Implications Of Computer Use Flashcards
A supermarket stores data about customers who have loyalty card.
A) Explain why some customers may be concerns about giving their personal details to the supermarket (2)
B) Describe steps the supermarket can take to reassure customers about their concerns (5)
A)
- Worries about reports in the press
- Data can be sent by from electronic devices easily
- Data can be hacked into and looked at
- Data can easily be copied
- Data can be sold or passed on
- Data can be used to commit fraud
B)
- Data encryption
- Firewalls to restrict access
- Out-of-date data can be deleted
- Passwords allow access to a few staff
- Customers can inspect their details on request
- Physical access is restricted
- Staff who are allowed access, must be stated
A dairy company collects milk from farms and processes it before supplying dairy products to shops. It is taking over another business which will increase its size significantly. The decision is made to employ a systems analyst to produce a new computer system to help run the business. Part of the system will involve a database containing information about the farms (8)
Reasons/Concerns/Worries:
- Privacy of their personal details…
- And commercially sensitive data about the farm…
- Being hacked into by outsiders…
- Being sold on by company or employees
- Errors in data being stored leading to…
- Compounded errors when data used in calculations
- Farmers from new area do not have experience of working with company
Measures:
- Allow access to data by farmers in order to…
- Check accuracy
- Limit access to small number of named personnel
- Abide by D.P. legislation
- Take measures/firewalls to stop hacking
- Use ‘satisfied’ farmers to placate worries among new customers
A company employs a large number of people. A computer system is used to produce the payroll for the employees and also to answer queries from employees when they come into the payroll office during the week. (d) Some customers are concerned about giving their details to be stored on the computer system. Explain how the measures of the Data Protection Act are designed to protect the privacy of data. [7]
- Data must be lawfully collected so that customer rights are not disregarded
- Data can only be accessed/changed by authorised personel so that malicious alterations are not made
- Data should be accurate and up to date so the customers aren’t held responsible for goods they haven’t brought
- Data should not be kept longer than necessary so that customers can leave
- Data should be protected by adequate security measures so that people with malicious intent cannot gain access
- Authorised people must be notified to the DPR (Data Protection Register) so that they are accountable
- Data is only used for the specific purpose so that junk mail isn’t encouraged
- Data collected should not be excessive so that irrelevant data is not stored
- Data should not be transferred outside of the EU so that the data remains subject to DPA.
A journalist works from home most days of the week. When stories are ready, she sends them electronically to the newspaper that she works for. Sometimes she needs to travel in to the newspaper offices in order to have meetings with the editor and to bring in stories which should not be sent via her email. (c) The journalist used to go into the offices of the newspaper every day and work there. State the advantages and the disadvantages to the journalist of being able to work from home. [5]
Advantages:
- Being able to work at own times/more flexible (with planning of time)
- More freedom/time with the family
- Save money/time on commuting
Disadvantages:
- More easily distracted
- Lack of social contact/feel isolated
- More difficult to get advice from colleagues/boss
- Difficult to impress boss/gain recognition
- lack of access to all resources in office
- Difficulty if computer communications malfunction
Discuss the effects on the confidentiality of data when it is held on computer systems and steps which can be taken to protect the confidentiality of the data. The quality of written communication will be assessed in your answer to this question. [8]
Positive points:
- The data is not readable without access to a computer
- The data is not stored in human readable form
- Easier to log who has accessed the data
Negative points:
- The files of data can be easily and quickly copied
- Copies of data can be placed on media or sent elsewhere electronically
- Searches for specific data to steal can be made easily and quickly
- Systems can be hacked and data looked at remotely
- More difficult to restrict number of copies of data in circulation
Measures which can be taken:
- Passwords to gain access to system
- Passwords to access files
- Encryption of data
- Firewalls to restrict access to systems
- Physical measures to restrict access
- Proxy server to restrict users allowed access to individual machines on network
from internet
- Intrusion detection system to warn when uninvited access is attempted
A library directs all members to an area where they can have their loans input into the computer system. The membership number is read from the member’s card. (c) Until recently the loans system had been a manual one. Explain the changes to the staff’s work expectations following the introduction of the computerised system. [5]
- Worry about job loss
- Worry about competence/training
- Less time spent on mundane tasks/more time on interesting
things like research and helping public - More information available/available when needed
- Change of stress levels
- More chances of improved qualifications/training makes workers
more skilled… - enhanced job prospects/more pay
- Expected to be more literate with system
- Increased work load to bring new system on line
A manufacturing company employs a large number of workers. The times when each worker comes to work and leaves at the end of the day are recorded. These times are then used to produce the payroll. (b) The workers are worried because so much information is being stored about them on the computers of the company. (i) Explain what information would be stored in order for the payroll system to work. [3] (ii) Describe the fears that the workers may have and explain what the company can do to allay those fears. [5]
i) - National information about individuals eg NI number / tax code
- Personal information eg address, phone number / payroll number.
