Directions: Please provide detailed and elaborate responses to the following questions.  Your responses should include examples from the reading assignments, if possible.  Your answer to each question should be at least 250 words in length and utilize APA guidelines.  Please feel free to use the LIRN Library to search for information that supports your arguments.

1.      Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of spreadsheet software as number-crunching software.

2.      What are the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a software suite?

3.      What are the three dimensions to business problems?  Provide examples of each.

4.      What is the difference between IT and information systems?  Describe some functions of information systems.

5.      Discuss the different types of malware, how they are different, and how free software may contain malware.

6.      Discuss the importance of keeping your computer current with the latest updates and antivirus tools and the basic rules that should be adhered to when surfing the Web, downloading files, and opening attachments.  Define and describe an intelligent agent, or a bot.

7.      Looking toward the future, experts predict an increase of blended threats that combine worm-like distribution with virus and bot payloads.  What steps should be taken by the software industry to protect consumers?