Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Topic 23: Legal and ethical issues
- Electronic Communications Act
- Encryption services ensure that
encryption with credit card
transactions etc are regulated and
controlled for your protection
- Make digital signatures legally binding
- Disadvantages: Not many people
know how to use a digital signature or
know what one is. Some people don't
trust the internet 100% and like hand
written documents in important
situations
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Health Hazards
- Eye strain and headaches: ~sitting too
close to the screen, ~ bad lighting, ~
spending too much time on the computer
- Prevention: ~ sit at arms length, ~ regular
breaks, ~ make sure lighting isn't too light
or dark
- RSI: ~ repeated movement of the wrists or
lower arms e.g. typing on a keyboard or
moving a mouse
- Prevention: ~ take regular breaks,
~ use keyboard rests or wrist
supports
- Back problems: ~ caused by sitting
in an awkward position on a
computer
- Prevention: ~ keep good posture, ~
use an adjustable chair
- Safety Hazards:
- Trailing wirings, fire from plugs,
unsecured equipment, electrocution
- Food and Drink: Food and rink
spillages can cause damage to
equipment or electric shocks
- Prevention: ~ never have food or
drink near the computer, ~
powder or carbon dioxide
extinguishers
- Employer Regulations: The law states all
employers must provide: ~ tiltable screens, ~
anti-glare screen filters, ~adjustable chairs, ~
foot supports, ~ make sure lighting is suitable, ~
make sure work stations aren't cramped, ~ allow
regular breaks
- Computer Misuse Act
- Makes it illegal to access
unauthorised files stored on a
computer (hacking)
- Makes it illegal to use files for criminal activity
such as fraud or blackmail
- Makes it illegal to
change or delete
unauthorised files or
plant viruses on files
- Data Protection Act
- Concerns peoples personal data and is
run by the Information Commissioners
Office
- 8 Principles: ~ Secure, ~ Subjects see
data stored about them, ~ Data is up to
date, ~ Relevant, ~ Used for intended
purpose, ~ Obtained lawfully, ~ Accurate,
~ Not kept longer than necessary
- Exemptions: ~ National Security, ~
Police investigations, ~ Examination
results
- Safety on the Internet
- Unauthorised computer
accessed can be reduced by
the use of passwords, using
network keys, using
encryption keys and setting
user rights
- Giving out personal
details allow people to
burgle houses if they
know the house will be
empty or stalk/kidnap
people that they have
located online
- Preventions: ~ access rights, ~ privacy
settings, ~ pop up blockers, ~ parental
controls, ~ use a filter on certain sites, ~ check
history, ~ block unauthorised websites