COMPUTING AND ETHICS WHAT IS COMPUTING Computing is

COMPUTING AND ETHICS

WHAT IS COMPUTING? Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology. Computer science (or computing science) is the study and the science of theoretical foundations of information and computation and their implementation and application in computer systems.

What ethics? ? What is isethics? ? Computer Ethics is a branch of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct. Margaret Anne Pierce, a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computers at Georgia Southern University has categorized the ethical decisions related to computer technology and usage into 3 primary influences:

1. The individual's own personal code. 2. any informal code of ethical behavior that exists in the work place. 3. exposure to formal codes of ethics.

Intellectual property An original work or idea in some tangible medium of expression, whether published or not is considered to be an INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. BROADLY, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES MAY BE CATEGORISED AS FOLLOWING: 1) Literary works 2) Dramatic works 3) Motion pictures and etc.

4) Antomimes. Intellectual property 5) Choreography 6) Musical works 7) Pictorial, Graphical or sculpture work 8) Architectural work 9) Jewellery design 10)Fabric design 11)Photograph, painting and drawings 12)Craftwork 13)Audio video recording 14)Computer database

Software as intellectual property A computer software consists of some procedure, sets of computer programs along with associated documentation, which can run on computer system. It s an intellectual property whose right may be legally reserved to the developer.

Software patent • An official document which provides right and ownership to the registered holder. • once the patent registration is completed, others can not claim for patent. • the patent law prevents the development and use of the software, without valid permission of the owner. • A patent grants the control of the product in the market. Unless a privilege is granted by the patent holder , anyone who uses or produces or sells the patent items, causes an infringement of patent law.

Software copyright • A copyright to a software establishes ownership of an original work to give credit where and when it is due. • It’s a document granting exclusivacts are publishable by laws. • e rights to publish and sell • All copyrighted software protected by government laws. when someone tries to take credit for uses without authority or attempt to reap profit from others copyrighted software, a violation of copyright act is committed. Such acts are punishable by law.

Software Trademark • Like a consumer sector, a computer software manufacturing company may register a trade name and trademark. With every recognized trademark or brand name, certain special characteristics are associated. • A trademark often acts as a symbol of goodwill. • Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office are registered Trademarks of Microsoft Corporation • Photoshop is a registered trademarks of Adobe Company. • Corel, Word Perfect are trademarks of Corel Corporation.

Software Licensing and Piracy • When a branded software is purchased from an • authorized vendor, it gives a license for installing • and using it within restricted limit, as explained by the vendor. • Computer piracy is an abuse, a crime which no civilized society should tolerate.

Privacy and Data protection on the Internet • Treat Email as confidential. • Unless explicitly permitted, it should be considered as one to one communication. • Forwarding email address of one to a third party is a breach of trust. • For a message sent to many, instead of CC use BCC function; so that each receiver can only see his or her own address.

Protection Against Spam • On Internet high progress in electronic advertisement is threatened by Spam. • Spam is a term referred to mean “Unsolicited or junk Email”

Cyber Crime Cyber crime may consists of • An infringement of internet name • An infringement of trademark, copyright • An advertisement of prohibited item (eg. Gambling, alcohol, Tobacco etc. ) • Misrepresentation of website owner • Injecting virus into other’s computer system • Not rendering service as per website advertisement Note: Infringement = breach / violation

Hacking • Hacking is the act of entering into one’s computer system and getting access to information illegally. • While selecting password, if convenient to remember is made the primary issue, then it makes it convenient to a hacker for entering into owner’s computer system. The password should not be a common dictionary word. To make hacking difficult, one should select a password of, at least, six character long with mixed up lower case and upper case letters, as well as some digits. • The passwords should be changed frequently, it should not be disclosed to other peoples.

Cyber Laws in India Major features of this act is that : • Digital signatures are legally valid • An electronic record affixed by digital signature is as authentic as any handwritten or typed or printed form • Creating, filing and retention of official documents in the digital form are legally acceptable Hacking, tampering somebody else’s computer source documents, publishing obscene information in electronic form are legal offences against which penalty may be imposed

Open Source A source code that is open to access. • The software is made available for public collaboration at almost all stages of development and then is released as open source.

Open Source Software [Operating System] • Without operating System our machine is of no use. • Open source community has contributed to creation of free operating systems. • We get operating systems like : Linux, Free. BSD, Open BSD, Free DOS, Minix, Inferno, Free RTOS, Open Solaris etc for free. • A user can download and use it, and experiment with it; he can also upgrade these OS and put it back in the community. • Linux has become the most used OS amongst its open source competitors.

Open Source Softwares [Browsers] • Web Browser is the one of the most common software application used now in the days of internet. • Ex. of open source web browsers are : Amaya, Camino, Chrome, Elink, Flock, Konqueror, Lynx, Sea. Monkey and Mozilla Firefox.

Open Source Softwares [Office Suite] • Office suite is a collection of multiple programs that allows us to do operations like creating and editing a document, a spreadsheet, a presentation, a database and lot of other things. • Different open source office suites are available namely Open. Office. org, Koffice, GNOME Office, Lotus Symphony, Softmaker Office 2006, Neo. Office etc. • Lotus, Symphony, Soft. Maker Office 2006 work only on Windows Operating System. • Neo. Office works on Mac OS.