1. Describe four ethical issues that arise when storing electronic information about individuals.

2. Compare cybersecurity risks in the U.S. and another country.

One ethical issue is data breaches, they pose a significant threat to individual privacy with identity theft being a primary concern. In the event of a breach, sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, financial details, and login credentials, can be exposed. Cybercriminals often exploit this information for fraudulent activities which lead to financial losses, damaged credit scores, and the misuse of an individual’s identity for various illegal purposes. Safeguarding against data breaches requires strong cybersecurity measures, encryption protocols, and incident response strategies to mitigate the potential impact on individuals. Another issue is data integrity, the integrity of electronic information is crucial to ensuring accurate and reliable data. When data integrity is compromised, it can result in the distribution of misinformation. This can have far-reaching consequences, affecting individuals’ decisions based on flawed data. For instance, errors in healthcare records may lead to incorrect medical treatments, while inaccuracies in financial records can impact credit assessments. Establishing data validation processes, implementing error-checking mechanisms, and regular auditing are essential to maintain the trustworthiness of electronic information and prevent the propagation of false or misleading data. One important issue is social engineering, which involves manipulating individuals to divulge sensitive information, a common tactic is phishing. Cyber attackers often use deceptive emails, messages, or websites to trick individuals into providing personal information such as usernames, passwords, and financial details. Phishing attacks can lead to identity theft, unauthorized access to accounts, and the compromise of confidential information. Mitigating the risks associated with social engineering requires ongoing education and awareness programs for users, strong email filtering systems, and the implementation of multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security against unauthorized access. Another issue is the widespread collection of personal information, which includes location data which raises concerns about individual privacy. Mobile devices, social media platforms, and various online services often gather location information, creating a potential threat to users’ privacy. Unauthorized access to this data can lead to stalking, invasive targeted advertising, or even physical security risks. Striking a balance between the convenience of location-based services and protecting individual privacy requires transparent data usage policies, user consent mechanisms, and strict adherence to privacy regulations. Organizations must prioritize the responsible and ethical handling of personal information to build and maintain trust with their users. Cybersecurity risks can differ depending on the country, but it poses a substantial risk in advanced countries such as the United States and China. The US has many different businesses and each one has its use of technology and networks. This can be different in China where they may have more government interference and regulations, but the risks could be more common since a lot of things are usually made in China like phones.