- Financial information eg bank account number / previous earnings.
- Holiday dates/grade of pay.
- Health issues.
ii) Fears e.g.
- Worried about identity theft [if outsiders can steal data like NI number].
- May be pestered/targeted by nuisance calls
- Burglary at home if work patterns are known
- May be subject to bank account being targeted for theft.
- Information may be passed on to third parties.
Measures taken e.g.
- Firewalls to restrict access to system authorised systems.
- Passwords
- Encryption [to protect files].
- IDs to monitor access / provide audit trails.
- Restricted access to a few named employees.
- Employees informed of measures taken.
- Physical security eg locked door.
A major use of data transmission is in communicating with other sources over the internet. Use of the internet can affect the privacy and confidentiality of data held in a computer system. Describe three steps which can be taken to protect data held in a computer system. [6]
> Passwords
- restrict access to system/files/keep secure by using
mixture of cases/characters…
Use of a firewall
- to stop signals from unauthorised users reaching the
system/hardware or software
Encryption
- so that if unauthorised access is gained the data is
unintelligible
Proxy server
- restricts the users allowed access to individual machines
on network
Intrusion detection system
- warns when uninvited access is attempted
A firm of solicitors has been using a computer system which keeps records of its clients and other information necessary for the running of the business. It has been decided to replace the system with a more up-to-date one. A systems analyst has been appointed to supervise the replacement.
(d) Explain the need for legislation to govern the use of computers for storing personal data. [4]
- Information is confidential and sensitive
- Information must be accurate
- Clients must have confidence that measures are taken to protect their data
- Data stored must be refreshed regularly to ensure irrelevant data is not kept
- Need to protect the unwary
- Worry about identity theft fraud
- Stop data being passed on
A computer programmer works from home four days a week, for a large software house. On Fridays she goes into the offices of the company in order to deliver any sensitive material personally and to meet with the rest of her team of programmers.
(b) The programmer used to go to the office every day and work there. State an advantage and a disadvantage of working from home for each of:
(i) The programmer. [2]
(ii) The software house. [2]
(iii) Society [2]
(i)
- More freedom with family
- Save money/time on commuting
- More easily distracted
- Lack of social contact
- Difficulty if system malfunctions/problem met/team
communication more difficult
(ii)
- Do not need to supply offices/car parking spaces/less expensive to run offices
- Work can be outsourced easily
- Less control over work of individuals
- More difficulty in altering course of work/less flexible
- Sensitive material may be less secure at home
(iii)
- Less pollution from travelling/less traffic congestion
- Less infrastructure required
- Opportunities for employment of disabled people
- Less need for coalescing in cities
- Reduction in service industries
- Less structure in society
In the recent past, the running of a home was a full-time occupation. The advent of computers and computer technology has meant that some of the jobs needing to be done have been simplified and some have been removed. Describe the use of computer technology in the home and the way that its use has altered the jobs that need to be done and the lives of the people concerned. The quality of written communication will be assessed in your answer to this question. [8]
Technological advances in white goods:
- Automatic washing
machines/dishwashers/…
- …leading to increased free time…
- …increased leisure time/more
family time/…
- …chance to go to work because of
time freed up, leading to…
- …increased family wealth
Chance to work from home:
- More time spent in productive work
- Chance to plan work around home
life
- Because of advances in communication and…
- …and availability of more
accessible technology
More recent advances including:
- Intelligent larders which know what food is in them and place
automatic orders…
- …delivered by supermarket and placed in larder from outside
- reduces the need for shopping
- Robotic cleaners…
- …reducing the need for cleaning by hand
- Microwave cookers have simplified the task of cooking together with…
- …large amounts of processed food
available which does not need preparation
- All have reduced the number of tasks to be done…
- …the amount of time spent on those tasks which still need to be done
- …the knowledge needed to complete the tasks
- The amount of socialising has been reduced eg when doing the shopping.
