What are my responsibilities as a computer user at IU?

By receiving and using your Indiana University Network ID, you accept certain responsibilities and standards for computer use, which apply to all IU computing resources.

Failure to use IU computing resources as described below is dealt with seriously. Violators are subject to the normal disciplinary procedures of the university, and the loss of computing privileges may result. Illegal acts involving IU computing resources may also be subject to prosecution by state and federal authorities.

By accepting your IU computing accounts, your responsibilities and the standards you are expected to observe are as follows:

University purposes:
- To always use IU's technology resources in ways that are consistent with furthering the university's mission of education, research, and public service
- To never use your account for private financial gain or to advertise the products or services of a private company; see What is IU policy on using information technology resources for commercial advertisement?
Secure usage:
- To never share your account password with anyone including friends, roommates, family, or IU staff; see If I give my passphrase to someone else who uses my account to send a harassing email message, will I be held responsible?
- To select a strong passphrase and change it regularly (annually at the very least)
- To honor and maintain all of IU's system security procedures and confidential information
- To make appropriate use of the tools provided in order to maintain the security of the university's computing systems and the confidentiality of the information stored on them
- To always log out of accounts and shared computers
- To take steps to understand computer viruses and other destructive software and to protect your university accounts from such threats; see What should I do if I receive a computer virus alert message via email?
Legal usage:
- To use accounts for legal purposes only
- To share music and other media files only if you have appropriate permission to distribute the files; see How do I use digital music and movies legally?
- To uphold all software copyrights and license agreements; see What is the No Electronic Theft Act? and What is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?
- To never use technology to harass others
- To never damage equipment, software, or data belonging to others
- To never monitor or disrupt the communications of others
- To never use information technology to view or distribute child pornography
Ethical usage:
- To use your accounts in ways that foster the high ethical standards of the university
- To never violate computer system security or make unauthorized use of accounts, network identification, or access codes
- To never use information technology resources, including networks, accounts, hardware, or software for academic dishonesty (i.e., plagiarism or cheating)
Facilitative usage:
- To use shared technology resources efficiently
- To use university technology resources in ways that facilitate everyone's use of the technology
- To regularly delete unneeded files from your accounts on central computers
- To avoid overuse of dial-in connect time, information storage space, printing facilities, paper, and processing capacity
- To never send or respond to chain email; see About chain mail

You are also responsible for following all applicable IU policies. Additionally, university units such as colleges and departments may have in place more specific policies related to the use of information technology.

For policy statements on information technology-related activities, see IU's information technology policies.

Also see:

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Last modified on June 06, 2008.

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