Social and Ethical Issues
Due to the open protocols of the World Wide Web, where anyone can publish any type of content comes a certain amount of security risks. Security relates to the protection of your personal information and your computer can be sabotaged or stolen if certain security measures are not taken. Simply put, there are a lot of ignorant people who use the web and a lot of very intelligent people who use the web as well, who may try to take advantage of the weaknesses of others.
Issues to considered include, Intellectual Property (the right to have your own ideas protected), copyright, not all content is free as some is subject to copyright. Plagiarism, there are people who will ignore copyright and plagiarism laws and look to steal your ideas. Privacy when searching the web, every time the Internet is used a 'digital trail' is left. Some companies then use this information to target you for their products and may publish your details. This poses a real challenge to privacy protection. Freedom of speech, the right to publish what you want without retribution. Security, when a network of computers is connected and passwords and information are able to be seen from other terminals, without the users knowledge in places such as Internet cafes.
Problems with security include probe attacks concerning content and password theft, virus contamination where malicious content may be inadvertently downloaded with software or emails and also spam, junk email and spyware, which is potentially benign but accesses your usage and exploits your privacy.
Measures can be taken in protecting yourself and your computer from harm. The installation of a firewall which protects against probes and unsolicited monitoring. Some of these include ZoneAlarm and Sygate Personal Firewall. Another type of protection for your computer is Antivirus software, which unfortunately is only as good as the last know virus. Common sense should be used when opening foreign email which should be avoided. Some antivirus software include avast and AntiVir PE. Also being familiar with at risk file attachment types such as .exe and .com and to know which file types can be trusted such as .jpg and pdf.
Some tips when protecting yourself include knowing what content is spyware how to make use of protective tools, allowing protection software to be updated when prompted and to turn off the preview window in outlook.
Workshop Summary
Make a list of the relevant copyright information that will be valuable to you as an undergraduate student.
As I intend to study Contemporary Fashion in 2008, these are some the copyright sheets that are relevant to fashion.
- Fashion design and costumes G076
- Artworks G033
- Artworks: Getting permission G086
- Copyright in Australia: information sources G004
- Craftworkers (professional) G073
- Craftworkers (hobby) G021
- Creative Commons licences G094
- Designs for functional articles G027
- Graphic designers G075
- Logos G028
John Sankus, Jr was charged and sentenced to jail time for conspiring to violate the criminal copyright laws. Sankus was the head of a software piracy group known as DrinkOrDie, which acquired new software and made it available over the Web, such as the latest movies, games, software and applications. He plead guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement. As DrinkOrDie operated over the Internet it's workers believed they would never be caught and subject to prosecution. Law enforcement has had to adapt to digital ways of law breaking and is beginning to find ways to arrest and prosecute for crimes committed on the net.
Write a plan to protect yourself from attacks on your privacy and security.
- Purchase a original copy of windows and allow for automatic updates.
- Purchase, install and regularly update an antivirus program.
- Acquire antispyware software and keep up to date.
- Run manual virus scans once a week.
- Re-install Windows quarterly.
- Visit the Microsoft website and read the information on viruses and spam. Research pages that inform of the latest viruses and Trojans to become more aware of symptoms, preventions and cures.
- Turn on the 'always ask' feature in Windows before downloading.
- Set browser settings to a medium to high security setting.
- Avoid opening email from unknown senders.
- Avoid downloading programs by unknown authors.
- Stop downloading pirate music.
Week 12 Reading
EFF's Top 12 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy
McCandlish has compiled a list of tips which are aimed to ensure the protection of privacy. The areas covered include, being sensible and not giving out personal information over the net. The use of cookies management software in a Web browser, limiting the amount of people that your main email address is shared with, don't reveal details to people you have never met face to face. Don't access unsolicited material on work computers, be weary of sites that ask for personal details, do not reply to spammers, be conscious of web and home security and use email encryption software.
Ethics in Computing Social Justice Issues: Electronic Monitoring.
This site discusses the monitoring of computer usage of employees. It shows the different ways employers can monitor their staff and the issues that may arise with such monitoring. It's purpose is to assist employees who think they are being monitored and what they can do about it.
Computer Viruses and the Internet
This article covers the history of computer viruses and the connection to the World Wide Web. It explains what viruses are and the ways in which they appeared and were created. It explains that because of the open protocols of the web virus creators can produce these electronic 'diseases'.
Brown and Micheal's - Overview of Intellectual Property
This article instructs on ways to protect your ideas from others passing them off a their own. First, it explains that ideas can't necessarily be protected but the expression of an idea in the form of a product can be copyrighted. The type of protection needed will depend on whether it's the way of doing something, a logo or an artwork. Respectfully either a patent, trademark or copyright might be needed. This is a great source of information for people who might have an idea for an invention who would be considering these sorts of issues.
Music, Copyright and The Internet
This site covers the who, what, when, why and how of copyright laws surrounding music. It is a good source of information as it covers many areas the average person might not consider when they are downloading pirated music. It covers what can happen if caught for breaching copyright and ways on how to protect yourself from unwillingly downloading protected content.
Email Attachments and Viruses
This article discusses the dangers of opening email attachments. It lists the file types that should be avoided and the ones which are safe. This is good article as it is straight to the point and easily to read and understand.
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