Binalatongan Community College

Brgy. Ilang San Carlos City, Pangasinan

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT)

LEARNING MODULE

Module No. 1
Subject Code : IT 225
Subject Description : SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
Term : 2nd Semester 2023-2024

I. Learning Objectives:
- Teach the critical reasoning and moral theory.
- Discuss the computing professions and professional ethics.
- Inform students regarding intellectual and intangible property.
- Discuss all about Trust, Safety and Reliability.

Upon completion of this module, the students will be able to:

II. Learning Outcome:
- Discuss regarding the introduction to professionalism
- Identify what is Philosophy, ethics and applied ethics
- Discuss common computer ethics fallacies
- Identify the code of conducts in IT/CS related professional bodies.
- Discuss topic regarding legal systems.
- Identify law, moral, norms and ethics.
- Discuss the issues in Information Systems.
- Identify the intellectual property, software licensing issues, computer evidences
and online transactions

III. Learning Resources:

- COMPUTER ETHICS
William John Brinkman / Alton F. Sanders

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 - BUSINESS ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Dr. Reynaldo A. Padilla
- Cloudflare.com/learning/dns/what-is-dns
- https://www.amrita.edu/course/social-and-professional-issues
- https://empire2.esc.edu/cdladmin/cdlcat.nsf/byid/
B1886C36BF8CB20985256CE6006CC56A?opendocument

IV. Tasks to Complete:

- Assignment
- Computer Activities
- Quizzes
- Final Examination

V. Content Items:
Introduction to Professionalism

The definition of a profession is a job, or what you do for a living. A lawyer is an

example of a profession. When you work as a teacher, this is an example of a situation
where education is your profession. ... Profession means a declaration. Tellling
someone you did something wrong is an example of a profession of guilt.
A profession is an occupation founded upon specialized educational training, the
purpose of which is to supply disinterested objective counsel and service to others, for a
direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain.
A Profession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and
who hold themselves out as, and are accepted by the public as possessing special
knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning derived from research,
education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to apply this knowledge
and exercise these skills in the interest of others. 
A vocation is an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are
suited, trained, or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the
meanings of the term originated in Christianity.
Vocation is one's response to a call from beyond oneself to use one's strengths and
gifts to make the world a better place through service, creativity, and leadership. A call
from beyond oneself. ... To speak of “vocation” or “calling” is to suggest that my
life is a response to something beyond myself.

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What Is the Difference Between a Professional Job and a Nonprofessional
Job?

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a professional job

is one that requires a specific level of college education, typically a bachelor’s degree or
higher, for someone to perform its duties and responsibilities. Examples of professional
jobs include doctors, teachers, accountants, lawyers, scientists, and authors. According
to the EEOC, non-professional jobs include craftspeople, plumbers, electricians,
installers, and food service workers or, in general, positions that primarily entail manual
labor duties and trade skills learned through an apprenticeship or training program.

Attributes of Professionalism

1. Competency

First of all, accountancy professionals are known for their specialised knowledge and
skills backed up by their accountancy qualification. It is expected and required that they
will keep this knowledge and skills up-to-date throughout their careers (undertaking
regular continuing professional development – CPD) so that they can always deliver
work of the highest quality, in accordance with accounting standards and relevant laws
and regulations.
 

2. Reliability and accountability

True professionals plan in advance and never turn up to client meetings unprepared.
They honour their commitments and can be relied upon to always get the job done –
they deliver what they said they would deliver, and on time. But if things are not going
exactly to plan, they do not look for excuses but do their best to put tasks and projects
back on track. If mistakes are made, they accept responsibility for the part they played.
 

3. Honesty and integrity

Personal accountability is closely linked to honesty and integrity, another two tenets of
professionalism. Professionals always tell the truth and never compromise their values.
They will do the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, even if it means others
will disagree or disapprove.

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‘There are also contributory factors of morality and ethics – a professional person
should demonstrate a squeaky-clean, whiter-than-white stance,’ adds Clarke.
 

4. Self-control

Imagine being faced with an irate client or supplier. Instead of getting angry in return,
you will act like a professional if you stay calm and business-like, and if you do
everything you can to understand and help resolve the issue. Professionals can do this
because they have a good degree of emotional intelligence, which means they consider
the emotions and needs of others.

