Chapter 09

The Challenges of the Digital Age:

Society & Information Technology Today
Chapter Topics
UNIT 9A: Security, Privacy, & Surveillance Concerns
9.1 Security Issues: Threats to Computers
& Communications Systems
9.2 Security Safeguards: Protecting Computers & Communications
9.3 Privacy & Surveillance: Data Collection & Spies
UNIT 9B: Other Social, Economic, & Political Issues
9.4 Truth Issues: Manipulating Digital Data
9.5 Quality-of-Life Issues: The Environment, Mental Health, Child

Protection, & the Workplace

9.6 Economic & Political Issues: Employment & the Haves/Have Nots
2
UNIT 9A: Security, Privacy & Surveillance Concerns

• Technology is now used to develop predictive search apps —

applications that know what you want before you do. Some
people, however, see the new technology as just the latest
intrusion into our private lives, mining digital personal
information about us whose uses we cannot always foresee.

3
9.1 Security Issues

Threats to Computers & Communication Systems

Errors, Accidents, & Natural Hazards
• Human errors
• Humans often are not good at assessing their own information
• Human emotions affect performance; people get frustrated
• Human perceptions are slower than the equipment
• Information overload may also be a problem

5
Procedural errors
• When people fail to follow established procedures, errors can occur

Software errors
• Software bug: an error in a program that causes it not to work properly

“Dirty data” problems

• Incomplete, outdated, or otherwise
inaccurate data

GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT

6
Electromechanical problems
• Mechanical systems can wear out or become damaged
• They can also be badly designed or constructed
• Power failures and surges can damage equipment

Natural hazards can lead to disasters

7
Computer Crimes
• Two types of computer crime:
• Illegal act perpetrated against computers or telecommunications (computer
is the target)
• Use of computers or telecommunications to accomplish an illegal act
(computer is the tool)

8
Computer Crimes (continued)
• Theft of hardware
• Theft of software
• Theft of intellectual property (piracy)
• Theft of time and services
• Theft of information (e.g., medical info, credit card info)
• Internet-related fraud (e.g., Wi-Fi phishing, or evil twin attack)
• Crimes of malice: crashing entire systems
• Attacks on power-control systems and attacks on the Internet

9
9.2 Security Safeguards

Protecting Computers & Communications

Security is a system of safeguards for protecting information
technology against disasters, system failures, and unauthorized
access that can result in damage or loss.
• Computer security’s five components:
• Deterrents to computer crime
• Identification and access
• Encryption
• Protection of software and data
• Disaster recovery plans

11
Deterrents to computer crime
• Enforcing laws
• CERT: The Computer Emergency Response Team
• Provides round-the-clock information on international computer security
threats
• Tools to fight fraudulent and unauthorized online uses
• Rule-based detection software
• Predictive-statistical-model software
• Employee Internet management software
• Internet filtering software
• Electronic surveillance

12
Identification and access
• Verify legitimate right of access by what you have, what you know, and who
you are
• What you have: cards, keys, signatures, badges
• What you know: PINs and passwords; callback provision
• Who you are: biometrics (such as hand geometry, fingerprint scans, iris
recognition, face recognition, voice recognition)

13
 Encryption
• The process of altering readable data into unreadable form to prevent
unauthorized access
• Advantage: encrypting data that is available over the Internet keeps thieves and
crackers from reading it
• Disadvantage: encrypting data may prevent law-enforcement officials from
reading the data criminals are sending to one another

Discussion Questions: Does information privacy outweigh law enforcement’s needs to track down and prosecute
criminals? Should we all encrypt our information to prevent crackers and criminals from stealing it?

14
Protection of software and data
• Restrict access to online files; use transaction logs
• Use audit controls to track who used what programs and servers, which
files were opened, and so on
• Use people controls—screen applicants; do background checks; monitor
Internet, email, and computer usage; use shredders for discarded
documents and materials

15
Disaster-recovery plans
• Method of restoring information-processing operations that have been
halted by destruction or accident
• Back up everything; put mainframes in different locations
• Plans range in price and complexity
• Automatically store data redundantly in two or more places
• Have an off-site computer-based data storage center with independent
power supply

16
9.3 Privacy & Surveillance

Data Collectors & Spies

The rise of Big Data has led to continuing threats to privacy from three
giant sources:
• From business organizations
• From governments, local to federal
• From foreign governments and criminal groups
Business & Cyberspying
• Almost everything we do online is being scooped up and recorded for use by
marketers, and it’s difficult to know what parts of our own lives still belong to us.
• Whatever the impact on your personal privacy, it seems unlikely that you can
claim ownership of a lot of data that’s being collected about you. At work, for
instance, you basically have no rights.
Government & Cyberspying
• Governments at all levels spy on their citizens, sometimes encouraged by the law,
sometimes in spite of the law, often unknown to us.
• Local police, national ID cards, National Security Agency (NSA), FBI, drones, and so
on
Spying, Hacking, & Cyberwarfare by Foreign Governments & Groups
• The world is so interconnected that it is a constant struggle for technology
managers to keep us secure against cyberinvasions of all sorts.
• Governments get involved in cyberwarfare —warfare involving computers and
the Internet in which one nation attacks another’s information systems.
UNIT 9B: Other Social, Economic, & Political Issues

• The changes brought about by technology are not all to the

good. Now we consider some relevant social, economic, and
political issues.

