Cyberspace Ethics and Information Warfare

Abstract

We have seen a rise in computer misuse at a global level and also the development of new policies and strategies to describe organized computer security attacks against the information society–these strategies are described as being “information warfare.” This is very different from the traditional view of attack against computers by the individual, determined hacker, a cyber warrior with a code of conduct to follow. Today the threats come from individuals, corporations, government agencies (domestic and foreign), organized crime and terrorists. This new world of conflict in the electronic ether of virtual cyberspace has brought with it a new set of ethical dilemmas.