Tutorial Home Sharing Accounts Email Guidelines Outside Purposes Copyright Issues Security Issues

Ethical and Proper Use of Computer Accounts at the UW 1. Sharing Accounts: An old friend is visiting and wants to browse the Web. Should you give her your account ID and password or should you log in (so she can't see your password) and then let her use your account? Give her your account ID and password Log in for her Do not let her use your account at all. 2. Unwanted Email: You had a serious disagreement with a friend, and you hope to patch things up using email. He sends you an email message telling you to stop sending email messages to him, but you want to reply with just one more note to explain your side of things. Should you? No, you should respect his wishes and not send any more messages. Yes, you should send another message. 3. Chain Letters: Someone sends you a chain letter by email, and it would be easy for you to forward it to a dozen friends. Is that OK? No. Most people do not want them. Yes. People won't mind. 4. Outside Work: You belong to a volunteer organization that does a lot of good work with a very small budget. You want to help improve its ability to pull in money by using a UW computer and printer to compose and print some donation request letters. Should you do it? No. Use UW services only for UW related purposes. Yes. Its for a good cause. 5. Using Materials You Find on the Web: You need graphics for a report you are writing. There are lots of great graphics on the Web, and it is easy to copy them. Is this OK? No. Never copy other peoples' work. Yes. Its OK to copy and use the graphics if you clearly cite where they are from. 6. Looking for Email Addresses vs. Hacking: You heard of a research team doing a project related to your area of interest, and you want to exchange information via email. You know the name of the organization where the team members work. Is it OK to try to find their email addresses by probing the systems at their organization? No. Find out some other way. Yes. Keep probing until you find what you need. Maybe, but don't dig too deep.

UW Technology
help@u.washington.edu
Modified: January 23, 2002