Computer Fundamentals and System Concepts

An integrated circuit, commonly referred to as a chip, is a small semiconductor device that forms the basis of computer hardware.

Booting is the process of starting a computer and loading the operating system into memory.

A polymorphic virus is a type of malware that constantly changes its identifiable features (code) to evade detection by antivirus software.

Once a malicious program is installed on a system, it is essential that it stays concealed, to avoid detection. Software packages known as rootkits allow this concealment, by modifying the host's operating system, so that the malware is hidden from the user. Rootkits can prevent a malicious process from being visible in the system's list of processes, or keep its files from being read.

Middleware is computer software that provides services to software applications beyond those available from the operating system. It can be described as software glue.

Among the listed processors, the Intel Core i7 represents a more advanced and powerful architecture compared to the older Core 2 Extreme, Atom N270, or standard Dual Core CPUs.

Correct option is (1).

Digital computers operate using electrical signals that are either on or off, which corresponds to the binary system.

Hardware refers to the physical, tangible components of a computer system, such as the monitor, keyboard, and internal circuitry.

The claimed answer 'computer organization' is incorrect. Computer organization refers to how hardware components are connected and operate at the physical level. The study of these operations and connections is typically called 'computer organization' or 'computer architecture'. However, 'computer organization' vs 'computer architecture' has subtle distinctions that make this question potentially ambiguous.

Computer architecture refers to those attributes of a system that have a direct impact on the logical execution of a program, such as the instruction set and addressing modes. Computer organization refers to the physical implementation of these architectural concepts.

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the primary component of a computer that performs most of the processing inside the computer.

The Control Unit (CU) is a component of the CPU that directs the operation of the processor by telling the computer memory, ALU, and input/output devices how to respond to the instructions sent to the processor.

Software refers to the collection of programs, instructions, and data that tell a computer how to perform specific tasks, as opposed to the physical hardware.

Registers are small, extremely fast storage locations within the CPU used to hold temporary data and instructions for immediate processing.