At work, professionals keep calm under pressure no matter what, even though they
might act differently if faced with a similar situation in their personal lives.

It is possible because they have developed a work persona that is separate from their
personality outside of the office, says Rona O'Brien, dean of business and management
at GSM London: ‘In your personal life there are situations where you will be angry,
shout, start an argument or be difficult with other people. While you don't want to
entirely remove your individual personality at work, you must be able to dampen down
the negative sides.’
 

5. Flexibility

Your contract of employment may state that your workday ends at 5pm, but some days
you may have to stay half an hour late to get a task or project finished on time. This
does not mean you should ignore important commitments in your personal life, but you
do not want to be seen leaving important work not done just because you want to go to
the gym.

‘Your employer expects you to demonstrate a commitment to your role, as well as being
flexible enough to adjust to any changes,’ says Johnson. Plans, goals and parameters
evolve as work moves forward. 
 

6. Respect for others 

Treating all people with respect and kindness is part and parcel of being professional.
This includes people junior to you and those in support roles, as well as people you

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dislike. Sometimes you will have to work with colleagues you just do not get on with or
who are not very nice. Remain professional by always being polite to everyone you
come into contact with, no matter what their role is and no matter what you think of
them.

Respecting others also involves supporting them when they need it and being generally
helpful, which sometimes means doing that little bit more. You gain a reputation as a
professional by going over and above the bare minimum requirement of your job
description. This means always looking for ways to do your job better, helping out
colleagues and not balking at new responsibilities.

7. Professional image

Professionals always look the part. What you wear (this includes hair and jewellery)
needs to exude an air of confidence and respectability, ‘as you are always on show and
being judged,’ says Johnson. ‘This does not necessarily mean that you have to conform
to the stereotype of a pin-striped suit and white shirt, but you do have to be very
smart. Lasting impressions are made in a split second.’

Appearance also extends to external emails and written documents you present to
clients, suppliers and other parties. ’Untidy reports with poor grammar will imply you
are careless or disorganised and will therefore call into question the quality of the
content,’ says Johnson. They will also call into question your professionalism.

If you want to develop or improve your professionalism, focus on developing or

improving the attributes above.

‘Perhaps also seek out someone within your organisation who is successful and
experienced, and observe how they handle the technical aspects of the job and how
they interact with others,’ suggests Johnson.

’Senior managers, for example, will have significant experience of working with clients
and with staff so "being professional" is second nature to them.’ Pay particular attention
to how they handle themselves and how they react in difficult situations.

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The three significant vocations are:

1. Single life
2. Married life
3. Religious life

Single life 

Is one of the three types of vocation. It's when a person/ persons are committed to
being single. This gives them the opportunity to become closer to God, to love God, and
serve others. People that are single, are free from the obligations to family. This makes
single people more reliable to help and serve the Catholic Church, assist the needy, and
care for themselves and other. By being free from obligations of community, and family,
they have potential to enrich themselves personally, and can benefit humankind. Some
examples of vocations that people following a single life can display within their
communities are, being nans, social worker and a teacher. By single people pursuing
their vocations, the gifts and talents they receive from God are used to follow out their
vocations, and to improve them. Some gifts and talents people receive to pursue their
vocations are, patience, forgiveness, love, and respect. By single people using
these gifts and talents, they can live out the 'calling/ callings' from God.

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Marriage life
Is when a couple have unconditional love for each other. This reflects God's infinite love
that he has for us. Marriage symbolizes Christ's love for the Church and his followers.
By a man and a woman being united by marriage and children, they express the love
that a married couple have. This shows the love that the couple have for God,   the
members of the Church, and their community. Some examples of vocations that people
receive even if married are, parenthood, teaching, and  psychologist. These are some
vocations that people can do even if they are married or not. Some gifts and talents
that are in involved to be married and do these vocations are, patience, kindness,
respect, and intelligent. By using these gifts and talents, people that are married can
improve their relationship between them and their partner, with God and others.

