Professional Practices - BSCS Notes

Professional Practices — Complete BSCS Notes

Introduction to Professional Practices

Definition: Professional practices are ethical rules and standards followed by computing professionals.
Purpose:
• Responsible computing
• Legal compliance
• User protection
Example: Protecting user passwords and private data.

Computing Ethics

Definition: Moral principles that guide computer professionals.
Main Ethical Principles:
• Honesty
• Privacy
• Fairness
• Responsibility
Example: A developer should not steal another company's code.
Case Example:
A software engineer discovers a security bug but hides it.
This is unethical because users may be harmed.

Philosophy of Ethics

Definition: Study of right and wrong behavior.
Branches:
• Meta Ethics
• Normative Ethics
• Applied Ethics
Applied Ethics: Practical ethics in real-world situations.
Example: Deciding whether AI surveillance violates privacy.

Ethics and the Internet

Definition: Proper and responsible behavior online.
Issues:
• Cyberbullying
• Fake news
• Online fraud
• Privacy violations
Internet Safety Rules:
• Use strong passwords
• Avoid suspicious links
• Respect online privacy
Example: Sharing someone's private data without permission is unethical.

Accountability and Auditing

Accountability: Responsibility for actions performed in a system.
Auditing: Monitoring and checking system activities.
Audit Logs: Records of system actions.
Example: Tracking who accessed a database.
Simple Log Example: User Login: Ali Time: 10:30 PM Action: Accessed Records

Social Application of Ethics

Definition: Applying ethical principles in society and technology.
Areas:
• Education
• Healthcare
• Business
• Social Media
Importance:
Technology should benefit society instead of harming it.
Example: Ethical use of AI in hospitals.