How Technology Advancement has influenced Computer Ethics Essay Example for Free

How engineering science Advancement has influenced Computer Ethics EssayThe 21st century has been dubbed the digital age beca mapping of the monumental achievements witnessed in the learning, Communication and Technology (ICT) fields, which have impacted every aspect of human life. The internet has become integrity of the most lucrative Information Technology (IT) tool which has made communication and exchange of reading prompt and efficient. Consequently, it has transformed how people consume discip nervous strain. In spite of its benefits, the internet has guide to a severe resist in ethics among internet drug users (Salman, Saad Ali, 2013). The widespread use of internet has led to increased and sophisticated crimes, terrorist act and wars (May, 2004). This essay allow for be based on a case involving hackers who hold Personal Computers (PC) hostage. It will outline the potential computer ethics issues associated with holding computers hostage. It will also highlig ht methods that computer users could use to prevent this type of attack. Moreover, it will highlight governmental legislations that could be enacted against this type of attack.Ethics is defined as the principles governing both(prenominal) right and wrong among free humans (free moral agents), whose actions argon influenced by their emancipation of choice (Soskolne, n.d). Advancement of technology presents both positive and negative impacts to a society. Technological advancements have led to a rapid decline in social and ethical issues regarding to security department and cover of ad hominem information (Shieh Tanthuwanit, 2004). One of the major forms of social ethic violation includes hackers holding personal computers hostage, and hence infringing on both privacy and security of targeted computer users. This in turn compromises information security concerned with the protection of information confidentiality, availabilityand integrity (Gordon Loeb, 2002)According to Per lroth (2014), cyber criminals have devised a new mechanism of freezing computers through malwares, and wherefore demanding a steep ransom pay before unlocking them. Perlroth (2014) adds that computer owners throughout the world have move victims of this leering attack, which denies them access to their personal computers and files stored on them. The hackers instead serve them with a pop up pass on demanding some ransom payment before their computers could be unlocked. Hackers holding computers hostage infringe on personal privacy, and gain access to sensitive information regarding online bank accounts, security passwords and other highly private information (Perlroth, 2014). aegis administrations and other general-purpose computers are also vulnerable to this kind of attack because, if these hackers can fall flat into users accounts even from GoDaddy domains to create malicious subdomains through which they send mails to target clients (Perlroth, 2014), then every computer sy stem is vulnerable to such attacks. This means that not only is the privacy of the computer users compromised, but also the security of their data and the general security of their computer systems (The Canadian Press, 2014).In order to prevent hackers from holding computers hostage, computers users should figure of speech check their domain names, user accounts or web regalees before responding to any email clicks. In line to this, Perlroth (2014) observes that Hackers were breaking into GoDaddy users accounts with stolen passwords and setting up what is known as a subdomain hackers would set up the Web address then send emails to customers because it appeared to come from a trusted source was more likely to lure clicks. likewise also, users should either contact an IT professional to help them remove the ransomware incase infected, or they can wipe their computers purify through formatting them and reinstalling new Operating system as well (Perlroth, 2014). In addition, prof essional entanglement security personnel should be consulted in order to ensure that passwords, firewalls, authentications and proxy servers among other security utilities are properly set and enhanced to fortify system security (French, 2012)Although the hunting, catching and eventual convicting of these hackers has not withal achieved substantial success (Perlroth, 2014), the government should enact privacy laws that pronounce higher penalty for perpetrators of personal privacy and security infringement so that their benefit is less in value when compared to pending punishment. Some of the restless laws that have been enacted to curb this tragedy include the Computer Fraud and Abuse Acts which cover the use of malicious codes including worms, viruses, and other malicious programs intended to alter or damage data in a users computer (Title 18 U.S.C Section 1030). Another legislation that could counter this attack is the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act (NIIPA) w hich criminalizes the transmission of a command, program, or code with malicious intentions like holding a compute hostage (Colombell, 2002).In conclusion, when hackers hold computers hostage, they infringe on the personal privacy and security of personal information. During the finish when the computers are held hostage, computer users not only risk having their sensitive information accessed and sometimes damaged, but they are also financially exploited in order to have their computers unlocked. Some of the feasible strategies of avoiding this attack include exercising a lot of care regarding the types of sites visited and clicked, and avoiding sending payments to hackers whenever a computer is hacked. Instead seek prompt assistance from a professional who will help you to manually get rid of the ransomware without paying the hackers off.ReferencesColombell, M., R. (2002). The legislative Response to the Evolution of Computer Viruses. 8 RICH. J.L. TECH. 18. Retrieved from http //jolt.richmond.edu/v8i3/article18.htmlFrench, A., M. (2012). A Case Study on E-Banking Security When Security Becomes Too Sophisticated for the User to Access Their Information. Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce, 17(2).Gordon, L., Loeb, M. (2002). The Economics of Information SecurityInvestment. ACM minutes on Information and System Security, 5 (4), 438457.May, M. (2004). Federal Computer Crime Laws. SANS Institute. Retrieved from http//www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/ effective/federal-computer-crime-laws-1446? Show=federal-computer-crime-laws-1446cat=legal Perlroth, N. (2014, April 22). Hackers holding your PC to ransom. Deccan Herald. Retrieved from http//www.deccanherald.com/content/297460/hackers-holding-your-pc-ransom.html.Salman, A., Saad, S., Ali, M., N. (2013). Dealing with Ethical Issues among Internet Users Do We Need Legal Enforcement? Asian Social Science, 9(8) 3-8.Shieh, M., Tanthuwanit, K. (2004). Privacy and Security Internet Hacking andSurveilla nce. Retrieved from http//www.ethicapublishing.com/CH16.pdfTitle 18 U.S.C Section 1030, internet, http//www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/1030.html Soskolne, C., L. (n.d). Workplace wellness and Safety Information Ethical Issues. Retrieved from http//ilocis.org/documents/chpt19e.htmThe Canadian Press (2014, April 14). Computer hacking expert says more bad word of honor to come from Heartbleed. Edmonton Journal. Retrieved from