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Computer Ethics, Safety, and Security
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Ethics and Security Glossary ~

• Antivirus Program: A computer program that detects viruses and repairs/disinfects files.
• Bomb: A destructive code or virus designed to activate at a specific time.
• Commercial Software: Software whose copyright is owned by the author/software publisher.
• Site License: Legal authorization to install and use commercial software on more than one computer located at a particular location (site). Typcially site licenses permit installation of the software onto a specific maximum number of computers, or sometimes it allows installation on every computer located at a specific site. The cost of a site license is much more expensive than the cost of a single-computer license.
  Copyright: Protection giving the owner the exclusive right to reproduce or distribute copies of his or her own work.
• Ethics: A set of moral principles or values.
• Freeware: Software that is given away free of charge, but whose author still retains all rights.
• Hacker: A person who secretly gains access to computers and files without permission.
• Hoax: A program intended to scare users into thinking they have a virus.
• Password: A safeguard for access to a computer or computer program.
• Piracy: The illegal copying and distribution of software. These crimes may be punishable by fines and imprisonment.
• Public Domain: Software that is not copyrighted and is free to copy and distribute.
• Shareware: Copyrighted software distributed free of charge on a trial basis with payment by the honor system.
• Trojan Horse: A virus that is disguised as a useful piece of software.
• Virus: A computer program designed to cause damage to computer files.
• Worm: A destructive computer program that bores its way through a computer's files or through a computer's network.

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Computer Ethics ~

• Ethics are a set of moral principles or values.
• Ethical questions deal with what is right or wrong.
• Ethical behavior advances the "common good".
• Computer ethics refers to using computer technology for "good" purposes.
• Unethical acts may also be illegal acts and may result in conviction with imprisonment and/or heavy fines.

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Ethical Software Usage ~

Commercial Software
Copyrighted by an individual or a business
Permission needed in order to copy

Shareware
Copyright protected
Distributed free on a trial basis
Payment by the honor system for satisfied users

Freeware
Given away free of charge
Owner often retains rights
Not necessarily free to copy and distribute

Public-Domain Software
Not copyrighted
Donated for public use
Free to copy and distribute

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Safe Computing ~

• Make back-up copies of all files on a regular basis.
• Don't share disks from other computers. This increases your chance of catching a virus.
• Don't boot from a floppy disk.
• Write-protect your disks.
• Use an anti-virus program to scan your files on a regular basis.
• Use caution when downloading files from the Internet many are virus infected.
• File sharing on a Local Area Network (LAN) may also expose your files to a virus.