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SubjectFree lesson

Computer Ethics I

ClassNotes Team 4 MIN READUPDATED 1 JUL 2026

Computer Science J.S.S 2 Second Term

Sub-theme: Basic Computer Operation and Concept

Week 1

Computer Ethics I

Performance Objective

Student should be able to:

  1. List responsible ways of using computer and internet

Content

Computer ethics are a set of moral standards that govern the use of computers.  It is society’s views about the use of computers, both hardware and software. Privacy concerns, intellectual property rights and effects on society are some of the common issues of computer ethics.

 

Privacy Concern

Hacking is the unlawful intrusion into a computer or a network. A hacker can intrude through the security levels of a computer system or network and can acquire unauthorized access to other computers.
Malware: means malicious software which is created to impair a computer system. Common malware are viruses, spyware, worms and Trojan horses.  A virus can delete files from a hard drive while a spyware can collect data from a computer.

Data Protection: also known as information privacy or data privacy is the process of safeguarding data which intends to influence a balance between individual privacy rights while still authorizing data to be used for business purposes.

 

Anonymity: is a way of keeping a user’s identity masked through various applications.


Intellectual Property Rights

Copyright: is a form of intellectual property that gives proprietary publication, distribution and usage rights for the author. This means that whatever idea the author created cannot be employed or disseminated by anyone else without the permission of the author.
Plagiarism: is an act of copying and publishing another person’s work without proper citation. It’s like stealing someone else’s work and releasing it as your own work.

Cracking: is a way of breaking into a system by getting past the security features of the system. It’s a way of skipping the registration and authentication steps when installing software.
Software License: allows the use of digital material by following the license agreement. Ownership remains with the original copyright owner, users are just granted licenses to use the material based on the agreement.

 

Effects on Society

Jobs: Some jobs have been abolished while some jobs have become simpler as computers have taken over companies and businesses. Things can now be done in just one click whereas before it takes multiple steps to perform a task.  This change may be considered unethical as it limits the skills of the employees.

There are also ethical concerns on the health and safety of employees getting sick from constant sitting, staring at computer screens and typing on the keyboard or clicking on the mouse.

Environmental Impact: Environment has been affected by computers and the internet since so much time spent using computers increases energy usage which in turn increases the emission of greenhouse gases.
There are ways where we can save energy like limiting computer time and turning off the computer or putting on sleep mode when not in use.  Buying energy-efficient computers with the Energy Star label can also help save the environment.

Social Impact: Computers and the internet help people stay in touch with family and friends. Social media has been very popular nowadays.
Computer gaming influenced society both positively and negatively.

 Positive Effects: Is improved hand-eye coordination, stress relief and improved strategic thinking.  Negative effects are an addiction of gamers, isolation from the real world and exposure to violence.
Computer technology helps the government in improving services to its citizens.  Advanced database can hold huge data being collected and analyzed by the government.

Computer technology aids businesses by automating processes, reports and analysis.

 

Responsible way of using a Computer and Internet

  1. The computer system must be used responsibly in order to get the maximum performance of the computer. Every computer user's

needs to observe the following rules. Dust cover should be used to cover the equipment when not in use.

  1. Do not spill liquid on any part of the computer.
  2. Switch off equipment when not in use.
  3. Be careful about using diskette or any other external storage devices for unknown device source to avoid viruses.
  4. The system should be connected to an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) in places where power outages are common, to protect the system from shutting out abruptly.
  5. Ensure you check your mailbox often, for any message
  6. Give polite responses to Emails.