A company named e-Waste Technologies Africa specialises in the recycling of electronic waste - NSC Information Technology - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 2

Electronic waste often contains toxic and harmful materials, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into the soil and water, posing significant risks to the environment and human health.

1. Keep old devices or replace them only if necessary.
2. Extend the life of your electronics by keeping them clean and avoiding overcharging the battery.

Before recycling or discarding an electronic storage device, it's essential to permanently delete all personal data to prevent unauthorized access. This can be done by formatting the drive or using data-wiping software that ensures data cannot be retrieved.

The employees use e-mail for daily communication.

With POP, your emails are downloaded to your device and deleted from the server. In contrast, with IMAP, emails remain on the server, allowing you to access them from multiple devices without losing any data.

Spam clogs the internet, overwhelming employees with unnecessary messages, which can affect productivity and leads to security risks.

1. Check the references of the author.
2. Apply common sense to recognize unrealistic news.

The file should be uploaded to cloud storage/service and shared, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, or WeTransfer.

One risk of sending the attachment via cloud is that the service might not have good security practices, which could expose sensitive data.

A media repository is an online storage location where users can upload, share, and access media files, facilitating easy data management.

Ubiquity refers to the ability to access files and information from anywhere at any time, thanks to internet connectivity and cloud storage solutions.

A RAT, or Remote Access Trojan, is a type of malware that allows unauthorized users to remotely control a compromised computer.

1. Downloading or installing a Trojan file from a malicious site.
2. Opening an infected attachment in an email.

1. To steal users' personal information, including email addresses and credit card information for identity theft.
2. To redirect traffic to phishing sites to harvest more data.

A distributed database is a database that is spread/stored across multiple servers in different locations, allowing data to be accessible from various points.

The Duplication model stores a complete copy of the database at each site, whereas the Partitioning model divides the database into segments and distributes them across different sites.

Regular data synchronization is essential to ensure that all copies of the database remain consistent, preventing discrepancies that could lead to data integrity issues.

Such a system is called a Decision Support System (DSS).

An expert system can analyze the data gathered by the DSS and apply rules to make recommendations or decisions quicker than human analysis, improving overall efficiency.

Open-source refers to software that is available with source code that anyone can modify, adapt, and distribute.

Temporary files.

The digital divide refers to the gap between those who have access to computers and the internet and those who do not.

1. Lack of financial resources to acquire technology.
2. Difference in educational levels.

Hyper-automation refers to the use of advanced technologies, including AI and machine learning, to automate tasks, while RPA (Robotic Process Automation) focuses on automating repetitive processes using robots.

RPA can automate routine tasks, allowing factories to maintain productivity even with a shrinking workforce, ensuring continuous operations despite labor shortages.

Virtual reality immerses users in a completely digital environment, while augmented reality overlays digital information on the real world to enhance the user's experience.

Further improvements could include increased interactivity and realism in both virtual and augmented reality experiences, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction.