Week 12. I.. I.. Identitiy Theft!!

23/05/08

Lecture: Today's lecture Helen had some problems with the projector, it kept turning off after a few slides, so it made the lecture a bit more interesting. We started off with a short video on identity theft, which focused mostly on myspace and giving out your personal details etc that can cause identity being stolen and used.
We looked at how to protect your computer from viruses, you can:

• Use firewall
• Learn about unsafe attachments/files
• Know who the information is coming from
• Use spyware
• Antivirus software
• Don't give out personal information

Characteristics of the Internet are:

• Open protocols
• Any one can publish
• Copyright
• Plagiarism
• Security
• Freedom of speech
• Privacy

I was trying to pay attention during the lecture but my mind kept going away to my car- the Sunday before, it was broken into. My uni bag with all my work and usb was stolen, as well as my hidden bag with my wallet, camera, papers, all my id's etc. So a lot of stress and time was put into getting all my new id's and getting a new window etc.

Tasks: My first task was to look at the site http://www.copyright.org.au/ and click on the link to the page copyright information, then all information sheets. I was to then choose and read five information sheets that are or will be relevant to me as an undergraduate. I chose:

1. Writers
2. Graphic designers
3. Ideas: legal protection
4. Copyright in Australia: information sources
5. Fair dealing

All of these documents give you the information you need to know when dealing with different topics. For example, with graphic design, it gives an overview of copyright issues that you need to know when in that industry.

This is a useful site to go to if you need to know legal information and what you can do to protect your work and ideas.

The second task was to go to the site http://www.apra.com.au/music-users/online_mobile/online_mobile.asp This looks at music and the web. It explains about how downloading music can seem free for us but for artists and songwriters, it means they don't get paid. For starting out artists i can understand this, successful artists have enough money to support themselves ten times over. For the hardworking, everyday person however, it's nice to have some things that are free.

Rights which are exploited when music is downloaded include:

• the reproduction of musical work
• the communication to the public of a musical work.

There are online licenses offered by AMCOS and APRA. These can help protect your work and gives you your rights.

For my last task i was given references of:

http://netsecurity.about.com/

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus6.htm

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2100282,00.asp

To protect yourself from attacks on your privacy and security you can:

• unplug your computer when not using it- can't get a virus
• Software security- firewall, anti-virus software
• Don't give out personal information
• Network security
• Know where the information is coming from
• Don't open files you don't know

Another week finished. I'll now go send my application from for my course next semester "Nutrition". Then i need to get a new student id because of my old one being stolen. At least i get a new photo, unless they have the same one in their system : /

Readings: There where three pieces of reading for us to look at;

1. http://www.eff.org/Privacy/eff_privacy_top_12.html - This site focuses on the top 12 ways to protect your online privacy.
2. http://ethics.csc.ncsu.edu/social/workplace/monitoring/ - This is primarily on electronic monitoring.
3. http://www.bpmlegal.com/overview.html - An overview of intellectual properties.