Religious life
Is the third vocation. Religious life is when priests, sisters, and brothers commit their
life to God, rather than being in a romantic or sexual relationship. These people devote
themselves to the Church, to the needy, to their communities, and to charity work. By
following the vocation of a religious life, priests, nuns, and brothers spend most their
time in prayer with God, and serving their Catholic community. Even those a person can
purse the vocation of a priest, they can still become a teacher or even a scientist. Many
priests decades ago were also teachers and scientists, and have changed history. Also,
nuns and brothers could teacher at schools as well as serving God. Some gifts and
talents that people pursing in the vocation of religious life have are, patience, hope,
kindness, forgiveness, honesty, and generosity. By priests, nuns, and brothers having
these gifts to purse the vocation of a religious life, they can also use them to teach,
and do scientific research. By using these gifts and talents in the right and respectful
way, people that have a vocation to be part of the religious life can improve society,

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their Catholic communities, and their way of life. They can also inspire others when
pursing their vocation through their gifts and talents.

Philosophy is the study of underlying things. ... A "philosophy" can also mean a group
of ideas by philosophers, or by a philosopher. Philosophy is a way of thinking about the
world, the universe, and society. In the past, sciences were part of philosophy as well.
The ideas in philosophy are often general and abstract.
Socrates of Athens (l. c. 470/469-399 BCE) is among the most famous figures in
world history for his contributions to the development of ancient
Greek philosophy which provided the foundation for all of Western Philosophy. He is, in
fact, known as the "Father of Western Philosophy" for this reason.
At its simplest, ethics is a system of moral principles. ... Ethics is concerned with what is
good for individuals and society and is also described as moral philosophy. The term is
derived from the Greek word ethos which can mean custom, habit, character or
disposition.
Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing,
defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior". The field of
ethics, along with aesthetics, concerns matters of value, and thus comprises the branch
of philosophy called axiology.
The four main branches of ethics include descriptive ethics, normative
ethics, meta-ethics and applied ethics.

Descriptive Ethics
Descriptive ethics deals with what people actually believe (or made to believe) to be
right or wrong, and accordingly holds up the human actions acceptable or not
acceptable or punishable under a custom or law.
However, customs and laws keep changing from time to time and from society to
society. The societies have structured their moral principles as per changing time and
have expected people to behave accordingly. Due to this, descriptive ethics is also
called comparative ethics because it compares the ethics or past and present; ethics of
one society and other. It also takes inputs from other disciplines such as anthropology,
psychology, sociology and history to explain the moral right or wrong.
Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics deals with “norms” or set of considerations how one should act. Thus,
it’s a study of “ethical action” and sets out the rightness or wrongness of the actions. It
is also called prescriptive ethics because it rests on the principles which determine
whether an action is right or wrong. The Golden rule of normative ethics is “doing to
other as we want them to do to us“. Since we don’t want our neighbours to throw
stones through our glass window, then it will not be wise to first throw stone through a
neighbour’s window.  Based on this reasoning, anything such as harassing, victimising,
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abusing or assaulting someone is wrong. Normative ethics also provides justification for
punishing a person who disturbs social and moral order.

Meta Ethics
Meta Ethics or “analytical ethics” deals with the origin of the ethical concepts
themselves. It does not consider whether an action is good or bad, right or wrong.
Rather, it questions – what goodness or rightness or morality itself is? It is basically
a highly abstract way of thinking about ethics. The key theories in meta-ethics
include naturalism, non-naturalism, emotivism and prescriptivism.
Naturalists and non-naturalists believe that moral language is cognitive and can be
known to be true or false. Emotivists deny that moral utterances are cognitive, holding
that they consist of emotional expressions of approval or disapproval and that the
nature of moral reasoning and justification must be reinterpreted to take this essential
characteristic of moral utterances into account. Prescriptivists take a somewhat similar
approach, arguing that moral judgments are prescriptions or prohibitions of action,
rather than statements of fact about the world.
Applied Ethics
Applied ethics deals with the philosophical examination, from a moral standpoint, of
particular issues in private and public life which are matters of moral judgment. This
branch of ethics is most important for professionals in different walks of life including
doctors, teachers, administrators, rulers and so on. There are six key domains of
applied ethics viz. Decision ethics {ethical decision making process}, Professional
ethics {for good professionalism}, Clinical Ethics {good clinical practices}, Business
Ethics {good business practices}, Organizational ethics {ethics within and among
organizations} and social ethics.
It deals with the rightness or wrongness of social, economical, cultural, religious issues
also. For example, euthanasia, child labour, abortion etc.

