Appendix K

Computer Use Policy (Reference to Section 102.05)

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) provides computing resources and worldwide network access to members of the UCI electronic community for legitimate academic and administrative pursuits to communicate, access knowledge, and retrieve and disseminate information. As members sharing these resources, we also share the rights and responsibilities of their use. This document describes the shared rights and responsibilities as well as the consequences of misuse. Please read it as YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING AND FOLLOWING THESE POLICIES. We welcome your use of computing resources and your cooperation.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Worldwide, open access electronic communication is a privilege and continued access requires that users act responsibly. Users should be able to trust that the products of their intellectual efforts will be safe from violation, destruction, theft, or other abuse. As a user sharing computing resources, you must respect and value the rights and privacy of others, respect the integrity of the systems and related physical resources, and observe all relevant laws, regulations, and contractual obligations. You are responsible to refrain from acts that waste resources, prevent others from using them, harm resources or information, or abuse other people. To help protect your files, you are responsible for setting passwords appropriately and keeping your password confidential by not giving it to another person.

Most UCI owned computers are under the control of a system administrator or lab manager. Like you, these administrators are expected to respect the privacy of computer system users. However, UCI computer system administrators may access user files or suspend services on the systems they manage without notice as required to protect the integrity of computer systems or to examine accounts that are suspected of unauthorized use, misuse, or have been corrupted or damaged. This includes temporarily locking vulnerable accounts, removing hung jobs, reprioritizing resource-intensive jobs, etc.

Many UCI departments have their own computing and networking resources and policies. When accessing computing resources, users are responsible for obeying both the policies set forth in this general computing document and the policies of the other departments.

EXAMPLES OF MISUSE

Knowingly running or installing on any computer system or network, or giving to another user, a program intended solely for the purpose of damaging, placing excessive load on a computer system or network or denying some form of service. This includes, but is not limited to, any form of denial-of-service software, computer viruses, Trojan horses, worms, bots, flash programs or password cracking programs.

Attempting to circumvent data protection schemes or uncover security loopholes without prior written consent of the system administrator or computer owner. This includes creating and/or running programs that are designed to identify security loopholes and/or intentionally decrypt secure data.

Using computers or electronic mail as a means to violate the University's standards of conduct, such as such as stalking, harassing, making threats of violence, or displaying graphically disturbing or sexually harassing images or text in a public computer facility or location in view of other individuals.

Attempting to monitor or tamper with another user's electronic communications or reading, copying, changing, or deleting another user's transmitted or received data, files or software without the explicit agreement of the owner.

Violating the terms of applicable software licensing agreements or copyright laws.

Utilizing campus network (wired or wireless) resources to implement peer-to-peer file transfers or other forms of file transfer or web enabled site of copyrighted material without the explicit written permission of the copyright holder and UCI network administrators.

Using any copyrighted material on a web site that utilizes campus computing or networking resources without the explicit written permission of the copyright holder.

Sending out unsolicited email (SPAM) to destinations on or off campus utilizing campus computing or networking resources.

Exploitation over a campus network or on a campus computer of security loopholes in software (web browsers, system software, etc.) being run by another individual or organization without his/her explicit permission. Exploitation includes, but is not limited to, tampering with files, installing or altering any form of software or firmware, running alien software, monitoring or intercepting any form of data being transmitted to or from the other individual's or organization's computer.

Using the campus network to gain unauthorized access to any computer system.

Using a computer account or obtaining a password that you are not authorized to use.

Masking the identity of an account or machine. This includes sending mail that appears to come from someone else.

Performing an act without authorization which will interfere with the normal operation of computers, terminals, peripherals, networks, or which will interfere with others' ability to make use of the resources.

Using your account for any activity that is commercial in nature not related to your education at UCI, such as consulting services, typing services, developing software for sale, advertising products, and/or other commercial enterprises for personal financial gain.

Deliberately wasting computing resources, such as playing games (MUDS, etc.) while someone else is waiting to use the computer for UCI-related work, sending chain letters, treating the printer like a copy machine, storing or moving large files which could compromise system integrity or preclude other users' right of access to disk storage, etc.

CONSEQUENCES OF MISUSE

Misuse of computing, networking, or information is unacceptable, and users will be held accountable for their conduct. Serious infractions can result in temporary or permanent loss of computing and/or network privileges, student judicial affairs review and discipline, and/or federal or state legal prosecution. California Penal Code Section 502 makes certain computer abuses a crime, (such as illegal reproduction of software protected by U.S. copyright law) and penalties can include a fine and/or imprisonment. Files may be subject to search under proper authorization.

Minor infractions of this policy, such as poorly chosen passwords, overloading systems, excessive disk space consumption, are typically handled internally by the department in an informal manner. More serious infractions such as abusive behavior, account invasion or destruction, attempting to circumvent system security, etc. are handled through the Office of the Dean of Students or by other appropriate officials.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This document has been adapted in part from the UCI ICS Department, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis computer use policies.

Computer Network & Use Policy Section 714-18
Updated: September 2001
nacs@uci.edu