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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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________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._________________________________________________________________________________________
Ethical Software Usage ~
Commercial Software
Copyrighted by an individual or a business
Permission needed in order to copyShareware
Copyright protected
Distributed free on a trial basis
Payment by the honor system for satisfied usersFreeware
Given away free of charge
Owner often retains rights
Not necessarily free to copy and distributePublic-Domain Software
Not copyrighted
Donated for public use
Free to copy and distribute_________________________________________________________________________________________
Safe Computing ~