Applied ethics is a branch of ethics devoted to the treatment of moral problems,

practices, and policies in personal life, professions, technology, and government. In
contrast to traditional ethical theory—concerned with purely theoretical problems such
as, for example, the development of a general criterion of rightness—applied ethics
takes its point of departure in practical normative challenges. Along with general
overviews and journals, nine central branches of applied ethics are added, with six to
eight references in connection to each branch. It should be noted that these branches
constitute only a selection among the plethora of disciplines within applied ethics.
Moreover, some overlap is found among the different areas.
The Ten Great Computer Fallacies
It seems that everyone has bought, is buying or is thinking about buying a computer.
Unless you have been in a coma for the past several years, you’ve heard of the

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marvelous things computers can do- everything from balancing your checkbook to
insuring your child’s success in college. The festive atmosphere surrounding the
computer market would lead us to believe that the buying experience is all fun and
games. However, for many people, the experience is a personal catastrophe. They
spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on equipment and software they
can’t even use. To most of us, buying a computer is like buying a dream. We think, “If I
buy this marvelous new technology, I will achieve a mastery over my environment that
I never had before.” We often rashly ignore the advice about analyzing our needs and
justifying the purchase. We fall victim to one or more of the Great Computer Fallacies.
Have you fallen for any of these?
Fallacy No. 1: All Computers Have Magic Buttons.
Many people purchase a computer with the misconception that all they have to do is
push a button and the computer will solve all their problems. With computers, you have
to tell the computer what the problem is and then how to solve it. If you can’t do that
without a computer, you probably can’t do it with one either.
Fallacy No 2: We Can Communicate With Computer People.
When you speak with many people in the computer industry, the individual words may
be familiar but taken together they are intimidating, using high— tech terminology.
Combat this problem — insist that everyone speak in language you can understand.
Fallacy No. 3: Computers Can Fix It All.
As the saying goes “When in trouble, Computerize.” If you are in a mess, a new
computer will compound the mess, not fix it. If erroneous data is entered into the
computer, the results produced by the computer will be equally erroneous; the only
difference is that it will produce it with mind—boggling speed.
Fallacy No. 4: Computers can be mastered in 30 Minutes.
Many computer purchasers fell that they don’t have to read a 200-page manual to learn
to operate their computer. This attitude prevents many people from successfully using
their new computer. In reality, computers require your active involvement. This means
setting at the terminal and working with the machine, not simply walking past it.
Fallacy No. 5: One Size Fits All.
The “one-size fits-all” variety of software usually doesn’t fit anyone very well. A
business is successful because of the way management has chosen to do business.
These policies and procedures should not be changed to conform to the requirements
of a software package. If you can’t find a package that meets your requirements, have
one modified for you.

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Fallacy No. 6: Computers Are User-Friendly.
The fact is they’re not friendly at all. Computers consist of a collection of electronic
components, the best of which could never be called friendly. What makes a computer
friendly is the software. Try it out ahead of time; if you have a great deal of difficulty, it
will not become any friendlier after you buy it.
Fallacy No 7: Written Information Is Easily Understood.
Computer manuals seem to be written by the same people who write IRS publications.
Many computer hardware and software manuals assume that the reader is already
familiar with all the details and is not reading the information for the first time.
Fallacy No. 8: The Machine’s Advertised Low Price Is the Total Cost of a
System.
By the time you add all the necessary components to make your system usable —
monitor card and monitor, printer controller, dot—matrix or letter—quality printer, hard
disk, communications protocols and software — plan on spending much much more
than the advertised price. A number of costs beyond the price of the hardware and
software are often overlooked. These include the costs of training, annual maintenance,
supplies, conversion and, perhaps, temporary help.
Fallacy No. 9: I Can’t Buy Now Because I’m Waiting for So-and-So to
Announce a Faster Machine.
The rest of the fallacy is that no matter how long and hard you shop for a computer,
after you purchased it, it’ll be on sale cheaper somewhere else. Regardless of when you
decide to buy a computer, the machine will most likely be technologically obsolete
before you get it fully operational. Advances occur so rapidly that any computer you
buy will be superseded by something bigger, faster and cheaper in the near future.
Fallacy No 10: Everyone Needs a Computer.
We hear this often from people. They tell us they must have a computer because their
competitor has one, or because they don’t want to be the last executive on the block to
have one. In truth, many businesses, both large and small, are run very effectively with
a manual system. Still, prospective buyers feel left out of the crowd. When a computer
is purchased without a definable purpose, it becomes a prime candidate for residency in
the storage closet within a short time, if they have no definitive need, you should stay
out of the computer stores.

