This lesson explores the broad impact of ICT on our daily lives, covering the good, the bad, and the important rules we need to follow.

Short Notes

• Legal Issues:

  • Data Theft: Stealing personal information.

  • Copyright & Patents: Laws that protect intellectual property (creations of the mind). Piracy is the illegal copying of software, music, or movies.

• Ethical Issues:

  • Plagiarism: Copying someone else's work and presenting it as your own.

  • Fair Use: A principle that allows limited use of copyrighted material for purposes like education or news reporting.

• Security:

  • Physical Security: Protecting the hardware. Examples: Locked doors, CCTV, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to protect against power cuts.

  • Logical Security: Protecting the software and data. Examples: Passwords, Firewalls (which block unauthorized network access), and Backups.

• Malware (Malicious Software):

  • Virus: Attaches to a program and spreads when the program is run.

  • Worm: Spreads by itself across networks without needing to attach to a program.

  • Spyware: Secretly collects information about you.

  • Phishing: Tricking you into giving up personal information (like passwords or bank details) by pretending to be a trustworthy entity (like a fake bank website).

  • Spam: Unsolicited junk email.

• Health and Safety:

  • Ergonomics: Designing your workspace to be comfortable and safe to prevent health issues.

  • RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury): Pain in muscles and nerves from repeating the same motion (like clicking a mouse) for too long.

  • CVS (Computer Vision Syndrome): Eye strain from looking at a screen for extended periods.

• E-waste: Discarded electronic equipment, which often contains hazardous materials and must be disposed of properly.

• Social Issues:

  • Digital Divide: The gap between people who have access to ICT and those who do not.

  • Cybercrime: Criminal activities carried out using computers and the internet.

Important Points for the Exam

• This chapter is full of key terms. Be able to define: Plagiarism, Copyright, Firewall, Phishing, Spam, Virus vs. Worm, E-waste, and the Digital Divide.

• Understand the difference between Physical Security (protecting the machine) and Logical Security (protecting the data).

• Be able to provide examples of good ergonomic practices (e.g., screen at eye level, straight back, feet flat on the floor).

• Explain how to protect yourself from malware (use an antivirus, don't open suspicious emails).

Tips & Tricks for Studying

• Create Flashcards: This chapter is perfect for flashcards. Write a term on one side and its definition on the other.

• Use Real-Life Examples: Think about a time you received a spam email. That's an example of a security issue. Have you ever seen an e-waste collection bin? That connects to environmental issues.

Make a Comparison Table: Create a table to compare different types of malware (Virus, Worm, Trojan, Spyware) based on how they spread and what they do. This will help you keep them straight.