On systems such as UNIX where file and directory protection is the responsibility of the owner, it is important for the owner to know the protection associated with files and directories and to assure that access to copyrighted or private information is appropriately protected. On UNIX systems, the ls -al command can be used to see the protections and ownerships associated with a file, and the chmod command can be used to set the access priviledges given to a file or directory. On UNIX systems the manual pages for these commands are online, and should be read and understood. Lately information technology has called attention to issues of workplace ethics, primarily because this technology has increased access to people and data. Many times the data is private or proprietary, or is information that can be considered offensive or inflamatory.
Most schools have a student handbook that outlines the school's expectations for student behavior.
These policies usually include definitions of offenses, such as cheating, fighting, vandalism, and so on, and the penalties for these offenses. These rules and regulations have been extended to define proper use of computer systems and the Internet. Even elementary schools are addressing behavior in computer environments. Furthermore, these rules are not simply written down but are discussed and enforced when they are violated. At Auburn University you can find issues of ethical behavior addressed in the Network Policies and Procedures document .