Introduction
As with many other educational issues, computer crime and technology misuse should be continually re-evaluated as more hardware and software access is granted year to year. This white paper is an update to the Educator's Guide to Computer Crime and Technology Misuse.
Credit Card Fraud
Anyone can become a victim of credit card fraud. It is a threat to anyone that uses the Internet. Educators can become aware of how to teach students not to believe everything they find on the Internet and make critical choices about what information they give out about themselves. More...
Identity Theft
Identity theft is an expression used to refer to all kinds of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's private information in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for financial gain. Your personal information, especially your Social Security number, your bank account or credit card numbers, your telephone calling card number, and other valuable identifying data can be used, if they fall into the wrong hands, to personally gain at your expense. More...
Digital Piracy
Piracy has become more prevalent over the last several years. In the mid-1990s, software piracy was a big issue for schools and software producers. Now, due to advances in technology, other media can be easily pirated, such as music and movies. More...
Copyright Infringement
Copyright Infringement is a cause for concern among teachers and students. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor stated that "The primary objective of copyright is not to reward the labor of authors...but encourage others to build freely upon the ideas and information conveyed by a work" (Davidson). However, even those of us in educational institutions often feel threatened and even overwhelmed by the laws, and our lack of information about how they affect us, related to copyright infringement. Copyright laws guide our use of intellectual property. The World Intellectual Property Organization defines intellectual property as “creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.” More...
Hacking
Hacking, defined as unauthorized use, or attempts to circumvent or bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network, is an illegal act conducted by a person that knows programmable systems and how they work. It has been described as nothing more than playing around with computer code. More...
Worms, DDoS and Cyber-Terrorism
An update on the most recent virulent worms and harmful contaminants to a network. Read this for a realistic view of what could be latching on to your computer and what to do about it. More...
Computer Viruses, Trojan Horses, and Logic Bombs
A form of malicious code that is potentially disruptive is called a virus. It is usually transferred from one computer to another unknowingly. The term “virus” includes macro-viruses, Trojans, and Worms, and Logic Bombs (or Time Bombs), but all programs such as this are classified as a “virus.” More...
Phishing
The term phishing was coined in the mid-1990s. It refers to attempts to fraudulently gain access to personal information such as account numbers and passwords by posing as a legitimate individual or business. Generally, individuals are contacted via email or instant message by the fraudulent entity with a request to update information online. Phishing is also called carding and spoofing. The term “phishing” emerged because of scammers’ use of “lures” as they “fish” for personal financial information. In its early days, phishing was used to steal passwords from AOL users. Phishing has grown more sophisticated and threatening, with phishers seeking information from individuals that use online banking, paypal, and e-commerce sites. More...
Counterfeiting
The crime which was once the domain of skilled crooks using large expensive engraving and printing machines, has now given way to the mainstream. Any person with basic equipment and some skill can be a counterfeiter. More...
General Security
This section is a continuation of the discussion from the original version of General Security. This page discusses what students should know and how to control access to networks using security software. More...
Enforcing Acceptable Use Policies
This section looks at issues surrounding creation and implementation of acceptable use policies in schools. More...
Online Harassment
Inappropriate contact with outside Internet users is a growing concern among teachers who use Internet-based communications such as online chatting, instant messaging and email. This addendum discusses the latest issues relating to this topic and provides useful tips and resources for teachers who are considering using these technologies for their classroom instruction. More..
Online Bullying
Online bullying runs the gambit from nasty emails to websites depicting students in false situations, listing their worst fears, or darkest secrets. Parents who are buying the electronic gadget of the day are often unaware of the dangers of their misuse. Parents need to stay aware of the types of online communication in which their children partake so that they can watch for online bullying, help prevent it and/or deal with cyberbullying. More...
Last Updated:
08/02/2005
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