Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

ICASAS206A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Detect and protect from spam and destructive software

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ICASAS206A - Detect and protect from spam and destructive software
Description This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to reduce the risk of a computer's operation being affected by spam or destructive software.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit applies to technical support personnel who are required to protect and secure equipment and software in a small or large office environment. Maintaining system integrity through virus security and implementing spam filtering are key components of information and communications technology (ICT) environments.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Detect and remove destructive software
  • Identify common types of destructive software
  • Select and install virus protection compatible with the operating system in use
  • Investigate other advanced systems of protection for further options
  • Install software updates on a regular basis
  • Configure software security settings to prevent destructive software from infecting computer
  • Run or schedule to run virus-protection software on a regular basis
  • Report detected destructive software to appropriate person and remove the destructive software
       
Element: Identify and take action to stop spam
  • Identify common types of spam
  • Take appropriate action in regard to spam
  • Configure and use a spam filter
  • Report spam to appropriate organisation
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

install virus protection software and updates

schedule virus protection software to run on a regular basis

identify and remove common destructive software

identify common spam types and take appropriate action.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

sites with a representative range of computer hardware, application software and operating systems

current antivirus and anti-spam software

technical records, vendor documentation and enterprise procedures and guidelines

appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of candidate undertaking installation of virus protection and anti-spam software

direct observation of candidate performing virus scan and virus removal

review configuration of virus protection software and creation of operating schedule created

configure and use a spam filter.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communication and literacy skills to present reports

problem-solving skills to anticipate and respond to a range of known virus and spam types

technical skills to:

install and configure system filtering and security settings

install software updates

install virus protection

operate a computer and software application

select virus protection to suit operating system in a limited range of options.

Required knowledge

spam and virus intrusions and appropriate remedial action

types of protective applications used against viruses and spam

operating systems supported by the organisation

computer hardware

Spam Act 2003 and associated guidelines.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Destructive software may include:

file viruses

keystroke loggers

logic bombs

macro viruses

remote access tools (RATs)

spyware

system sector viruses

trojans

viruses

worms.

Virus protection may include:

CA Vet Antivirus

freeware

online

open source

proprietary software:

BitDefender

Kaspersky Antivirus

McAfee VirusScan

Panda Antivirus

Symantec Norton Antivirus.

Operating system may include:

GNUs Not Unix (GNU)

Linux

HP-UX

Mac OS X

Microsoft Windows

Unix-like operating systems:

IBM AIX

Silicon Graphics IRIX

Sun Solaris.

Advanced systems may include:

hardware firewall

software firewall.

Software updates may include:

automatic online updates

security patches

service packs and service releases

virus definition updates

virus scanning engine updates.

Security settings may include:

firewall

internet browser

operating system

virus protection.

Appropriate person may include:

authorised business representative

client

supervisor

system administrator.

Spam may include:

messages covered by the Spam Act 2003

unsolicited commercial electronic messaging:

email

instant messaging

mobile phone messaging

social networking

wiki.

Appropriate action may include:

deleting the spam

blocking the sender by configuring spam filter

unsubscribing from mailing list if company is not reputable.

Spam filter may include:

email client filters or rules

email server filters

third-party filter programs:

CA Anti-Spam

MailWasher Pro

Norton Internet Security

SpamAssassin.

Appropriate organisation may include:

relevant government and private media screening organisations, such as:

Australian Communications and Media Authority

Scamwatch company that originated the spam message.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify common types of destructive software 
Select and install virus protection compatible with the operating system in use 
Investigate other advanced systems of protection for further options 
Install software updates on a regular basis 
Configure software security settings to prevent destructive software from infecting computer 
Run or schedule to run virus-protection software on a regular basis 
Report detected destructive software to appropriate person and remove the destructive software 
Identify common types of spam 
Take appropriate action in regard to spam 
Configure and use a spam filter 
Report spam to appropriate organisation 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICASAS206A - Detect and protect from spam and destructive software
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

ICASAS206A - Detect and protect from spam and destructive software

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: