Summary: Ethics

Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Cyber Ethics
2. Netiquette
3. Software Licences and the Open Source Movement
4. Proprietary licences
5. Open source licences
6. Open Source Movement
7. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Plagiarism and Digital Property Rights
8. Types of Intellectual Property
9. Plagiarism
10. Digital Property Rights
11. Freedom of Information and the Digital Divide
12. Freedom of Information
13. The Digital Divide
14. E-Commerce: Privacy, Fraud and Secure Data Transmission
15. Privacy in E-Commerce
16. Fraud
17. Secure Data Transmission
18. Summary
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Introduction to Cyber Ethics

Cyber ethics are rules that guide responsible, respectful and lawful behaviour when using computers, mobile devices and the internet. They help protect users' moral, social and financial well-being in digital spaces.

• Interact politely and safely online.
• Protect personal and sensitive information.
• Respect legal rights like copyright and trademarks.
• Use technology to support learning, collaboration and trust.

Netiquette

Netiquette are the polite norms for online communication that reduce misunderstandings and make messages clearer.

• Treat others with respect and avoid abusive language.
• Avoid typing in all capital letters.
• Be clear, concise and relevant.
• Use proper grammar and check for typos.
• Respect privacy; do not share others' personal information without permission.
• Ask before sharing others' content.
• Mind tone; use polite words and punctuation to reduce misinterpretation.
• Respect others' time; avoid spam and reply within a reasonable period.
• Avoid plagiarism by giving credit for others' work.
• Handle conflicts calmly and privately when appropriate.
• Choose usernames and avatars appropriate to the platform and audience.

Software Licences and the Open Source Movement

Software licences define how software may be used, modified and shared.

Proprietary licences

• Restrict access to source code and limit use and sharing.
• Source code remains private and use is controlled by licence terms.

Open source licences

• Permit viewing, modifying and redistributing source code under set terms.
• Some licences allow broad reuse; others require derivative works to remain open.
• Source code is publicly available and may require sharing improvements under similar terms.

Open Source Movement

• Principles: transparency, collaboration and freedom to use and change software.
• Benefits: lower cost, community review for security and flexibility to customise.
• Challenges: community-based support, compatibility with proprietary systems and variable maintenance.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Plagiarism and Digital Property Rights

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) give creators legal control over their creative works and inventions to prevent unauthorised use.

Types of Intellectual Property

• Copyright: protects original creative works and controls reproduction and distribution.
• Patent: grants exclusive rights to an invention for a limited time.
• Trademark: protects symbols, names or logos that identify goods or services.
• Trade secret: protects confidential business information that gives a competitive advantage.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting others' work or ideas as your own without proper acknowledgement.

• Direct plagiarism: copying without citation.
• Self-plagiarism: reusing your own prior work without disclosure.
• Mosaic plagiarism: mixing phrases and ideas from sources without credit.
• Accidental plagiarism: failing to cite due to oversight.
• Prevention: always cite sources, paraphrase properly and use detection tools to check work.

Digital Property Rights

• Digital copyright: extends copyright to digital formats.
• Digital Rights Management (DRM): technical controls limiting copying, sharing or alteration of digital content.
• Terms of service: contracts that set rules for using websites and how user data may be used.
• Challenges include piracy, data privacy concerns and cross-border enforcement difficulties.

Freedom of Information and the Digital Divide

Freedom of Information

Public right to access information held by authorities to support transparency and accountability.

• Enables scrutiny of government actions.
• Allows requests for public records where laws permit.
• Has exemptions for security, privacy or ongoing investigations.
• Benefits include preventing corruption and encouraging informed participation.
• Challenges include large data volumes and limited public knowledge on requesting or interpreting data.

The Digital Divide

Gap between people with and without access to digital technologies, connectivity and skills.

• Unequal access to devices and high-speed internet.
• Differences in digital skills and effective use of tools.
• Economic factors that limit device and connection affordability.
• Impacts: educational gaps, reduced job opportunities and social exclusion.
• Bridging measures: community access, digital literacy training and infrastructure policies.

E-Commerce: Privacy, Fraud and Secure Data Transmission

Privacy in E-Commerce

Protecting customers' personal and financial information to keep online transactions safe and trustworthy.

• Personal data must be safeguarded.
• Privacy policies should explain collection, use and storage of data.
• Regulations require consent and provide rights such as deletion and portability.
• Challenges include data breaches and low user awareness of privacy settings.

Fraud

Deceptive practices that exploit users or systems to gain money, data or goods illegally.

• Includes unauthorized use of payment details, phishing scams and identity theft.
• Prevention: secure payment gateways, two-factor authentication and regular transaction monitoring.

Secure Data Transmission

• Encryption: converts data into coded form so only authorised recipients can read it.
• SSL/TLS certificates: secure connections and help verify website authenticity.
• Best practices: use sites with valid certificates, keep software updated and check URLs carefully.
• Challenges: phishing that mimics secure sites and vulnerabilities from outdated protocols; regular updates and user education reduce risks.

Summary

• Cyber ethics cover polite online behaviour, respect for intellectual property, proper use of software licences, protection of digital rights and secure online practices.
• Knowing netiquette, licence types, IPR, plagiarism, freedom of information, the digital divide and e-commerce security helps users act responsibly and safely online.