial recognition or language translation.
- General or Strong AI: Designed to perform any intellectual task, similar to human intelligence.
- Superintelligence: Significantly more intelligent than the best human minds.
AI applications:
- Machine learning: Training algorithms to learn from data and make predictions.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): Enabling computers to understand and generate human language.
- Robotics: Developing robots that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.

Definition: A collection of organized data that can be easily accessed, managed, and updated.
Database types:
- Relational databases: Organize data into tables with defined relationships.
- NoSQL databases: Store data in a variety of formats, such as key-value, document, or graph.
Database management systems:
- DBMS (Database Management System): Software that manages and interacts with a database.
- RDBMS (Relational Database Management System): Software that manages relational databases.
Database concepts:
- Data modeling: Creating a conceptual representation of the data.
- Normalization: Organizing data to minimize redundancy and improve integrity.

Definition: The practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
Threat types:
- Malware: Malicious software that can harm a computer system or network.
- Phishing: Social engineering attacks that trick users into revealing sensitive information.
- Ransomware: Malware that encrypts data and demands payment for decryption.
Security measures:
- Firewalls: Network security systems that control incoming and outgoing traffic.
- Encryption: Protecting data by converting it into an unreadable format.
- Authentication: Verifying the identity of users and devices.

Definition: The process of designing, creating, testing, and maintaining software applications.
Development methodologies:
- Agile: Iterative approach focusing on flexibility and customer satisfaction.
- Waterfall: Sequential approach focusing on predictability and stability.
Development stages:
- Requirements gathering: Identifying the needs and constraints of the project.
- Design: Creating a detailed plan for the software architecture.
- Implementation: Writing the code for the software application.
- Testing: Verifying the software meets the requirements and is free of defects.
Programming languages:
- High-level languages: Easy to read and write, but slow to execute (e.g., Python, Java).
- Low-level languages: Difficult to read and write, but fast to execute (e.g., C, Assembly).
- Scripting languages: Used for rapid development and prototyping (e.g., JavaScript, Ruby).