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

This class has been very informative, and a well-desired challenge for critical thinking. Three important topics have caught my eye and led me to think deeply: Confucianism, data ethics, and deontology. Each individual has a unique perspective on ethics and human action, which has changed my views and improved my understanding. Each topic will be discussed one by one, looking at how my opinions have changed.

At the beginning of the class, I had barely any knowledge of Confucianism seeing it only as a collection of moral principles. Yet, by going into Confucianism principles and narratives, like the story of ‘The Year of the Rat’ by Chen Quifan. The decisions the characters made affected them in the long term instead of just focusing on the short term. The five virtues are benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and fidelity. The drill instructor showed many values of Wisdom because he was used as guidance in the story. He guided the main character throughout the story when he was making hard decisions. This tool is a comprehensive way of living that focuses on developing virtues and understanding one’s life journey. Before, I didn’t completely understand the importance of seeing life from a broader perspective instead of focusing on specific decisions. The narrative showed how our choices could lead to significant outcomes, similar to the Confucian focus on evaluating the future impacts of our decisions. My future goal is to ensure that my actions do not affect my immediate desires but also benefit the greater good and promote personal development in the long run.

My second topic is on data ethics, specifically the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which made me realize the complexities of privacy and independence in modern technology. When the topic of data mining first arose mainly as ensuring personal information is kept safe from being misused. Realizing the potential risks of data mining for political reasons shows the importance of regulations and ethical guidelines to protect personal autonomy and online privacy. The main thing I learned from this topic was how technology influences ethical discussions and the need to promote the ethical use of data. What I learned from this is that I should watch my influence online because the choices I make online can affect the information I receive on social media. The article was very informative and led to me rethinking the way I move through the internet.

Exploring deontological ethics using a Superman comic offered an interesting viewpoint on moral reasoning and justice. In the past, my perspective was more focused on practicality, valuing the outcomes of actions more than their moral value. The narrative denies this view by showing the significance of principles and intentions in moral decision-making. Superman’s committed dedication to the importance of moral principles in guiding actions was evident in his strong belief in preserving the sanctity of life, even for villains. This investigation enhanced my comprehension of deontology as a structure that prioritizes the inherent worth of moral principles, regardless of results. My concluding thoughts are that even if an individual does good but with unethical behaviors. Their actions are unethical even if the effect was good. I strive to keep in mind that I should base my actions on principles that align with my morals and values, not just on the outcomes they produce.

In conclusion, the research of Confucianism, data ethics, and deontology has notably changed my perspective on ethics, leading me to reflect on my values and behaviors. As I progress, I intend to apply the knowledge gained from these investigations to shape my future choices and actions with a stronger emphasis on ethical understanding and honesty.