Cybersecurity Ethics

This course examines ethical issues relevant to computing and information technology, including privacy; freedom of speech and content control on the Internet; individual and social responsibility; cybersecurity; cybercrimes; social impact of computers and other digital technologies; and ethical obligations of IT professionals. Students will gain a broad understanding of central issues in cyberethics and the ways that fundamental ethical theories relate to these core issues.

Reflective Writing Assignment

The PHIL 355E course has taught me a great deal about ethics and given me a fresh outlook on the world. Because of the engaging topics we’ve discussed, I now have a deeper understanding of the unethical actions that occur in the world every day without most people noticing them, and I have a different perspective on what constitutes ethical behavior in the workplace. I worked as a Tech support specialist for TEKsystems. As a result, I have been able to immediately put to use a great deal of what we’ve learned in class. Organizational loyalty is the first thing that springs to mind. In the past, I felt absolutely no attachment to my current workplace. The only reason I did it was to supplement my income while I started looking for better software engineering jobs.

But I think I have revised my stance after learning about different conceptions of loyalty and the circumstances under which it is warranted. The importance of staying loyal to a company as long as it stays true to its mission was discussed. By learning PHIL355E, I know that I have the responsibility to be loyal to the company and job. I always try to follow the code of ethics and policies of the company. As a result of everything I have read, I have come to the conclusion that I owe my loyalty to my employer. This is because we have remained true to our company’s mission statement in everything we have done. I hope that in the future I will remember to have the same standards at work.

The code of ethics is the second subject I will be discussing. We adhere to a code of ethics, as do all businesses. I have to go through training and an exam several times a year to make sure I’m still remembering and applying the rules correctly. At first, I thought these ethics policies were put in place to ensure that all employees were treating one another with respect and creating a positive atmosphere at the office. After learning different case analyses, I came to know that code of ethics is not only for the employees but also for the company itself. If I see anything wrong done by the company, I will try to make the company responsible for it. In the beginning, it was a very strange experience for me to have different training sessions on ethics, but I see now that it is more about preventing unethical behavior and protecting the company from potential backlash. As a result of this, I hope that in the future I will be more diligent about reading and considering the company’s code of ethics. This is because I will rather not work for the company if I believe that its priorities lie more with itself than with us.

The last thing we have discussed that has changed my mind is the value of personal privacy. Having personal space was a privilege, not a right when I was a child in a highly dysfunctional home. I have done more good than harm to other people and my mental development, thanks to what I have learned from this course. Although I have long been aware of the lack of privacy that we suffer as a result of government monitoring, I was not previously aware of the extent to which it is expanding. When I found out, I was furious. Case Analysis of Privacy made me aware of the importance of privacy. With this newfound knowledge, I intend to be more selective about the sites I visit and the activities I engage in while there. The main thing I have learned from this course is that I will stay focused on privacy and the elements that invade privacy in the future. Finally, this course made me realize that my social media activity is being monitored when a website demands that all cookies be accepted. I will use that knowledge to determine whether or not to continue engaging with these types of websites.