This document discusses privacy, security, and ethics as they relate to technology and personal data. It addresses threats to privacy from large databases, private networks, and the internet. It also covers security threats from computer criminals like hackers and issues around computer crime. Finally, it discusses ethics around copyright, software piracy, and plagiarism as shaped by digital technologies.

1. PRIVACY,
SECURITY, AND
ETHICS
Texas A&M University Commerce

2. Introduction
 The ubiquitous use of computers and technology prompts some very important
questions about the use of personal data and our right to privacy.
 Privacy – What are the threats to personal privacy and how can we protect
ourselves?
 Security – How can access to sensitive information be controlled and how can we
secure hardware and software?
 Ethics – How do the actions of individual users and companies affect society?

3. Privacy
 Privacy – concerns the collection and use of data about individuals
 Three primary privacy issues:
 Accuracy
 Property
 Access

4. Large Databases
 Federal government alone has over 2,000 databases
 Reverse directory compiles lists of the calls we make
 Data gatherers
 Information resellers or
information brokers
 Electronic profiles are
easily created

5. Large Databases - Issues
 Your personal information is a marketable commodity, which raises many issues:
Collecting public, but personally identifying information (e.g., Google’s Street View)
 Spreading information without personal consent, leading to identity theft
 Spreading inaccurate information
 Mistaken identity
 Freedom of Information Act

6. Private Networks
 Employers can monitor e-mail legally
 75 percent of all businesses search employees’ electronic mail and computer files using snoopware
 A proposed law could prohibit this type of
electronic monitoring
or at least require the
employer to notify
the employee first

7. The Internet and the Web
 Illusion of anonymity
 People are not concerned about
privacy when surfing the Internet
or when sending e-mail
 History file (right) in Web browsers
 Traditional cookies from Web surfing
 Spyware
 Ad network or adware cookies
 Web bugs
 Computer monitoring software,
such as keystroke loggers

8. Spyware Removal
 Anti-Spyware programs
 Designed to detect and remove cookies, web bugs, and monitoring software, such as key loggers

9. Major Laws on Privacy
 Federal laws governing privacy matters have been created
 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act – protects personal financial information
 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – protects medical records
 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) – restricts disclosure of educational results and
records

10. Security
 Threats to computer security include criminals, computer crimes, and other hazards
 Computer criminals:
 Employees
 Outside users
 Hackers and
crackers
 Organized crime
 Terrorists

11. Computer Crime
 Malicious Programs
 Viruses
 Worms
 Trojan horse
 Zombies
 Denial of service (DoS) attacks
 Internet scams, such as phishing
 Social networking risks
 Rogue Wi-Fi hotspots
 Theft of hardware, software, data, and
computer time
 Data manipulation
 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act

12. Other Hazards
 Natural hazards
 Natural forces such as fires, floods, and tornadoes
 Civil strife and terrorism
 Wars, riots, and terrorist activites
 Technological failures
 Voltage surge or spike
 Use a surge protector
 Human errors
 Data entry errors
 Programmer error

13. Measures to Protect Computer Security
 Restricting access
 Encrypting data
 Anticipating disasters
 Preventing data loss

14. Restricting Access
 Biometric scanning
 Fingerprint scanners
 Iris (eye) scanners
 Passwords
 Firewalls

15. Encrypting Data
 Encryption is the process of coding information to make it unreadable,
except to those who have the key
 E-mail encryption
 File encryption
 Web site encryption
 Virtual private networks
(VPNs)
 Wireless network encryption
 WEP, WPA, and WPA2

16. Ethics
 Copyright
 Gives content creators the right to control the use and distribution of their work
 Software piracy
 Unauthorized copying and distribution
 Digital Millennium Copyright Act
 Digital rights management (DRM)
 Plagiarism

17. Questions
 Discuss the impact of large databases, private networks, the Internet, and the Web
on privacy.
 Discuss the various kinds of computer criminals.
 What are the principal measures used to protect computer security? What is
encryption? How is it used by corporations and individuals?
 What is a copyright? Discuss software piracy, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act,
and digital rights management?
 What is plagiarism? Discuss how computers make plagiarism easy and tempting to
busy people and how a plagiarist can be easily identified.