Digital Law, Ethics & Intellectual Property
A legally binding set of rules, codes of conduct, and network guidelines that users must agree to follow to access a school, library, or corporate computer network. Which policy is this?
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Ensuring sensitive data is accessible only to authorized individuals. What is this called?
Confidentiality
The physical, tangible electrical circuits, components, and mechanical parts that make up a computer system. Example: The motherboard, graphics card, monitor, and connection cables. What is this called?
Hardware
The visual layout, screens, menus, buttons, icons, and interactive elements through which a human user interacts with and controls a computer or software program. Example: A Graphical User Interface (GUI) featuring clickable desktop icons, touch menus, and window controls. What is this called?
User Interface (UI)
What best describes a digital footprint?
The trail of data, posts, and interactions you leave behind whenever you use the internet
Legal protections that grant original creators exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or adapt their creative works. What law is this?
Copyright Laws
Ensuring data remains accurate, complete, and protected against unauthorized modification. What is this called?
Integrity
The primary processor and "brain" of the computer that fetches, interprets, and executes software instructions and coordinates other system components.
Examples include Intel Core, AMD Ryzen, and Apple M-series processors. What is this called?
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
A specialized system utility program that enables the operating system and software applications to communicate and interact smoothly with specific connected hardware peripherals. Example: A printer driver that translates document layout data into commands the specific printer hardware understands. What is this called?
Driver
You receive a pop-up while browsing a game site saying you won a brand-new laptop, but you just need to click a link and enter your full home address and school name to claim it. What is the safest course of action?
Close the window immediately, as it is a classic scam designed to steal personal information
Intellectual and creative works that are either free of copyright restrictions or shared under open licenses that permit free use and adaptation under specified conditions.
Common (Public Domain / Creative Commons)
Ensuring authorized users have reliable, uninterrupted access to systems and information when needed. What is this called?
Availability
High-speed, volatile temporary storage used by the CPU to hold the operating system, running applications, and active data currently in use.
Example: Having 16 GB of RAM allows you to smoothly run several web browser tabs and a game simultaneously (data is lost when power is turned off). What is this called?
Memory (RAM - Random Access Memory)
Specialized software designed to help an end-user accomplish specific tasks or activities, distinct from the core operating system. Examples: Google Docs, Adobe Photoshop, Spotify, and web browsers. What is this called?
Application / App
If you notice a classmate being targeted with nasty comments or exclusion in a shared group chat, what is a constructive and safe way to handle it?
Report the behavior to a trusted adult or platform moderator and offer supportive words to the targeted peer privately.
Creations of the human mind protected by law, including inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce. What is this called?
Intellectual Property (IP)
The collection of digital practices, tools, and protocols designed to protect digital data from unauthorized access, corruption, or theft across its entire lifecycle.
Example: Using database passwords, tokenization, and strict access permissions. What is this called?
Data Security
Non-volatile digital media designed to preserve operating systems, software programs, user files, and media long-term, even when the computer is turned off. Examples: Solid-state drives (SSDs), Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), and USB flash drives. What is this called?
Storage
The foundational system software that manages computer hardware resources (CPU, RAM, storage, peripherals), organizes file systems, and provides common background services for application software.
Examples: Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. What is this called?
Operating System (OS)
What are the 5 key principles of digital citizenship?
respect, education, protection, responsibility, and access
The unauthorized copying, downloading, distribution, or commercial use of copyrighted software programs. What is this called?
Software Piracy
Tangible, structural measures implemented to prevent physical contact, unauthorized entry, or damage to facility hardware and server rooms.
Examples include keycard door locks, surveillance cameras, security guards, and server rack padlocks. What is this called?
Physical Security
An auxiliary external hardware device connected to a computer system to expand its input, output, or storage capabilities. Examples: External webcams, drawing tablets, game controllers, and printers. What is this called?
Peripheral
The intangible collection of instructions, programs, code, scripts, and routines that direct computer hardware on how to execute tasks. Examples: Operating systems, games, web browsers, and word processors. What is this called?
Software
Why is it risky to post an angry or dramatic comment online, even if you plan to delete it a few minutes later?
Other users may have already taken screenshots of or saved the post, making it permanent.