Alexander Trevino
CyberSecurity Ethics
Dr. D.E. Wittkower

Over the course of this semester in Cybersecurity Ethics, my understanding of the field has grown far beyond technical skills. The discussions and case analysis challenged me to think about the human impact of cybersecurity decisions and the ethical framework that guide them. The three topics in particular that reshaped the way I think are professional ethics in software development, the moral complexity of cyber conflict and the dangers of disinformation and information warfare. Each of these areas left me with lessons I intend to carry forward in both my professional and personal life.

Professional Ethics and Responsibility
When examining the case of Bill Sourour and his experience developing a health questionnaire that disguised advertising as medical guidance, I realized how easily technical work can cross ethical boundaries. Initially, I might have assumed that if a project was legal it was acceptable. The story shows me that legality is not enough and that software developers and cybersecurity professionals must consider how their work affects people’s autonomy, dignity and safety.

From a care ethics perspective, the failure wasn’t just in the misleading design but in ignoring the responsibility that comes with expertise. Professionals hold power because users trust the systems we build,and with that power comes the obligation to act in ways that prioritize well being. For me the lesson is simple but powerful to never let professional skill become detached from human responsibility. Technical knowledge must always serve people, not just clients or employers.

Cyber Conflict and just war principles
Before this class I assumed cyber attacks could sometimes be “clean” alternatives to physical warfare. Where damaging systems without bloodshed is possible. But studying how cyber operations can cripple power grids, hospitals, or emergency communications made it clear that the harms often fall directly on civilians. Boylon’s analysis of accountability and proportionality and Taddeo’s concept of the “infosphere” helped me see that cyber conflict raises serious ethical problems that traditional Just War Theory struggles to address.

The key insight I gained is that accountability is weak in cyberspace. When you cannot identify attackers or measure proportionality, the potential for reckless and disproportionate harm grows. The Unitarian framework we applied showed how devastating the ripple effects can be, and that in most cases, the harm outweighs the benefit. My takeaway is that ethical cyber operations demand precision, accountability, and restraint. If those are absent, the actions will almost always fail the test of justice.

Information Warfare and Virtue Ethics
Disinformation campaigns by Russia, China, and Iran illustrated a different kind of conflict; one fought not with bombs but with lies. Using fake accounts, stolen files, and misleading narratives, these actors worked to erode trust in American democracy itself. Evaluating this through virtue ethics made me realize how corrosive dishonesty and manipulation are not only to the victims but also to the aggressors.

What struck me most was the idea that responding in kind would compromise our own integrity. If the United States countered disinformation with its own falsehoods, it would lose the very virtue like honesty, justice and prudence that define democracy. This shifted my perspective from seeing disinformation as just a technical or national security issue to recognizing it as a moral one. My lasting takeaway is that integrity must remain non negotiable. In defending democracy and trust, the ethical high ground is not a weakness it is the foundation of resilience.

Conclusion
Together these three lessons reframed how I think about cybersecurity. Professional ethics showed me that individual decisions by developers and analysts have real human consequences. Cyber conflict demonstrated that unseen digital attacks can be just as destructive as physical ones if civilians are caught in the crossfire. Information warfare revealed that trust itself is a battlefield, and that virtues like honesty and courage are strategic strengths.
As I continue in my studies and career I want my future self to remember to care for the people behind the systems, demand accountability in cyber operations, and protect integrity as fiercely as any network or database. These principles will guide me not only as a cybersecurity professional but also as a citizen in a world where technology and ethics are inseparable.