NETWORK UTILITIES SOFTWARE

Network utilities software consists of tools used to monitor, test, configure and troubleshoot a computer network.
Network administrators use these tools to find problems and make sure that the network is working correctly.

Common Network Utilities

Utility Purpose
Ping Checks whether a device is reachable
Traceroute Shows the route taken by data packets
IP Configuration Displays or changes network settings
Network Monitor Monitors network traffic and performance
Diagnostic Tools Helps find network problems

A. PING

Ping is a network utility used to check whether another device is reachable over a network.
Example
A computer wants to check whether a server is available:
Computer → Ping → Server
If the server responds, the computer knows that the server is reachable.

Uses of Ping
Checks network connectivity
Tests whether a server is available
Helps identify connection problems
Measures the response time of a device
Example Question

CHECKING FOR ERRORS

When data is transmitted across a network, it can sometimes become corrupted.
Data corruption?
Data corruption occurs when the data received is different from the data that was originally sent.

Causes of errors
Electrical interference
Wireless interference
Damaged cables
Weak signals
Hardware problems
Network congestion

Example

Original data:
10110010
Data received:
10100010

One bit has changed.

Therefore, an error has occurred.

ERROR DETECTION

Error detection is the process of checking whether data has been changed or corrupted during transmission.
The sender adds some extra information to the data.
The receiver uses this information to check whether an error has occurred.

Common error detection methods

Parity check
Checksum
Check digit
Echo check

PARITY CHECK
A parity check is an error-detection method in which an extra bit called a parity bit is added to a group of binary
data.
The parity bit makes the total number of 1s either even or odd.

There are two types:

Even parity
Odd parity

EVEN PARITY
With even parity, the total number of 1s must be even.

Example

Data:

1011001

Count the number of 1s:

1 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 1 = 4 ones

There are already an even number of 1s.

Therefore:

Parity bit = 0

Final data:

10110010

Now the total number of 1s remains 4, which is even.

Another Example

Data:

1011011

Number of 1s = 5

Five is odd.

To make the number of 1s even:

Parity bit = 1

Final:

10110111

Number of 1s = 6

Therefore, the data has even parity.

ODD PARITY

With odd parity, the total number of 1s must be odd.

Example

Data:

1011001

Number of 1s = 4

Four is even.

Therefore, the parity bit must be:

Final:

10110011

Number of 1s = 5

Therefore, the total number of 1s is odd.

Important Point

A parity check can detect some errors, but it cannot identify exactly which bit is wrong.

It also cannot correct the error by itself.

Limitation

If two bits change, the parity may still appear correct.

Therefore, parity checking is not a perfect error-detection method.

KEEP IT ALL SECURE

Network security means protecting:

Computers
Networks
Files
Personal information
User accounts
Data

from unauthorised access, damage or theft.

COMMON NETWORK SECURITY THREATS

1. Malware

Malware is malicious software designed to harm a computer or gain unauthorised access.

Examples:

Viruses
Worms
Trojans
Ransomware
Spyware

2. Hacking

A hacker may try to gain unauthorised access to a computer or network.

3. Phishing

Phishing is an attempt to trick users into giving away information such as:

Usernames
Passwords
Bank details
4. Data interception

An attacker may try to capture data while it is travelling across a network.

WAYS TO KEEP A NETWORK SECURE

A. FIREWALL

A firewall monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic.

It can:
Allow safe connections
Block suspicious connections
Prevent unauthorised access

Simple diagram
INTERNET
↓
FIREWALL
↓
NETWORK

USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS

Users should have strong passwords.

A strong password should:

Be difficult to guess
Use a mixture of characters
Not contain obvious personal information
Be different for different accounts

USER ACCESS LEVELS

Different users can be given different permissions.

Example

Administrator
→ Can access and change most files.

Student
→ Can access only files needed for schoolwork.

This reduces the chance of accidental or unauthorised changes.

ENCRYPTION

Encryption converts readable data into an unreadable form called ciphertext.

Plaintext
↓
Encryption
↓
Ciphertext
↓
Decryption
↓
Plaintext

Encryption helps prevent unauthorised people from understanding intercepted data.

Example

HTTPS uses encryption to help protect information exchanged between a web browser and a web server.

ANTI-MALWARE / VIRUS SCANNING

Virus-scanning software checks files and programs for malware.

It can:

Detect viruses
Detect other malware
Quarantine infected files
Remove threats
Provide real-time protection
Important

Virus-scanning software should be updated regularly so it can detect new threats.

BACKUPS

A backup is an additional copy of important data.

Backups help recover data after:

Accidental deletion
Hardware failure
Malware attacks
Ransomware
Data corruption
Example
IMPORTANT FILE
↓
BACKUP
↓
EXTERNAL DRIVE / SERVER / CLOUD

SECURITY CHECKLIST

Remember: P-E-A-B-S

P – Passwords
Use strong passwords.

E – Encryption
Encrypt sensitive data.

A – Access control
Give users only the permissions they need.

B – Backup
Keep copies of important data.

S – Security software
Use firewalls and anti-malware software.