Module 6-3

What is ransomware? Which of the 10 computer ethics commandments is/are violated by ransomware?

According to:  http://www.scambusters.org/ransomware.html

     Just like thieves kidnap people and then demand a ransom to return them unharmed, ransomware is an extortion scheme whereby thieves hijack the victim's computer files and then demand a ransom so the victim can have them back in their original condition.

More specifically, malicious code is used to seize control of the victim's computer and hijack the computer files, and the files are then encrypted by this malicious code. So, all of a sudden, a user's computer files are in a format that is not readable by humans!  

     This can be very disconcerting, to say the least.

     The scammer then demands payment in exchange for the decryption key.

     The amount of ransom can vary quite dramatically. Scammers who ask for small ransoms of $10 have generally been much more successful than thieves who ask for several hundred dollars.

Payment is often demanded through some type of online currency, such as Webmoney or eGold, although wiring money via Western Union is not uncommon.

Ransom.A is one program that claims it will destroy one computer file every 30 minutes until the victim pays the ransom. (In this case, however, Ransom.A doesn't actually delete or encrypt anything -- it's a hoax. Nonetheless, it's probably a very effective hoax.

     Another ransomware program, Trojan.Archiveus, is a Trojan horse that password protects files and then asks the user to pay the ransom to get a password that unlocks the files. In this case, the virus writer made the critical error of placing the password in the code.

     Thus, ransomware violates commandment numbers 1,2,4 and 10, this is because ransomware is a form of stealing, harming other people, interfering one’s work, and does not show respect and consideration to the innocent computer users.

Module 6-2

Suppose you are to add 2 more commandments to the existing 10 commandments of computer ethics, what are these? Are these 2 new commandments of equal importance to the existing ones? Discuss.

If I were to add two more commandments to the existing 10 commandments of computer ethics, these would be: 

Commandment 11: Thou shalt not install software that will harm one’s computer.

        This is of equal importance to the existing 10 commandments of computer ethics, because it is rampant nowadays, and they are doing it to those people who are not that computer literate, or doesn’t know so much about computers.

Commandment 12:Thou shalt use computer to exercise honesty.

          This is also of equal importance to those existing 10 commandments of computer ethics because this will help those user (computer owners) to exercise their rights, since there are some computer technician who buy hardware of quality and exchanging it to their existing computer hardware exactly the same but differ in quality then let the costumer pay the amount of the quality hardware but giving them the not of quality one.

Module 6-1

If you are to choose your top 3 difficult-to-follow computer ethics commandments, what are these? Explain why.

If I were to choose top three difficult-to-follow computer ethics commandments these would be the 6^th one which states that: “Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.” Followed by the 2^nd one “Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work.”, and the 8^th one; “Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output.”

 

Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.

          I consider this commandment  difficult to follow because licensed software are expensive enough for me to buy, thus there are softwares that we need in class that we can’t afford, that’s why I have no choice but to download those unlicensed softwares in the web in order to cope up with our lessons and for me to be able to do my exercises.

Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work.         This computer ethics commandment is not so difficult to follow yet there are some cases that we cannot avoid doing it. Like for example when I am in a hurry to print the documents that I need for my presentation five minutes after the situation happened, and my brother is using the computer, then, I have no choice but to interfere what he is doing and print my documents, this is because of the situation.

Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output.

          This commandment is also difficult to follow because there are instances that we do research and find in the web studies that are related to us, then, we sometimes miss acknowledging them because we are pre-occupied with those things that we need for the said research.

 

 

Module 4-2

For some, happiness relies on money. In some cases, hacking means money. Would you do hacking it if its outcome is a sure happiness of your family? What particular Aristotle theory contradicts this concept? Discuss.

     My happiness does not rely on money, bcause even though we need money inorder to survive it doesn’t mean that it isn’t the only reason for me to be happy. Thus in this case, I wont do hacking even if its outcome is a sure happiness of my family, this is because I know that it is wrong and a crime as well, I won’t let my family enjoy a luxurios life if it is a product of stealing, I won’t let my family eat god foods which I bought from cheating other people. In addition, this concept contradict the last theory of Aristotle, whicg states that: “Happiness requires intellectual contemplation, for this is the ultimate realization of our rational capacities”, this is because we are rational and we know what is right and wrong if we do intellectual contemplation then, we’ll be afraid to commit sin from above. And one must used this gift of reasoning correctly to provide the needs of the family and in that way you are happy as well as your family.

Module 4-1

How often do you make an effort to practice your strengths and virtues? (A virtue is a trait you cultivate. Ex: patience, generosity kindness). Are these traits key to a happy life? Discuss.

 

Life is a mystery. In my life, I used to live in a place were people around us respect us so much, they treat us rightly and allow us to live harmonously. Because of the kind of sorrounding where I grow, I used to practice patience, generousity and or kindness, since these were some of the virtues that my beloved mother taught us. She did not just told us how to do it but taught us through her actions and doings. That is why since then I used into doing it. I do really tried my best to keep these virtues and strenght in my heart, because I know for a fact this will help me, no matter what and wherever I go. I do believe that these traits that I have learned from my mother and I’m practicing now, are key to happy life. Because if ever time and people put a test on my patience, and I were able to take these test without hurting others, then it will promote happiness to everyone. And if one possess these traits, they are not easily angered, they are not greedy, and are not proud. They will always care for other people and it will result to happiness of the humanity.