Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 10

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Define ethical principles for ICT use
• Identify common security threats and prevention
• Analyze health risks from prolonged ICT use
• Assess ICT's impact on social equity
• Practice responsible online behaviour

Lesson summary

This week, we delve into the significant social implications of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In our increasingly digital world, understanding the ethical considerations, security risks, and potential health issues associated with ICT is crucial. As South Africans, we're using technology more than ever – from banking and online shopping to social media and accessing educational resources. This increased reliance brings with it both opportunities and challenges. It's essential to develop responsible digital citizenship to navigate these complexities effectively. This unit aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to be ethical, secure, and healthy users of technology.

Lesson notes

2.1 Ethics in ICT Ethics are moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. In ICT, ethics guides us in using technology responsibly and fairly.

Here are some key ethical considerations: Intellectual Property (IP): This refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. Copyright protects original works of authorship, including software, websites, and online content. Piracy, which involves illegally copying or distributing copyrighted material, is a serious ethical and legal issue. Downloading music, movies, or software without paying for it is a form of piracy. In South Africa, the Copyright Act governs intellectual property rights. A common example would be downloading a pirated movie rather than subscribing to a streaming service.

Example: Imagine a student copies and pastes large portions of text from a website into their school assignment without citing the source. This is plagiarism, a form of intellectual property theft. Even if the student changes a few words, it's still unethical.

Ethical Solution: Always cite your sources properly using a consistent referencing style (e.g., Harvard, APA). Paraphrase information in your own words and give credit to the original author.

Privacy: Protecting personal information is a fundamental right. Online privacy refers to the control individuals have over their personal data collected, stored, and shared by organizations online. Data protection laws, like the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa, regulate how organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information. Sharing someone's personal information without their consent is a violation of privacy. Think about posting a friend's address and phone number on social media without their permission.

Example: A company collects customer data during online purchases but sells this data to third-party marketing companies without informing customers. This is a breach of privacy.

Ethical Solution: Be transparent about data collection practices. Obtain informed consent from individuals before collecting and using their personal data. Implement robust security measures to protect data from unauthorized access.

Online Etiquette (Netiquette): This refers to the rules of conduct that are considered acceptable or polite online. It includes respecting others' opinions, avoiding offensive language, and refraining from cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is using electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature. A common example is creating fake social media profiles to harass or spread rumors about someone.

Example: Posting abusive or hateful comments on social media posts is a violation of netiquette and can have serious consequences, including legal repercussions.

Ethical Solution: Treat others online as you would treat them in person. Think before you post or share anything online. Report cyberbullying and harassment to the appropriate authorities. 2.2 Security in ICT ICT security involves protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

Some common security threats include: Malware: Malicious software designed to harm or exploit computer systems. This includes viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and ransomware. Malware can spread through email attachments, infected websites, and removable media. A virus can corrupt files, while ransomware can encrypt your files and demand a ransom payment for their decryption.

Prevention: Install and regularly update antivirus software. Be cautious about opening suspicious email attachments or clicking on unknown links. Use a firewall to protect your network from unauthorized access.

Phishing: A fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details, by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing emails often contain urgent requests or threats to trick people into providing their information.

Prevention: Be wary of unsolicited emails or phone calls asking for personal information. Verify the sender's identity before providing any information. Look for signs of phishing, such as poor grammar, spelling errors, and suspicious links.

Hacking: Gaining unauthorized access to computer systems or networks. Hackers may exploit vulnerabilities in software or hardware to steal data, disrupt services, or install malware.

Prevention: Use strong passwords and change them regularly. Keep your software and operating system up to date with the latest security patches. Use a firewall to protect your network from unauthorized access. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.

Identity Theft: Stealing someone's personal information, such as their name, address, and Social Security number, to commit fraud or other crimes.