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🔒 Cyber Ethics — Class 10 Computer Applications

Netiquette, software licenses, IPR, plagiarism, e-commerce security, digital divide

1. Netiquette

📖 Network Etiquette

Netiquette = rules of polite behaviour on the Internet (Network + Etiquette).

• Be polite and respectful in emails and online forums

• Don't type in ALL CAPS (considered "shouting")

• Don't spread rumours, hate speech, or false information

• Respect others' privacy — don't share personal information without consent

• Don't spam (send unsolicited bulk email)

• Give credit when sharing others' content

2. Software Licences & Open Source

  • Proprietary Software: Owned by a company; you must buy a licence to use it; source code is private (e.g., Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop)
  • Freeware: Free to use but source code not available (e.g., Adobe Reader, Skype)
  • Shareware: Free trial period; pay to continue using
  • Open Source Software: Source code is publicly available; anyone can study, modify, and distribute it (e.g., Linux, Firefox, LibreOffice)
  • GNU/GPL (General Public Licence): Most common open source licence — ensures software remains free and open
  • Free Software Movement: Started by Richard Stallman (GNU Project) — promotes freedom to use, study, share, modify software

3. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

📖 IPR

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are legal rights that protect creations of the mind — inventions, artistic works, software, etc.

Copyright: Protects creative works (books, music, movies, software) — automatic from creation; lasts 60 years after creator's death in India

Patent: Protects inventions for 20 years; must be novel and non-obvious

Trademark: Protects brand names and logos

Plagiarism: Copying someone else's work and presenting it as your own — a serious ethical and legal violation

Digital Property Rights: Copyright extends to digital content — downloading pirated movies, music, software is illegal

4. Freedom of Information & Digital Divide

  • Freedom of Information: The right to access information held by public authorities; promotes transparency and accountability
  • Digital Divide: The gap between those who have access to computers and the Internet and those who don't — due to economic, geographic, or social factors
  • Digital divide exists between: urban vs rural, rich vs poor, young vs old
  • Government schemes like BharatNet aim to bridge the digital divide

5. E-Commerce & Security

⚡ Online Safety

E-Commerce: Buying and selling goods/services over the Internet (Amazon, Flipkart)

Privacy: Protect your personal and financial information online; never share passwords or OTPs

Online Fraud: Phishing (fake websites to steal credentials), identity theft, fake offers

Secure Data Transmission: HTTPS (SSL/TLS encryption) ensures data is encrypted in transit; look for the padlock icon in the browser bar before entering sensitive information

Strong Passwords: Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols; different for each account

🔑 Important Terms

  • Netiquette: Rules of polite online behaviour
  • Open Source: Software with publicly available source code
  • Copyright: Legal protection for creative works
  • Plagiarism: Using someone else's work without credit
  • Digital Divide: Gap between those with/without Internet access
  • HTTPS: Secure web protocol — encrypted communication