← WA Computer Science ATAR Unit 2

Professional codes of ethics for developers and testers

A set of rules for professional conduct, such as the ACS Code of Ethics: be honest, keep client data confidential, avoid harm, declare conflicts of interest and act in the public interest.

Part of: WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Cyber Security — Module 149

Understanding Professional codes of ethics for developers and testers in WA Computer Science ATAR Unit 2

What it does: Client confidentiality means information gained during a job is protected and is not shared without permission. Declaring a conflict of interest keeps the developer honest and lets the client decide whether to continue. A code of ethics lists the standards of behaviour expected of professionals, such as honesty, confidentiality, avoiding harm and acting in the public interest. A conflict of interest is when personal interests could affect professional judgement. Professionals declare it openly. Honesty means being truthful about the quality, limits and risks of your work. Ethics go beyond legal minimums. A code of ethics guides choices where the law is silent or unclear.

Common mistakes: Client confidentiality is part of a code of ethics. Data seen while testing must be kept confidential, not shared. The line should be: keep it confidential. A code of ethics such as the ACS Code requires honesty. The variable should be TRUE, because a professional must act honestly.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 125–266) and word search (Modules 28–266).

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Learning

Duo

A professional code of ethics sets expected conduct for people in a profession, such as developers and testers.

TrueFalse

Matches

A tester finds a flaw, then sells the client's private data to a friend

↓

This breaks client confidentiality and could cause harm. A tester must keep client data private and use it only for the agreed job.

Applying

Meanings

Term

code of ethics

Meaning

A set of rules for professional conduct, such as the ACS Code of Ethics: be honest, keep client data confidential, avoid harm, declare conflicts of interest and act in the public interest.

Practice

IF client_data IS confidential THEN

Testing

Gaps

shareClientData ←

Check Answer

Spots

1IF tester sees client data

2 share it on social media

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Quick Questions

1. A professional code of ethics sets expected conduct for people in a profession, such as developers and testers.

A. False

B. True ✓

A code of ethics lists the standards of behaviour expected of professionals, such as honesty, confidentiality, avoiding harm and acting in the public interest.

2. Which organisation publishes a Code of Ethics that Australian IT professionals are expected to follow?

A. The Australian Computer Society (ACS) ✓

B. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

The ACS Code of Ethics guides the conduct of IT professionals in Australia, including developers and testers.

3. During a penetration test, you see a client's customer records. What does the code of ethics expect you to do?

A. Keep the data confidential and use it only for the test ✓

B. Share it with friends as an example of weak security

Client confidentiality means information learned through the job is not disclosed or misused.

4. Your cousin owns a company that is bidding for a contract your employer is judging. Which action fits the code of ethics?

A. Keep quiet and help your cousin win

B. Declare the conflict of interest to your employer ✓

A conflict of interest is when personal interests could affect professional judgement. Professionals declare it openly.

5. A tester finds a serious flaw that could expose users' data. The manager says to ignore it so the release date is met. Which choice follows the code of ethics?

A. Report the flaw, because the public interest and avoiding harm come first ✓

B. Ignore the flaw, because meeting the deadline matters most

The code expects professionals to avoid harm and act in the public interest, even when it is inconvenient.

Match the Pairs

code of ethics → A set of rules for professional conduct, such as honesty, avoiding harm and acting in the public interest

ACS Code of Ethics → The Australian Computer Society's standard of conduct for IT professionals, including the public interest and honesty

A tester must keep client data confidential and not share it with outsiders → if (client_data == private): do_not_share()

A developer must declare a conflict of interest, such as owning shares in a rival company → if (conflict_of_interest): tell_client()

A tester finds a flaw, then sells the client's private data to a friend → This breaks client confidentiality and could cause harm. A tester must keep client data private and use it only for the agreed job.

A developer hides that her brother owns the supplier she recommends to the client → This is an undeclared conflict of interest. She should tell the client about it so that the advice stays honest.

Key Term

code of ethics

A set of rules for professional conduct, such as the ACS Code of Ethics: be honest, keep client data confidential, avoid harm, declare conflicts of interest and act in the public interest.

Fill in the Blanks

1. shareClientData ← FALSE

Hint: Type the Boolean value that stops client data from being shared.

2. IF hasConflict THEN OUTPUT "Conflict declared to client" END IF

Hint: Type the keyword that shows a message to the client.

3. IF harmToPublic THEN OUTPUT "Report the concern" END IF

Hint: Type the keyword that starts the block that runs when the condition is true.

4. conflict ← hasShares OR isRelated

Hint: Type the logical operator that is true when either personal link exists.

5. IF bugFound = TRUE THEN OUTPUT "Report the bug honestly" END IF

Hint: Type the comparison operator that checks whether two values are equal.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A IF tester sees client data

B share it on social media

C do not share with others

D END IF

Line B — Client confidentiality is part of a code of ethics. Data seen while testing must be kept confidential, not shared. The line should be: keep it confidential.

Question 2

A honest ← FALSE

B IF test_fails THEN

C report the failure

D END IF

Line A — A code of ethics such as the ACS Code requires honesty. The variable should be TRUE, because a professional must act honestly.

Question 3

A FOR each feature in app

B ignore risk of harm to users

C IF harm THEN redesign it

D NEXT feature

Line B — Avoiding harm is a core ethical duty. Developers must assess each feature for harm to users, not ignore it. The line should be: assess risk of harm to users.

Question 4

A client ← Acme

B IF dev owns rival shares THEN

C declare conflict to client

D hide it and keep working

E END IF

Line D — A conflict of interest must be declared, so the client can decide what to do. Hiding it breaks the code of ethics. The line should let the client decide the next step.

Question 5

A IF release risks public safety

B release anyway to meet date

C ELSE

D release on schedule

Line B — The code of ethics says to act in the public interest. If a release risks public safety, the professional should delay it and fix the problem, not release it anyway.

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