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Computer ethics is defined as the analysis of the nature and social impact
of computer technology and the corresponding formulation and justification of policies
for the ethical use of such technology. The typical problem with computer ethics is the
policy vacuum that arises from the new capabilities of the technology.

The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics

1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.

2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.
3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.
4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid
(without permission).
7. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization or
proper compensation.
8. Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.
9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing
or the system you are designing.
10.Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that ensure consideration and respect
for other humans.

Commandment 1
Explanation: This commandment says that it is unethical to use a computer to
harm another user. It is not limited to physical injury. It includes harming or
corrupting other users' data or files. The commandment states that it is wrong to
use a computer to steal someone's personal information. Manipulating or
destroying files of other users is ethically wrong. It is unethical to write
programs, which on execution lead to stealing, copying or gaining unauthorized
access to other users' data. Being involved in practices like hacking, spamming,
phishing or cyber bullying does not conform to computer ethics.

Commandment 2
Explanation: Computer software can be used in ways that disturb other users
or disrupt their work. Viruses, for example, are programs meant to harm useful
computer programs or interfere with the normal functioning of a computer.
Malicious software can disrupt the functioning of computers in more ways than
one. It may overload computer memory through excessive consumption of
computer resources, thus slowing its functioning. It may cause a computer to
function wrongly or even stop working. Using malicious software to attack a
computer is unethical.

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Commandment 3
Explanation: We know it is wrong to read someone's personal letters. On the
same lines, it is wrong to read someone else's email messages or files. Obtaining
data from another person's private files is nothing less than breaking into
someone's room. Snooping around in another person's files or reading someone
else's personal messages is the invasion of his privacy. There are exceptions to
this. For example, spying is necessary and cannot be called unethical when it is
done against illegitimate use of computers. For example, intelligence agencies
working on cybercrime cases need to spy on the internet activity of suspects.

Commandment 4
Explanation: Stealing sensitive information or leaking confidential information is
as good as robbery. It is wrong to acquire personal information of employees
from an employee database or patient history from a hospital database or other
such information that is meant to be confidential. Similarly, breaking into a bank
account to collect information about the account or account holder is wrong.
Illegal electronic transfer of funds is a type of fraud. With the use of technology,
stealing of information is much easier. Computers can be used to store stolen
information.

Commandment 5
Explanation: Spread of information has become viral today, because of the
Internet. This also means that false news or rumors can spread speedily through
social networking sites or emails. Being involved in the circulation of incorrect
information is unethical. Mails and pop-ups are commonly used to spread the
wrong information or give false alerts with the only intent of selling products.
Mails from untrusted sources advertising certain products or spreading some
hard-to-believe information, are not uncommon. Direct or indirect involvement in
the circulation of false information is ethically wrong. Giving wrong information
can hurt other parties or organizations that are affected by that particular theme.

Commandment 6
Explanation: Like any other artistic or literary work, software is copyrighted. A
piece of code is the original work of the individual who created it. It is
copyrighted in his/her name. In case of a developer writing software for the
organization she works for, the organization holds the copyright for it. Copyright
holds true unless its creators announce it is not. Obtaining illegal copies of
copyrighted software is unethical and also encourages others to make copies
illegally.

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Commandment 7
Explanation: Multi-user systems have user specific passwords. Breaking into
some other user's password, thus intruding his/her private space is unethical. It
is not ethical to hack passwords for gaining unauthorized access to a password-
protected computer system. Accessing data that you are not authorized to access
or gaining access to another user's computer without her permission is not
ethical.
Commandment 8
Explanation: Programs developed by a software developer are her property. If
he is working with an organization, they are the organization's property. Copying
them and propagating them in one's own name is unethical. This applies to any
creative work, program or design. Establishing ownership on a work which is not
yours is ethically wrong.

