Module 6: Computer Ethics

If you are to choose your top 3 difficult-to-follow computer ethics commandments, what are these?

The top three difficult-to-follow computer ethics commandments are the following:

Thou shalt not snoop around other people’s files

Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.

Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization

I chose these three commandments because of many reasons. For the third commandment, it can’t be avoided and I admit that sometimes I can snoop other’s files. Like for example, the email messages of my sister. I am the one who open her account and check her email if there are new messages. But the reason behind this is that she doesn’t have the time to open her email because she doesn’t have an instant access to the internet. And not only email messages but also others files in Facebook. For the sixth commandment, I also find difficulty in following this because of the fact that programs are really expensive and I can’t afford for it. And also the software or copyrights of other people are being copied without paying. As student, we would prefer to download or copy their software because we can’t really afford of buying software. And for the seventh commandment it is the difficult task among the rest because honestly I can’t avoid from it. For example, if there is an emergency research and I really need to use the computer I failed to ask the owner’s permission and their authority.

What is ransomware? Which of the 10 computer ethics commandments is/are violated by ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malware used for data kidnapping, an exploit in which the attacker encrypts the victim's data. A ransomware program can be installed from an e-mail attachment, an infected program, or a compromised or malicious web site. Most ransomware attacks are the result of clicking on an infected e-mail attachment or visiting a hacked website.Upon compromising a computer, ransomware will typically either lock a user's system or encrypt files on the computer and then demand payment before the system or files will be restored.

These are the commandments that are violated by ransomeware:

Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people. 

Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work.

 Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write.

Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect.

 

From the definition above it is obvious that it can really harm other people. And if one really thinks of the social consequence of his work, he should not implement this ransomeware. And above all, the person who would do this ransomeware really doesn’t have respect and doesn’t consider other people’s sake.

Suppose you are to add 2 more commandments to the existing 10 commandments of computer ethics, what are these? Are these 2 new commandments of equal importance to the existing ones?

The two commandments would be:

Though shall not use computer against religious organizations.

Though shall not use computer for fraud.

Yes, these two commandments are of equal importance with those existing ones. For the first commandment, this means that no one should use computer as a source that would destroy the image of persons involved in different religious organizations. Just like putting articles that brought negative feedback about the religious leaders in public. For the second commandment, this means that one should not use it for fraud like for example in conducting elections, and other activities.