Ethics and Computer Security

1. The Problem In the recent discussion of the required specifications of our new computer security product, the issue of including backdoor in the product was brought up. This backdoor would allow anyone knowing this special password to access anything going on in the system and would also allow one possessing the password to read personal files and email of employees. While many thought this was a good idea, there were also many that disapproved of …

…the evaluation of the possible alternatives, I wholeheartedly recommend that we DO NOT include this backdoor feature with our security products. The inclusion of this would neither improve security nor uphold our beliefs in the right to privacy. While some might argue that this might cost us some business, we cannot let a mere 15% of our clients dictate the way we do business as a company with integrity and the consumers interests close at heart.