Commandment 9
Explanation: Looking at the social consequences that a program can have,
describes a broader perspective of looking at technology. A computer software
on release, reaches millions. Software like video games and animations or
educational software can have a social impact on their users. When working on
animation films or designing video games, for example, it is the programmer's
responsibility to understand his target audience/users and the effect it may have
on them. For example, a computer game for kids should not have content that
can influence them negatively. Similarly, writing malicious software is ethically
wrong. A software developer/development firm should consider the influence
their code can have on the society at large.

Commandment 10
Explanation: The communication etiquette we follow in the real world applies
to communication over computers as well. While communicating over the
Internet, one should treat others with respect. One should not intrude others'
private space, use abusive language, make false statements or pass irresponsible
remarks about others. One should be courteous while communicating over the
web and should respect others' time and resources. Also, one should be
considerate with a novice computer user.

Privacy Concerns:

 Hacking – is 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 unauthorised access to other computers.

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  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 authorising 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 a 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 health and safety of employees getting
sick from constant sitting, staring at computer screens and typing on the
keyboard or clicking on the mouse.

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  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 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 are improved hand-eye coordination, stress relief and improved
strategic thinking.  Negative effects are 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
analysed by the government.

 Computer technology aids businesses by automating processes, reports and

analysis.

Ethical & Security Issues in Information System

Information systems have made many businesses successful today. Some companies
such as Google, Facebook, EBay, etc. would not exist without information technology.
However, improper use of information technology can create problems for the
organization and employees.

Criminals gaining access to credit card information can lead to financial loss to the
owners of the cards or financial institute. Using organization information systems i.e.
posting inappropriate content on Facebook or Twitter using a company account can
lead to lawsuits and loss of business.

Cyber-crime

Cyber-crime refers to the use of information technology to commit crimes. Cyber-crimes

can range from simply annoying computer users to huge financial losses and even the
loss of human life. The growth of smartphones and other high-end Mobile devices that
have access to the internet have also contributed to the growth of cyber-crime.

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Types of cyber-crime

1. Identity theft

Identity theft occurs when a cyber-criminal impersonates someone else identity to

practice malfunction. This is usually done by accessing personal details of someone
else. The details used in such crimes include social security numbers, date of birth,
credit and debit card numbers, passport numbers, etc.

Once the information has been acquired by the cyber-criminal, it can be used to make
purchases online while impersonating himself to be someone else. One of the ways that
cyber-criminals use to obtain such personal details is phishing. Phishing involves
creating fake websites that look like legitimate business websites or emails.

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For example, an email that appears to come from YAHOO may ask the user to confirm
their personal details including contact numbers and email password. If the user falls
for the trick and updates the details and provides the password, the attacker will have
access to personal details and the email of the victim.

If the victim uses services such as PayPal, then the attacker can use the account to
make purchases online or transfer funds.

Other phishing techniques involve the use of fake Wi-Fi hotspots that look like
legitimate ones. This is common in public places such as restaurants and airports. If an
unsuspecting user logons into the network, then cyber-crimes may try to gain access to
sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, etc.

According to the US Department of Justice, a former state department employee used

email phishing to gain access to email and social media accounts of hundreds of women
and accessed explicit photos. He was able to use the photos to extort the women and
threatened to make the photos public if they did not give in to his demands.

2. Copyright infringement

Piracy is one of the biggest problems with digital products. Websites such as the pirate
bay are used to distribute copyrighted materials such as audio, video, software, etc.
Copyright infringement refers to the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials.

Fast internet access and reducing costs of storage have also contributed to the growth
of copyright infringement crimes.

3. Click fraud

Advertising companies such as Google AdSense offer pay per click advertising services.
Click fraud occurs when a person clicks such a link with no intention of knowing more
about the click but to make more money. This can also be accomplished by using
automated software that makes the clicks.

4. Hacking

Hacking is used to by-pass security controls to gain unauthorized access to a system.

Once the attacker has gained access to the system, they can do whatever they want.
Some of the common activities done when system is hacked are;

 Install programs that allow the attackers to spy on the user or control their
system remotely
 Deface websites
 Steal sensitive information. This can be done using techniques such
as SQL Injection, exploiting vulnerabilities in the database software to gain
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 access, social engineering techniques that trick users into submitting ids and
passwords, etc.

