Nobody Likes SPAM! Practice Good Netiquette

If you've ever been the victim of a junk e-mail (SPAM) attack, you know how annoying violations of network courtesy can be. Network use is increasing exponentially, and more and more people on campus are incorporating the Internet into their daily lives. With such easy online access, many users may overlook, or be unaware of, some basic rules governing network use. By way of a refresher course, a summary of the UO guidelines for acceptable use of the Internet and other computing resources provided on campus is presented below. The full text of these guidelines is available in the free handout titled, "Acceptable Use of Computing Resources," which is available in the Computing Center Documents Room (175 McKenzie Hall) and online at http://cc.uoregon.edu/acceptableuse.html and http://cc.uoregon.edu/acrobatdocs/acceptable_use.pdf

Wise Use

Given the university's limited resources, as well as the direct social costs of wasteful behavior (such as printing output that isn't needed), use computing resources judiciously:

• Refrain from using compute-intensive recreational applications, such as Muds/Moos/Mucks/Mushes, IRC, Talk, and online computer games when resource use is heavy. Some of these applications may be unsupported or actively discouraged, due to the demands they place on our limited modem pool, CPU, and lab resources.
• Remember that activities related to the university's scholarly mission take precedence over computing pursuits of a more personal or recreational nature (processing personal e-mail, exploring network resources, etc.)

Sharing Accounts

Sharing an account or lab pass with others is prohibited. Authorization to use university computing resources is not shareable or transferable, and could have serious legal consequences.

Conduct Code

The University Conduct Code (OAR 571-21-030) also applies to electronic forums. The code prohibits, among other things, lewd or indecent conduct, harassment, intentional disruption of university services, and illegal discrimination.

Electronic Privacy

Examples of specifically prohibited behavior include

• unauthorized interception or diversion of network transmissions
• accessing clearly confidential files that may be inadvertently publicly readable
• sharing confidential information about a person (such as their educational records) without their consent or other authorization

Interference with Computing/Networking

Efforts to interfere with the use or operation of computing or networking resources are prohibited. These include

• distribution of computer viruses, worms, trojan horse programs, e-mail "bombs," chain letters, etc.
• forged or counterfeited e-mail
• posting USENET News articles to inappropriate newsgroups, posting to moderated newsgroups without the approval of the moderator, or cross-posting articles to many newsgroups simultaneously (spamming)
• triggering system security features, thus denying service to other users, or intentionally misconfiguring equipment to render it unusable

Copyrights, Commercial Use

If you make materials available for others via a Web server or postings to a USENET newsgroup, etc., be sure to respect copyrights. In general, every document, image, or sound is copywritten upon creation, and may only be used or redistributed with the permission of the copyright holder.

Also be aware that copying proprietary software is theft, and use of such software could be grounds for suspension or dismissal from the university and either criminal prosecution or a civil suit for copyright infringement, or both.

Commercial exploitation of UO computing resources is prohibited.

Personal Responsibility for Online Statements

If you defame someone online or invade his or her privacy, you may be sued. Exercise your freedom to speak out, but please do so responsibly and in a way that reflects creditably on the university.