Free Ethics in Technology Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Ethics in Technology practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Which combination uses two different categories of authentication factors?

   1. A.A password and a PIN
   2. B.A password and a fingerprintCorrect answer: B
   3. C.A PIN and a security answer
   4. D.A passphrase and a security answer

   Explanation: The FTC identifies "Something you know, like a password, a PIN, or the answer to a security question." It also identifies a fingerprint as "Something you are, like your fingerprint, your face, or your retina." Password and fingerprint are therefore different factors.

   Reference: Use Two-Factor Authentication To Protect Your Accounts — Protecting Your Accounts

2. 2How does the Council of Europe describe the Budapest Convention's role in international cybercrime matters?

   1. A.It confines cooperation to cases with no electronic evidence
   2. B.It makes domestic criminal legislation unnecessary for its parties
   3. C.It limits parties to responding only to offences within their borders
   4. D.It provides a framework for cooperation among partiesCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: The official source describes "a framework for international co-operation between State Parties to this treaty." The convention supports cooperation between parties.

   Reference: Convention on Cybercrime — Convention on Cybercrime

3. 3In Packingham v. North Carolina, the state broadly barred certain registered sex offenders from accessing social-media sites. What constitutional concern did the Court identify?

   1. A.It excluded only threats and other unprotected speech
   2. B.It affected commercial speech but not access to public debate
   3. C.It regulated direct communication with a specific minor only
   4. D.It foreclosed access to forums for lawful protected speechCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: The Court wrote, "to foreclose access to social media altogether is to prevent the user from engaging in the legitimate exercise of First Amendment rights." The broad access ban burdened opportunities for lawful expression.

   Reference: Packingham v. North Carolina — Syllabus, pp. 1–2

4. 4Which ethical issue follows specifically from the heritability of germline genome edits?

   1. A.The changes may affect descendants who did not consentCorrect answer: A
   2. B.The treatment may have a high purchase price
   3. C.The edited person may face an unintended medical effect
   4. D.The patient's genomic records may be disclosed

   Explanation: NHGRI states that "editing changes made in the germline would be passed down to future generations." Descendants may be affected by changes made before they can consent.

   Reference: What are the Ethical Concerns of Genome Editing? — Overview

5. 5After a company identifies a vulnerability that exposed customer records, which response directly addresses the risk of further exploitation of that vulnerability?

   1. A.Secure the systems and fix the identified vulnerabilityCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Prepare a notice describing the breach to affected customers
   3. C.Document the incident for a later compliance review
   4. D.Identify which customers should receive breach notices

   Explanation: The source states, "Move quickly to secure your systems and fix vulnerabilities that may have caused the breach." Securing the system and fixing the vulnerability helps prevent further loss.

   Reference: Data Breach Response: A Guide for Business — Secure Your Operations

6. 6If an attacker obtains a password reused on two sites, what is the resulting risk to the second account?

   1. A.The attacker can derive its separate recovery codes
   2. B.The attacker can try the same password to sign inCorrect answer: B
   3. C.The attacker can automatically bypass its second factor
   4. D.The attacker can discover passwords for unrelated accounts

   Explanation: The FTC states, "Hackers might also try to use the username and password to log in to another one of your accounts." Reusing credentials allows the same stolen information to be tried elsewhere.

   Reference: Use Two-Factor Authentication To Protect Your Accounts — Why a Password Alone Isn’t Enough

7. 7Subject to the qualifications in Article 14 of the Budapest Convention, how far can the listed procedural powers extend beyond offences against computer systems?

   1. A.They are limited to offences against computer systems
   2. B.They can apply to collection of electronic evidence of a criminal offenceCorrect answer: B
   3. C.They are limited to data held outside the investigating state
   4. D.They apply only when the offence appears in the treaty's offence list

   Explanation: Article 14(2)(c) includes "the collection of evidence in electronic form of a criminal offence." Thus the powers can extend beyond computer-system offences, subject to the article’s qualifications.

   Reference: Convention on Cybercrime (ETS No. 185) — Article 14(2)(c)

8. 8Which platform activity did the Supreme Court in Moody v. NetChoice identify as potentially expressive under the First Amendment?

   1. A.Merely transmitting a message without selecting its content
   2. B.Compiling and curating others' speech into an expressive productCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Storing user data without making an expressive selection
   4. D.Providing network capacity without selecting what is said

   Explanation: The controlling source states, "compiling and curating others’ speech into an expressive product" The Court emphasized the expressive character of editorial selection and the need to examine particular applications.

   Reference: Moody v. NetChoice, LLC — Syllabus, pp. 3–4

9. 9What is an off-target effect in genome editing?

   1. A.An intended change present in every cell
   2. B.An edit made in the wrong locationCorrect answer: B
   3. C.An edit occurring in some cells but not others
   4. D.An edit inherited by a future generation

   Explanation: NHGRI states that "off-target effects (edits in the wrong place)" An unintended edit at another location is a safety concern.

   Reference: What are the Ethical Concerns of Genome Editing? — Ethical Considerations: Safety

10. 10During a corporate data breach investigation, how should the organization handle forensic evidence?

    1. A.Delete it once the organization confirms a breach
    2. B.Preserve it during investigation and remediationCorrect answer: B
    3. C.Publish it publicly to reassure customers
    4. D.Modify it to match the initial incident report

    Explanation: The source states, "Don’t destroy any forensic evidence in the course of your investigation and remediation." Preserving evidence supports a reliable investigation.

    Reference: Data Breach Response: A Guide for Business — Secure Your Operations