Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 22 Introduction to Microsoft Offi ce Using Search Engines A search engine is a software program that looks through massive databases of links and information to try to identify the best matches for the search request. Most modern search engines have natural language processing that makes searching very easy. For example, a question such as what is the boiling point of water can be entered as the search “term.” A technology named Boolean logic can be used to construct very precise search strings. Boolean operators, or logical operators, defi ne the relationship between words in the search string. The Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT can be used to create precise search strings. Also available are proximity operators such as NEAR or FOLLOWED BY. Figure 1-17 shows how the Boolean operators can be applied to a search string. Computer Threats There are many types of threats to computer systems and computer users. Malware most frequently fi nds its way into a computer as executable code hidden in another program. Often, the computer user does not fi nd out about the infection until long after a successful attack. Other threats come from cookies, phishing, data vandalism, and computer hacking. Malware Malware is software that intentionally performs actions to disrupt the operation of a computer system, collect private information, or otherwise harm the computer or user. The word malware comes from “malicious software,” meaning software that intends to harm. Malware is a broad category of harmful software. Some threats falling under malware are: • computer viruses • computer worms GS5 Key Applications 4.2 Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 1-17. Boolean operators and proximity operators can be used to improve searches. Boolean Operator Example Effect AND space launches AND Pluto Locate information in both phrases on the same page OR space launches OR Pluto Locate information on either phrase NOT space launches NOT Pluto Locate information on the first phrase, exclude information on the second phrase NEAR space launches NEAR Pluto Locate information where both phrases are used in close proximity on the same page FOLLOWED BY space launches FOLLOWED BY Pluto The first phrase comes before the second phrase on the page Power Strips Computer workstations should be set up so all of the computer equipment is plugged into a power strip. Doing this allows the employee to have control of the power to an entire workstation. Power strips are now available with several different features. “Smart” power strips make it easy and convenient to save power each day. Green Tech