Transcript Computer Science Freshman Seminar

Acceptable Use of Computer and Network Resources
Jim Conroy
Acting Director, Academic Computing Services
September 9, 2013
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Computing and network resources are
shared resources.
Software, data, and network resources
are covered by license agreements and
contracts.
Intellectual property rights.
Public agencies operate under state and
federal law.
Personal privacy and respect.
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BU Computing and Network Acceptable Use
Policy
◦ Approved by University Governance group called
ACET
◦ Referenced in Rules of Student Conduct
 Student Judiciary
 Academic Honesty
 University Police
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Use “consistent with the education,
research and public service mission”
Users: “those individuals provided a
username and password”
“…right to limit access to its networks…”
for violations.
“Non-University-owned computers,
which house material, which violates the
University’s policies, are subject to
network disconnection without notice.”
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“Although the University does not generally
monitor or restrict the content of material
transported across networks, it reserves the
right to access and review all aspects of its
computing systems and networks, including
individual login sessions and account files,
to investigate performance or system
problems, search for viruses and other
harmful programs, or upon reasonable
cause to determine if a user is violating this
policy or state or federal laws.”
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We don’t monitor content, but there are
situations in which we will!!
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Privacy
Copyright
Harassment, Libel and Slander
Sharing of access
Permitting unauthorized access
Circumventing Security
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Breaching Security
◦ Ultrinsic (requires student to provide id and
password to university account)
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Unauthorized Monitoring
Flooding
Private Commercial Purposes
Political Advertising or Campaigning
Modifying software or software installation
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Password “does not guarantee privacy”
BU “not responsible for the loss of users’ files
or data”
“computer files, including e-mail, may be
considered “records“”
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Not “personal and private”
“While administrators will not routinely
monitor individual email and will take
reasonable precautions to protect the
privacy of Email, program managers and
technical staff may access a student’s
Email:
◦ To diagnose and resolve technical problems
involving the system, and/or
◦ To investigate possible misuse of Email when
a reasonable suspicion of abuse exists or in
conjunction with an approved investigation. “
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Messages sent/received as BU business:
◦ Be considered state records under applicable state
regulations;
◦ Be releasable to the public under the Freedom of
Information Law;
◦ Require special measures to comply with the
Personal Privacy Protection Law
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All messages “may be subject to discovery
proceedings in legal actions.”
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Be careful before you hit the Send button!!
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immediate suspension of services
student or employee disciplinary procedures
Illegal acts
◦ subpoena and prosecution by commercial
enterprises, local, state and/or federal authorities.
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Digital Millenium Copyright Act (1998)
◦ Music, movies, TV shows, games, books, software
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Infringement notifications
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Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or
legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the
copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the
United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or
distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading
or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority
constitutes an infringement.
Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties.
In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be
ordered to pay either actual damages or "statutory" damages affixed at
not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For
"willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work
infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys'
fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.
Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties,
including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000
per offense.
For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright
Office at www.copyright.gov, especially their FAQs at
www.copyright.gov/help/faq.
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Network Performance / Virus infection /
Malware infestation
DMCA complaint
Hacking complaint
Harassment complaint
Software piracy complaint
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Identify offender and / or location
Communicate with offender via e-mail
Reply acknowledges understanding (first
offense)
No reply: place in quarantine
Quarantined offender signs “memo of
understanding”
Repeat offender or refuse to sign results in
disconnection from Res Hall net and referral
to Student Judiciary.
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