Computer virus

Viruses are unauthorized programs that can annoy users, steal sensitive data or be
used to control equipment that is controlled by computers.

Information system Security

MIS security refers to measures put in place to protect information system resources
from unauthorized access or being compromised. Security vulnerabilities are
weaknesses in a computer system, software, or hardware that can be exploited by the
attacker to gain unauthorized access or compromise a system.

People as part of the information system components can also be exploited using social
engineering techniques. The goal of social engineering is to gain the trust of the users
of the system.

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Computer viruses – these are malicious programs as described in the above section.
The threats posed by viruses can be eliminated or the impact minimized by using Anti-
Virus software and following laid down security best practices of an organization.

Unauthorized access – the standard convention is to use a combination of a

username and a password. Hackers have learnt how to circumvent these controls if the
user does not follow security best practices. Most organizations have added the use of
mobile devices such as phones to provide an extra layer of security.

Let's take Gmail as an example, if Google is suspicious of the login on an account, they
will ask the person about to login to confirm their identity using their android powered
mobile devices or send an SMS with a PIN number which should supplement the
username and password.

If the company does not have enough resources to implement extra security like
Google, they can use other techniques. These techniques can include asking questions
to users during signup such as what town they grew up in, the name of their first pet,
etc. If the person provides accurate answers to these question, access is granted into
the system.

Data loss – if the data center caught fire or was flooded, the hardware with the data
can be damaged, and the data on it will be lost. As a standard security best practice,
most organizations keep backups of the data at remote places. The backups are made
periodically and are usually put in more than one remote area.

Biometric Identification – this is now becoming very common especially with mobile
devices such as smartphones. The phone can record the user fingerprint and use it for
authentication purposes. This makes it harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access
to the mobile device. Such technology can also be used to stop unauthorized people
from getting access to your devices.

Information system Ethics

Ethics refers to rules of right and wrong that people use to make choices to guide their
behaviors. Ethics in MIS seek to protect and safeguard individuals and society by using
information systems responsibly. Most professions usually have defined a code of ethics
or code of conduct guidelines that all professionals affiliated with the profession must
adhere to.

In a nutshell, a code of ethics makes individuals acting on their free will responsible and
accountable for their actions. An example of a Code of Ethics for MIS professionals can
be found on the British Computer Society (BCS) website.

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Information Communication Technology (ICT) policy

An ICT policy is a set of guidelines that defines how an organization should use
information technology and information systems responsibly. ICT policies usually
include guidelines on;

 Purchase and usage of hardware equipment and how to safely dispose them
 Use of licensed software only and ensuring that all software is up to date with
latest patches for security reasons
 Rules on how to create passwords (complexity enforcement), changing
passwords, etc.
 Acceptable use of information technology and information systems
 Training of all users involved in using ICT and MIS

With great power comes great responsibility. Information systems bring new
opportunities and advantages to how we do business but they also introduce issues that
can negatively affect society (cybercrime). An organization needs to address these
issues and come up with a framework (MIS security, ICT policy, etc.) that addresses
them.
VI. Assessments:
ASSIGNMENT#1:
1. Being a student, choose 5 computer ethics commandments; give the advantage
as well as the disadvantage of each.
2. As a student, how do you handle stress?
3. What are the 2 most common cybercrime. Why did you say so? Explain your
answer.
4. Differentiate information policy from data policy.

5. Tell something about the following ICT POLICY:

 Purchase and usage of hardware equipment and how to safely dispose them
 Use of licensed software only and ensuring that all software is up to date with
latest patches for security reasons
 Rules on how to create passwords (complexity enforcement), changing
passwords, etc.

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ASSIGNMENT#2:
1. Differentiate Profession from vocation.
2. In 2 sentences each, explain the 7 Attributes of Professionalism
3. Share your ideas regarding the 3 significant vocations. Give 5 examples each
vocation.
4. Tell something about the following:
a. Descriptive ethics
b. Normative ethics
c. Meta ethics
d. Applied ethics
5. Choose 5 Great Computer Fallacies. Explain each in your own words.

