Analysis of incidents of unauthorized access
| Topic area |
Hacking / Security |
| Target audience |
General, specifically targeting CS, IT and IS students |
| Activity type |
Reading, worksheet, class discussion. |
| Time required |
- Reading of article abstracts and answering the
question sin the worksheet: 15 min.
- Class discussion: 40 mins.
- Answering the "revised" questions in the worksheet: 15 mins.
|
| Attachments |
Worksheet |
| Additional materials |
- "Hacker who Broke into NASA Walks Free" by Stephen Farrell,
The Times, 22 November 1997.
- "U.S.Navy caught hacking into British marine charity Web
Site" by Kristi Essick, Info World Electric, 8 May 1998.
|
| Background needed to complete the assignment |
Students are to be given articles describing incidents of
hacking. No particular knowledge / skills are needed. |
| References |
- BCS code of Ethics.
- List of books that deal with the issues.
- Further articles on hacking incidents in the press.
|
| Last modified |
August 1998 |
Abstract:
The two articles describe an individual hacking into a computer of an
"authority" and an "authority" hacking into a computer of a
small organization. These articles were picked to illustrate
that hacking can be initiated by individuals
as well as organizations and to give the students the variety of
moral positions that could be presented as reasons for it.
Goals for the activity:
- Clarify the meaning of the word HACKING and the context in which it is
being used when talking about computer ethics.
- Establish a personal value system regarding hacking as an
activity undertaken by computing professionals and others.
Knowledge / skills / attitudes to be developed (behavioral objectives):
- Understanding the nature of hacking and the variety of reasons for
hacking.
- Personal viewpoint of ethical values of hacking.
- Understanding of personal feelings and emotions when hacking
is encountered.
Procedure:
- Read both articles.
- Answers questions in the worksheet marked "Immediate"
- Participate in the discussion on the subject, that will follow.
- Revise your previous answers and write them into the worksheet
where marked "Revised".
Assessing outcomes:
The grading of the worksheet will be based on the
comparison of the students reasoning before and
after the discussion. There will be no marks awarded, students
will pass or fail the exercise.
Additional remarks:
None.
Author contact information:
Eva Turner
Senior Lecturer
School of Computing Science
Middlesex University
Queensway
Enfied, Middlesex EN3 4FS
Great Britain
Page maintained by: kwb@csee.usf.edu