Ten Commandments of Cyber
Ethics
I. Thou shalt not use a computer to
harm people
• Be polite when you are sending messages
to people.
• Treat other people the way you would like
to be treated.
• Think before you hit the “send” command.
The things you text or email could hurt
someone.
II. Thou shalt not interfere with
other people’s computer work
• If someone forgets to log out, log out for
them.
• Leave other people’s files alone.
• Treat other people the way you would like
to be treated.
III. Thou shalt not snoop around in
other people’s files
• Be careful to “log out” of sites you have
signed into.
• Be a good Cyber Citizen: If someone
forgets to log out, log out for them.
IV. Thou shalt not use a computer
to steal
• Illegal gambling and fraud are examples of
using a computer to steal.
• Using your computer as place to store
illegal or stolen information is wrong.
• Using email or texting to plan crimes is
wrong.
V. Thou shalt not use a computer to
bear false witness
• “False witness” means telling lies about
people.
• Be considerate of other people’s feelings.
Don’t spread rumors.
VI. Thou shalt not use or copy
software for which you have not
paid
• “Software” is a term for computer
programs. Software allows you to do
things on the computer.
• Examples are video games, media players
like iTunes, and word processing
programs like MS Word.
• “Open source” and “shareware” are free
and OK to use.
VII. Thou shalt not use other
people’s computer resources
without authorization
• “Authorization” means permission.
• “Computer resources” are people’s
hardware (the computer) and software (the
programs).
• If it’s not yours, ASK first.
VIII. Thou shalt not appropriate
other people’s intellectual output
• “Intellectual output” can be books, artwork,
music, films, magazine articles, video
games.
• “Appropriate” means copying other
people’s work and passing it off as your
own. If you do use someone else’s work,
cite your source.
• I will cite my sources for this lesson at the
very end.
IX. Thou shalt think about the social
consequences of the program you
write
• If you create a computer program that
helps others steal or do anything against
the law, you have done wrong.
• Hacking is wrong. Examples of hacking
are shutting down or defacing web sites
and creating and sending viruses.
X. Thou shalt use a computer in
ways that show consideration and
respect
• The computer is a wonderful tool.
• There are lots of positive ways to use a
computer. Can you think of some?
Works Cited
• “Ten Commandments of Cyber Ethics.”
The Cyber Citizen Partnership. 10 Jun.
2010
http://cybercitizenship.org/ethics/command
ments.html
• “What Is Cyber Crime?” The Cyber Citizen
Partnership. 10 Jun. 2010
http://www.cybercitizenship.org/crime/crim
e.html