Question

What do you call a program that performs a specialized task, such as a virus scanner, a file compression program, or a data backup program?

Short answer

Answer: Utility software or utility program.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the question

First, make sure you understand the question. The question is asking for the name used for programs that perform specialized tasks, such as virus scanning, file compression, or data backup.

Identify the type of software

Next, determine the type of software that has these characteristics. In this case, the software programs that perform specialized tasks are typically known as utility software or utility programs.

State the answer

Lastly, provide the answer to the question. The name for a program that performs specialized tasks like virus scanning, file compression, or data backup is a utility software or utility program.