Teigh Berg ACM tech news: 12/30/11 Source: Reuters (12/28/11) URL: trains-security-idUSTRE7BR0C

“Hackers, using the same technique to shut down a website by overwhelming them with web traffic, could shut down the computers that control train switching systems,” According to Stefan Katzenbeisser at Technische Universitat Darmstadt in Germany. While Katzenbeisser says that “the trains could not crash, but service could be disrupted for quite some time”

 The ethical issue of this case is the slowing down of the train schedule and its impact.  The stakeholders in this case are those who have jobs and businesses that require commuting by train. As well as the train operators and the people who have to work on the systems that control train switching.  Three solutions: a)make train switching manual, b)Make the system secure from all intrusion of any kind, c) Make only a few system admins with randomly generating passwords each week. The best case would be c) because it creates a system of relative security and has the best chance of being effective. The worst case is b) because it allows no work to be done on the system if something goes wrong. I personally would choose c) because it seems to be the most balanced.

 I would personally allow everyone to use the solution I have provided because it is a smart way to security. This solution also treats people as both means and ends, because it has people in every part of the process except for password generation.  This solution is natural in the context of the environment that it is relevant. This solution is also balanced because it allows for people to access the system, but it does not allow for an active scenario where hacking the system can occur, as only a few people have access to the system and the passwords vary from week to week.  There would be a majority that think that this solution is the most efficient means to the end, as it secures the system and allows for only a few people to access the system. It will produce the greatest good for the greatest amount of people provided that people could be honest.

 I personally feel that this solution is the best one by far because it provides the best security and in my own conscience, because it would be the most sensible and allow for the most flexibility.  I personally feel that no philosophy actually affected this plan, but rather my personal morals are what influenced the morality of this solution and my sense of logic is what influenced how the solution was set up.  For the solution, it follows the ACM codes parts , as it helps with human well being by allowing people to get to work on time with a secure train system, it avoids harm to others, economic or physical, and it forces the admins of the system to be honest and trustworthy and not give out the system passwords to others.