ACTIVITY#1:
THE BOSS’S DAUGHTER AS APPLICANT
As a head of the Human-Resource Department, you received a phone call from your
boss who was also the board president and your godfather, asking to determine
whether or not you received his daughter’s application for a current job opening. You
indicated that it had, indeed, come in, but that the closing date for the paperwork/filing
of applications had passed. “oh”, he said, “you are not going to let a qualified
candidate be excluded because of a closing date, are you?” Then he added quickly,
“but let me not interfere. As you hung up the phone, you replayed the conversation in
your mind and pondered the implications. Later that day, your senior manager asked
to see you. Despite offering him a chair, he choose to stand by the door that he had
just closed and said, “I hear that the boss daughter has applied for the opening. You
are going to consider her, are you? She worked here years ago, and there were
problems. The place will be up in arms if you take her back”. He smilingly added, “I
just wanted to let you know and to help”. Then he turned on his heel and left.
Question:
If you were faced with this situation, how are you going to resolve the dilemma?

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ACTIVITY#2:
HARASS HIM UNTIL HE QUITS
Ruben Dinacaya is 62 years old and has been with the company for 28 years. He has
had a varied career, and possesses a number of skills and abilities. Mr. Dinacaya is
quite set in his ways and somewhat eccentric. His supervisor and other senior
managers would like to see him retire or let him go, but his performance meets the
standards of the company in all respects and he has no interest in retirement. No one
has been able to identify any deficiencies that would warrant discharge.
The senior manager in Mr. Dinacaya’s department recently decided to create a work
environment for him that would be so uncomfortable that would ultimately cause Mr
Dinacaya to quit. The manager presented the idea to Mr. Dinacaya’s immediate
supervisor who accepted readily. They began to give Ruben thankless assignments and
assigning him to the “graveyard” shift. Younger employees with less experience and
service were given better assignments and shifts. Ruben appealed the decision but
was told by his manager that “the assignments have all been made; if you don’t like
yours you can look elsewhere”. There is no union or employee problem-solving
process.
Question:
What are the ethical factors here? Explain briefly your answer.
ACTIVITY#3:
USING THE OFFICE PHONE
Suppose a Makati-area manager, Tommy Laoac, learns that his assistant, Mis Lynn
Cyac, is using the office phone at least once a week to talk to her sister in Cebu for an
hour or so. The manager confronts her with the discovery by asking Lynn, if, in fact,
she is asking these long-distance personal telephone calls.
Lynn answer, yes why? Have I done anything wrong? What is so terrible about my
using the phone anyway? The company is big enough to afford it; what is one phone
call or two to Cebu? Feeling expansive, she adds, I phoned my mother a couple of
times last week because I wanted to find out about her trip to HongKong. What is the
problem?

Question:
1. How do you think her manager should respond?
a. Ignore the situation altogether.
b. Excuse her.

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 c. Tell her that she can use the phone only in an emergency.
d. Tell her that what she is doing is theft.
e. Do something else,
Explain your answer….

2. What are your views on using the company phone to make personal calls?
Explain your answer.

QUIZ#1:
A. Click each that you believe has one degree or another influenced your conduct:
a. Father
b. Mother
c. Brother/sister
d. Other relative
e. Friend
f. Teacher
g. Religious leader
h. Youth/peer groups
i. Sports hero
j. Military hero
k. Professional hero
l. Books-essay-philosophical writing
m. Religious writing/scripture(bible)
n. Other_______________

B. Choose one (individual, philosophy, or institution) who/that have influenced you

most in your life and then describe how such influence changed your ethical
behavior.

QUIZ#2:
A. Identifying ones’ values in life:

C. List down values/virtues in your life that you acquired through experience,
culture, science and religion.
a. Values acquired through experience.
b. Values acquired through culture.
c. Values acquired through science.
d. Values acquired through religion.

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 B. Identifying the stand of one’s church/religion on different oral and
social issues:
D. Explain the following.
a. Poverty
b. Labor unions
c. Whistle blowing/informing the public about the illegal or immoral behavior
of an employer or organization.
d. Abusing the environment for profit
e. Graft and corruption
f. Exposing workers to unhealthy and unsafe conditions.

Prepared by: Recommending Approval:

PROF. WILLIE S. OPERAÑA, MBA PROF. BRIXON J. DE VERA, MIT

Instructor II Dean, College of Information Technology

Approved by:

DRA. MACRINA B. CAJALA

College President

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