Ethics of Parasitic Computing
- 1. Ethics of Parasitic Computing Dr. Varun Kumar Dr. Varun Kumar (IIIT Surat) Lecture-29 1 / 8
- 2. Outlines 1 Introduction 2 Parasitic computing 3 Issues and open ethical problem Dr. Varun Kumar (IIIT Surat) Lecture-29 2 / 8
- 3. Introduction Key point → Computer communication perspective ⇒ Reliable communication on the Internet is guaranteed by a standard set of protocols, used by all computers. Example → Computer communication When a user selects a URL (uniform resource locator), requesting a web page, the browser opens a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection to a web server. Issues a hyper-text transmission protocol (HTTP) request over the TCP connection. The TCP message is carried via the Internet protocol (IP) It might break the message into several packages. It navigate independently through numerous routers between source and destination. When an HTTP request reaches its target web server, a response is returned via the same TCP connection to the user’s browser. Dr. Varun Kumar (IIIT Surat) Lecture-29 3 / 8
- 4. Continued– The original message is reconstructed through a series of consecutive steps, involving IP and TCP. It is finally interpreted at the HTTP level, eliciting the appropriate response. A simple request for a web page involves a significant amount of computation in the network and at the computers at the end points. The success of the Internet rests on the cooperation of and trust between all involved parties. Dr. Varun Kumar (IIIT Surat) Lecture-29 4 / 8
- 5. Graphical representation: source– www.nature.com a A single parasite node coordinates the computations occurring remotely in the Internet protocols. It sends specially constructed messages to some number of targeted nodes, which are web servers consisting of an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) and a network interface (NIF). b Levels of communication between the parasitic node and the target in our proof-of-principle implementation. The packet carrying the problem to be solved is inserted into the network at the IP level, bypassing the parasitic node’s TCP Dr. Varun Kumar (IIIT Surat) Lecture-29 5 / 8
- 6. Parasitic computing Parasitic computing is a programming technique where a program in normal authorized interactions with another program manages to get the other program to perform computations of a complex nature. ⇒ First reported in journal ”Nature” in 2001 by Barabasi, Freech, Feong and Brockman. ⇒ A form of distributed computer architecture. ⇒ Used for solving complex computational problem. ⇒ Target could never know ⇒ Exploit standard set of communication protocol in internet. ⇒ Potential standard protocols are TCP, HTTP. Dr. Varun Kumar (IIIT Surat) Lecture-29 6 / 8
- 7. Issues and open ethical problem ⇒ Examine alternative Idealistic and Pragmatic ethical viewpoints on parasitic form of distributed computing ⇒ Information Ethics are basically digital versions of older ethical dilemmas Identity theft Copyright Infringement Invasion of privacy Possible question ♦ To what extent does the owner of a web server consent, explicitly or implicitly, to IP interrogation when that host is connected to the Internet? ♦ What constitutes abusive activation of IP protocol decoders, or any other physical sensors (e.g., motion sensors, electric eyes, etc.)located in the public domain? Dr. Varun Kumar (IIIT Surat) Lecture-29 7 / 8
- 8. Continued– ♦ Is parasitic computing really a form of trespassing or is it more like using a bathroom in a MacDonalds without making any purchase? ♦ How is one to judge the ethics of parasitic computing from a philosophic perspective? Conclusion: The ethics of parasitic computing would seem, then, to depend upon the philosophic viewpoint from which one approaches the experiment. If one is an Idealist, the experiment would involve ethical problems. But if one is a Pragmatist, no ethical fault is involved. Dr. Varun Kumar (IIIT Surat) Lecture-29 8 / 8