Security and Ethics

Definition of Security

Data security is the practice of keeping data protected from corruption and unauthorized access.

Sources of Security Breaches

1. Viruses, Worms and Trojan horses: Viruses, worms and Trojan Horses are all malicious programs that can cause damage to your computer, but there are differences among the three, and knowing those differences can help you to better protect your computer from their often damaging effects.
a. Virus: A computer virus attaches itself to a program or files so it can spread from one computer to another, leaving infections as it travels. It is important to note that a virus cannot be spread without a human action, (such as running an infected program) to keep it going.
b. Worms: Worms spread from computer to computer, but unlike a virus, they can travel without any help from a person. A worm takes advantage of file or information transport features on your system, which allows it to travel unaided
c. Trojan horse: It is a destructive program that looks like a genuine application. Unlike viruses, Trojan horses do not replicate themselves but they can be just as destructive. Trojans also open a backdoor entry to your computer which gives malicious users/programs access to your system, allowing confidential and personal information to be theft.
2. Poor network implementation
3. Poor implementation or lack of ICT policies
4. Carelessness-giving out personal and vital information on the net without careful screening
5. Hackers, spammers, scammers

Preventive Measures

1. Use of antivirus software e.g Norton, McAfee, Avast, etc
2. Use of firewall: A firewall is a software utility or hardware device that acts as a filter for data entering or leaving a network or computer.
3. Exercising care in giving out vital and personal information
4. Proper network implementation and policies
5. Exercising care in opening email attachments.

Ethics

Ethics is a set of moral principles that govern the behaviour of a group or individual. Therefore, computer ethics is a set of moral principles that regulate the use of computers

Legal Issues

Legal issues are the number of issues related to the use and misuse of ICT and its related fields.
Some common issues include:
1. Intellectual property right: Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind. A right that is had by a person or by a company to have exclusive rights to use its plans, ideas, or other intangible assets without the worry of competition, at least for a specific period. These rights can include copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets
2. Piracy: Software piracy is the illegal copying, distribution, or use of the software.
etc