Access to the computer systems and networks owned or operated by the Khoury College of Computer Sciences imposes certain responsibilities and obligations, and is granted subject to University policies, as well as local, state, and federal laws. The University’s Acceptable Use Policy may be found at:
https://khoury.northeastern.edu/systems/policies/
Appropriate use of these resources is always ethical, reflects academic honesty, and shows restraint in the consumption of shared resources. It demonstrates respect for intellectual property, system security, and individuals' rights to privacy and to freedom from intimidation and harassment.
Making appropriate use of the resources means:
- Using resources only for authorized purposes
- Protecting your computer account from unauthorized use. You are responsible and will be held accountable for all activities in your account.
- Accessing only files, data, and network resources that are your own, that are explicitly publicly available, or to which you have been given authorized access
- Using only legal versions of copyrighted software
- Being considerate in your use of shared resources, including but not limited to disk space, CPU cycles, network bandwidth, and printer paper
In making appropriate use of the resources, you must not:
- Use another person's account
- Attempt to decode passwords or exploit possible security holes
- Engage in any activity that might be harmful to the systems or the data stored on them, or other computers that are connected to them, such as propagating viruses, removing systems files, or disrupting services
- Use the College’s systems for personal material gain
- Do anything that violates the above guidelines
The College considers any violation of appropriate use principles or guidelines to be a serious offense and reserves the right to copy and examine any files or information resident on College systems. Violators are subject to having their account disabled and/or disciplinary action as prescribed in the honor codes and the student and employee handbooks. Further, violations of some of the rules is a violation of state or federal law, and may be punished according to those laws.
Remember that the College provides these resources solely for coursework and research, and makes no guarantees about their availability. Using them is a privilege, not a right.