Computer Ethics - Computer Crime

A computer is a tool, and like a hammer or a car, it can be used for good or bad. A hammer can drive a nail or break a window. A car will take you places, or help you "getaway." In the case of the computer, sometimes it is not so easy to determine good vs. bad.

If you make an illegal copy of some software, then you may be considered a Software Pirate.

The laser printer at your work is much faster (and does better pictures) than your old dot-matrix printer at home. So when printing out your church newsletter, you just run off a few dozen copies at work. Is this a crime? Some people would consider it a misuse of resources.

Viruses, worms, and mail bombs represent a whole new set of crimes made possible by the rise of the internet.


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