Chapter 1 · Information and Communication Technology: World and Bangladesh Perspective
Information and Communication Technology · Classes 11-12 · Chapter 1 · 1.4
Ethics of ICT Usage and Common Cyber Crimes.
Abuse someone on Facebook and you may land in jail, yet say the same words face to face and many people walk away. Whether an act is wrong and whether it is a crime are two different questions. This note pulls them apart, then walks through the ten rules for computer users and the five common cyber crimes.
1. Ethics and law
Ethics is a standard that guides behaviour, action and choice. It is also the measure of what is right and what is wrong.
Unethical and illegal are not the same thing. Not all unethical acts are against the law, but all illegal acts are unethical. The link runs one way only. The book's example: a person may get away with abusing someone face to face, but doing it on Facebook can send them to jail. Flip four claims and see which hold.
true or falseflip to see true or false
Ethics and law
ClaimAll unethical acts are illegal
AnswerFalse: many unethical acts are not against the law.
ClaimAll illegal acts are unethical
AnswerTrue: all illegal acts are unethical.
ClaimAbusing someone on Facebook can lead to jail
AnswerTrue: the book's example.
ClaimPlagiarism is illegal
AnswerTrue: the book says so plainly.
2. Ten guidelines for computer users
In 1992 the Computer Ethics Institute gave computer users ten specific guidelines on information and communication technology.
1 to 5: do not use a computer to harm others; do not interfere with others' computer work; do not snoop in others' files; do not use a computer to steal; do not use a computer to spread false information.
6 to 10: do not use or copy unlicensed software; do not use others' computer resources without permission; do not claim others' work as your own; think of the impact on society first; consider others' interests and show respect. Below are six incidents. Match each to the guideline it breaks.
match themincident, then guideline
Which guideline was broken?
Pick up an incident, then drop it on a guideline. Recall the ten guidelines.
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Ask what was violated: files, money, truth, a licence, resources, or someone's credit?
All matched. Guidelines 3 to 8 at a glance: files, stealing, falsehood, licence, resources, others' work.
3. Five cyber crimes
The many unethical and criminal acts committed through the internet are known as cyber crime. The book names five common ones.
Hacking: gaining unauthorised access to and control of a computer system, network or data is called hacking, and the people involved are hackers. It can damage personal data or systems. In some cases, though, it is done only to tell the user about a security flaw, with no harm done.
Phishing: luring a user by email or message to a fake website, winning their trust and stealing important details such as access codes, PINs, credit card numbers, passwords and bank account numbers.
A message has arrived with a link. Before you submit anything, inspect three things and find the trap.
inspect itthree clues
The bait, the fake site, the theft
The message, the bank's name and the address are made up for practice.
Spamming: sending unwanted or unsolicited emails or messages is called spamming, and those who do it are spammers. Spammers collect email addresses from websites or group message boards and send fraudulent messages to users.
Software piracy: copying software without a licence or the owner's permission, or using it under one's own name or after changing it, is software piracy. Software is an intellectual product owned by its programmers. According to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), about 36 percent of all software in use is pirated. Developed countries try to stop it through copyright law.
Plagiarism: copying a person's or organisation's writing, literature, research or editorial work exactly, or with slight change, and publishing it under one's own name is plagiarism. The Bangla term is kumbhilokbritti. Copying even the important phrases of a text counts, and it is an illegal act.
The aim of education is higher-order thinking. Plagiarism in education blocks that skill, which is why it is marked as a serious ethical problem.
match themname, then description
Which crime is which
Pick up a name, then drop it on its description. Look for the key word in each definition.
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Hunt the key word: access, fake site, unwanted, licence, own name.
All five matched. Boards ask the one-line definitions of exactly these five.
4. Check yourself
Start with the first question.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
Plagiarism is involved with which offence?
Right. Plagiarism is copying another person's writing and passing it off as your own, which is stealing writing.
Software piracy is copying or using software without the owner's permission; that is not what is asked here.
Copyright violation is breaking the owner's rights; that is not what is asked here.
Identity theft is stealing another person's identity data; that is not what is asked here.
In the second, think about how ethics and law relate.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
What is it called to enter a computer network without permission and use the computer?
Software piracy is copying or using software without the owner's permission; that is not what is asked here.
Nanotechnology is tiny-scale technology; that is not what is asked here.
Plagiarism is passing off someone else's writing as your own; that is not what is asked here.
Right. Entering and using a network without permission is hacking (S8).
Take a little longer over the last one.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
How many guidelines does Computer Ethics give?
There are ten guidelines, not 8. The correct option is: 10.
Right. The Computer Ethics Institute gave ten guidelines in 1992 (S4).
There are ten guidelines, not 12. The correct option is: 10.
There are ten guidelines, not 14. The correct option is: 10.
The whole note on eight cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Eight cards
QuestionHow are unethical and illegal acts related?
AnswerAll illegal acts are unethical, but not all unethical acts are illegal.
QuestionIn which year did the Computer Ethics Institute give guidelines to users?
AnswerIn 1992.
QuestionHow many computer ethics guidelines are there?
AnswerTen.
QuestionWhat is cyber crime?
AnswerUnethical and criminal acts committed through the internet.
QuestionWhat is hacking?
AnswerGaining unauthorised access to and control of a computer system, network or data.
QuestionWhat is phishing?
AnswerLuring a user to a fake website to steal PINs, passwords and card details.
QuestionAccording to the BSA, how much software in use is pirated?
AnswerAbout 36 percent.
QuestionWhat is the Bangla term for plagiarism?
AnswerKumbhilokbritti.
Source: Information and Communication Technology, Classes 11-12 (NCTB), Chapter 1 “Information and Communication Technology: World and Bangladesh Perspective”, section 1.4.