Chapter 8 (due Novemeber 7)

Computer Security Issues, Ethics, and Emerging Technologies in Education

A common way that computers are put in danger is by viruses, aka malicious software programs. These dangerous programs come in many different forms and can be relatively harmless or extremely corrupting. Creators of these viruses typically send them in attachments to emails. Beware of opening attachments from people you do not know and trust. There are three main types of viruses; boot sector, file, and macro virus. A boot sector virus "replaces the boot program used to start the computer with...an infected version..." When the computer user starts the computer the virus saves to the computer memory and can then spread to any storage media. The second kind, file virus, saves into program files and spreads to any program that accesses the infected file. The last kind is a macro virus. This is the one I understand the least. It saves to the macro language of an application, like Microsoft Word. Then when you open the ap, it loads into the memory and is activated by a certain action, such as saving.

Though there is no way to COMPLETELY protect from viruses, the book provides some good tips on protecting yourself from viruses...

• Reliable Antivirus software- should update virus definitions every week
• Scan all removable media like USB drives etc., especially if someone else has given you one that has been used in another device
• Scan all internet files, and attached files- This is the MOST common way to infect a computer
• Turn off email preview- Some viruses can be delivered just by viewing the message
• Scan ALL software- it is possible for manufacturer products to be infected
• Avoid illegal copies- favorites for viruses
• Dont start the computer with unknown media in the drives
• Install personal firewall program
• Back up your files often
• Set antivirus program to automatically scan

Firewalls are something I have never understood. I learned though that a firewall is a security system to prevent unauthorized access to a network. You can either have a network firewall, a hardware firewall, or a personal firewall- which protects your specific computer.

The book also gave some guidelines about ethics concering computers.

An educator will...

• not use it [a computer] to harm others
• not interefere with others work
• not look at others files
• not steal using the computer
• not use it to tell a lie
• not use others computers without permission
• not use others work
• think about social impact
• use it in respect and consideration for others

This chapter had a lot of information to take in, but what I wrote about is what I learned that was new, and most interesting to me. I didnt realize the impact viruses could have on a computer and had never really seen the importance of protecting against them. Now that I see how damaging they can be, and saw the tips they gave for protecting my computer, I am more likely to continue using my antivirus software etc. I also was excited to learn about firewalls, because I had never really had a concept of what they were. I always heard people talking about them. I think these things will be helpful because they will guide my use of the computer in the classroom. Not only concerning ethics but also saftey in protecting my students information etc...