Cybersecurity Ethics

This course examines ethical issues relevant to ethics for cybersecurity professionals, including privacy, professional code of conduct, practical conflicts between engineering ethics and business practices, individual and corporate social responsibility, ethical hacking, information warfare, and cyberwarfare. Students will gain a broad understanding of central issues in cyberethics and the ways that fundamental ethical theories relate to these core issues.

Course Material

End of Course Reflection

While taking this course, I learned a lot more about morality and the many different forms it comes in. There are so many different moral theories that I enjoyed learning through the short stories. Furthermore, there were many additional terms and topics that I was able to discover, as well, learning them with the help of detailed articles and discussion posts.

Firstly, I enjoyed the deep dive into privacy. I am a huge advocate for more strict privacy laws. I do not like how loose-ended terms of conditions tend to be, allowing only someone with the knowledge of a lawyer to understand them. I would like for the United States to adopt some laws similar to Europe’s privacy laws. I had no idea how useful their privacy rules are and how much they benefit Europe’s people. The articles allowed me to deepen my knowledge of privacy and where technology is taking it. I want my future self to always push for a focus on privacy. I believe it allows everyone to be unique in their way without the criticism of other people.

While privacy was by far my favorite topic to discuss, I also liked learning about whistleblowing and the brave souls that exposed immoral actions. Whether it be Chelsea Manning or Edward Snowden, these people saw what their employers were doing as wrong and sacrificed their lives to uncover their secrets. Even knowing that he would have to spend the rest of his life hiding from the U.S. Government, Snowden revealed their surveillance plans anyways, sick of standing idle to it. Also, the video that Manning uploaded was horrifying, yet entertaining at the same time. I hate to view it as a video game; however, that is what it reminded me of when watching it. What I would like to take away from this learning experience is the bravery that Manning and Snowden shared. I hope my future self would choose to look after others instead of myself.

Finally, my favorite ethical tool that I unlocked was the one for consequentialism. It was the first tool I unlocked, leaving a special place for it in my heart. I loved the short story, “Understand,” that went along with it, as well. I loved the main character, Leon’s, development from a vegetative state to an all-knowing mastermind. I could not help but laugh when he used the pheromones of people to find out what they were talking about in public. It made no sense, but it just showed how intelligent he was. The fight at the end was incredible as well. Two of the world’s greatest minds going head to head, ending with a Reynolds using a word that triggered Leon’s death, was entertaining. I got lost in the story, where I usually have trouble keeping my attention. It was so unique and allowed me to grasp the theory of consequentialism fully. Leon only wanted to use his powers for his quest to pursue knowledge and perfection, while Reynolds used his for the betterment of society. I am glad that that short story was used, setting an excellent example for consequentialism. What I hope to take away most from this moral theory is to make decisions that help more people other than just myself.