22
9.4 Truth Issues

Manipulating Digital Data

Digital sound and images can be manipulated (morphed).
• Pros:
• Creates new forms of art
• Digital technology allows musicians to sing every track of a song and accompany
themselves
• Morphing software makes one image morph into another
• Movie special effects are made possible
• Adobe Photoshop allows changes, enhancements to photos
• Cons:
• Has made “recordings” (sound manipulation) and photographs (photo
manipulation) untrustworthy
• “News” can be faked

24
9.5 Quality-of-Life Issues

The Environment, Mental Health, Child

Protection, & the Workplace
Environmental Problems
• Manufacturing computers and circuits can cause pollution
• Hazardous toxins are involved in computer manufacture
• Wireless devices can interfere in hospital activities and with medical devices
• Used computers/monitors contain chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury, PVC, and
brominated flame retardants – all toxic substances that must be disposed of
properly
• Visual pollution (“blight”) is created by the forest of wireless towers, roof
antennas, satellite dishes, etc.; birds and bats, other wildlife, and vegetation are
affected
• Nanotechnology carries possible risks on the molecular level

26
Mental-Health Problems
• Isolation: computer gamers may substitute online games for
interpersonal interaction; videogame and Internet addiction
• Online gambling is too easy
• Many users find computers stressful and anger-inducing

27
Protecting Children
• Pornography
• The Internet has allowed the widespread distribution of sexually explicit
material
• Online pornographers use pop-up ads, Internet search engines to troll for
new customers
• This means that children may be exposed to porn when involved in innocent
online searches
• Online blocking software, DVD filters, the V-chip, and .xxx web addresses
can be used to avoid/filter out pornography

28
Online Sexual Predators
• Prevention Strategies
• Monitor children’s Internet use
• Be candid to children about threats
• Caution children about revealing too much information
• Tell them not to engage in sexting (online information and images NEVER go
away; they are there forever)

29
Sexting is use of a smartphone or other mobile device to send
sexually explicit photos or videos; sometimes it also refers to
sexually charged text messages.
• Can lead to dangerous behavior and embarrassing experiences.

30
Cyberbullies
• Another example of how information technology can negatively affect
children
• When it happens:
• Save the evidence
• Block messages
• Contact an attorney or the police
• Cyberbullying can also occur in the workplace

31
Workplace Problems
• Misuse of technology
• Playing online games, shopping, writing personal emails, etc. interfere with
workers’ productivity and can get them fired
• Fussing with computers
• Dealing with hardware, software, and network connections can waste a lot
of time, as can dealing with spam and the like
• Information overload
• With so much available technology, people tend to work more hours and
get swamped by too much information

32
Information Overload
• Term first used by Alvin Toffler in 1970: he predicted that the rapidly
increasing amounts of information being produced would eventually
cause people problems.
• Although computer processing and memory speed and capacity are
increasing all the time, the brain that humans must use to process the
information is not getting any faster.
What are some of the signs of information overload?
• Increased cardiovascular stress owing to a rise in blood pressure.
• Weakened vision.
• Confusion and frustration.
• Impaired judgment based on overconfidence.
• Irritation with others owing to an environmental input glut (which
may also account for part of the “brusqueness” that is commonly
attributed to big-city dwellers).
What can be done about information overload? For example:
• Spend less time on information that is nice to know and more time on
information that you need to know now.
• Focus on getting relevant information, not on getting information faster,
and focus on quality of information, rather than quantity.
• Learn how to create better information. Be direct in what you ask people,
so that they can provide short precise answers.
• Understand the tools you have and don’t switch tasks very often (single-
tasking keeps the mind focused on one issue at a time).
• Avoid interruptions.
• Have quiet periods, when you disconnect.
• Take breaks.
9.6 Economic & Political Issues

Employment & the Haves/Have Nots

• Technology may replace humans in many jobs.
• Technology may affect the gap between the rich and the poor (“digital
divide”).
• Most jobs require employees who are tech-savvy.
• People who are not tech-savvy won’t qualify for those jobs.
• Technology is being used to replace employees in traditional jobs,
traditionally filled by untrained workers.
• Not everyone can afford computers and Internet connectivity.
• Many governments censor Internet content available in their countries,
but they can’t control all Internet political activism.
• Internet is only loosely policed, so criminals take advantage.
• Being able to adapt to technology is critical for people.
37