Computer Ethics CSCI 101 Kara kelly

Ethics Ethics can be defined as a discipline in which one attempts to identify, organize, analyze, and justify human acts by applying certain principles to determine what is the right thing to do in a given situation. Involves freedom of making a choice and the responsibility for the results of the action

Computer ethics From the 1940s through the 1960s there was no discipline know as computer ethics. In the mid 1970s computer ethics was defined as a field in which one examines” ethical problems aggravated, transformed or created by computer technology. Computer revolution: – Stage 1:technological introduction – stage2: technological permeation (technology gets integrated into every day human activities)

10 commandments 1-- Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people. This catch-all encompasses the remaining nine commandments. 2-- Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work. Sending an bomb -- thousands of messages to disable the recipient's in-box or server -- is an extreme example. Spreading false rumors online can also interfere with others' productivity. So can forwarding jokes without checking if recipients are receptive to them. 3-- Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files. The weak security built into Windows 95 and 98 makes it easy to open the work of coworkers by walking up to their PCs.

4-- Thou shalt not use a computer to steal. A blatant example is hacking into a computer to loot a person's credit card number or a company's trade secrets. See Commandments 6, 7, and 8 for more subtle, and widespread, transgressions. 5-- Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness. Sending unsolicited, untargeted bulk e- mail messages, or spam, is bad in part because most spammers conceal their identity

6 -- Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid. Some organizations are tempted to buy one copy of a program and copy it onto many computers. Groups such as the Business Software Alliance go after such pirates tenaciously, and when caught they're hit with stiff fines and bad publicity. Using a shareware program long-term without registering it is also the equivalent of stealing it. Because so few people voluntarily register shareware, the authors of these programs have had to build in time limits for their use Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization or proper compensation. Some employees don't think twice about using their employer's computers or Internet connection for personal reasons. – Organizations are getting more protective of their computer possessions. Xerox recently fired about 40 employees for looking at pornographic Web sites at work. Once, I was nearly fired for using my employers computer fro freelance work.

8 -- Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output. The Internet makes it easy to copy others' words, artwork, music and HTML Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are designing. "Big Brother" programs let you capture the keystrokes or record the Web surfing of employees without their knowledge. Companies similarly can intercept any sent through their equipment. Morale can suffer if you don't inform employees of these practices beforehand Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that ensure" consideration and respect for your fellow humans. This is another good catch-all.

Illegal File sharing David Wright, Ph.D, director of curriculum innovation and e—learning at the University of Dayton – Students involved with illegal file sharing, and saturating the bandwith they have on campus. The more the student shared files, the less technology was available to everyone else. – Students can download file sharing software from the web at no charge. Programs such as eDonkey. Morpheus. Kazaa or limewrire enable student to illegally share music, videos and other files.

Works cited Computer Ethics 101. By: Dahl, Judy. Distance Education Report, 8/15/2005, Vol. 9 Issue 16, p3-8, 3p; (AN ) Computer Ethics 101. Ethics in Informatics. By: Curtin, Leah L.. Nursing Administration Quarterly, Oct-Dec2005, Vol. 29 Issue 4, p , 4p; (AN ) Ethics in Informatics. Remembering the Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics. By: Goldsborough, Reid. Community College Week, 11/15/99, Vol. 12 Issue 7, p17, 1/2p; (AN ) Remembering the Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics.