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Cyber Security, IP and Open Source, ISC Class 11

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Computer ScienceISC Class 11 · Trends in Computing and Ethical Issues

Cyber Security, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing (ISC Class 11)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Cyber security protects computers, networks and data from unauthorised access, attack and theft, aiming at confidentiality, integrity and availability. Threats include malware, phishing and scams such as the digital arrest fraud; safe practice means strong passwords, two-factor authentication and caution with links. Intellectual property is protected by copyright, patents and trademarks. Software is licensed as proprietary, freeware, shareware or free and open source; piracy is illegal copying.

Good cyber security protects data on three goals: keep it secret, keep it correct, and keep it available when needed.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing

Cyber security. Goals: *confidentiality* (only authorised people see data), *integrity* (data are not wrongly altered), *availability* (systems work when needed). *Threats:* malware (viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware), hacking, password attacks, phishing, identity theft, denial of service. *Safe practices:* strong unique passwords, two-factor authentication, updates and antivirus, backups, not opening unknown attachments, HTTPS sites, locking devices.

Privacy and netiquette. Privacy is the right to control one's personal information. *Netiquette* is courteous online behaviour: respect others, avoid abusive language and all-capital shouting, do not spread rumours, credit sources, think before posting.

Spam, phishing, digital arrest. *Spam:* unsolicited bulk messages. *Phishing:* fake messages or sites that trick people into giving passwords, OTPs or card details (smishing by SMS, vishing by voice). Signs: urgency, threats, odd web addresses, requests for OTP. *Digital arrest:* a scam in which fraudsters pose as police or officials, often on video call, claim the victim is involved in a crime and demand money; real agencies do not conduct arrests or take payment over a video call. Stop contact, do not pay, and report to the cyber helpline.

Intellectual property (IP). Creations of the mind protected by law. *Copyright:* protects the expression of original works, including software as a literary work; automatic on creation; in India generally the author's life plus 60 years. *Patent:* protects a new, inventive, industrially applicable invention; must be applied for and granted; 20 years from filing. *Trademark:* protects names, logos and symbols that identify goods or services; registered for 10 years and renewable.

Software licensing. *Proprietary:* source code secret; use under licence terms. *Freeware:* free of cost, usually no source. *Shareware:* free trial, then pay. *Piracy:* unauthorised copying, distribution or use: illegal and risky. *Free Software Foundation (FSF):* founded in 1985 by Richard Stallman; free as in freedom: the freedoms to run, study and change, redistribute, and distribute modified versions. *Open source:* source code is available to study, modify and share under a licence.

Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing: key facts

Security goals
  • Confidentiality
  • Integrity
  • Availability
The CIA triad.
IP terms
Copyrightlife + 60 years (India)
Patent20 years from filing
Trademark10 years, renewable
Duration.
Password combinations
Combinations = (character set size)^length | Longer and wider is stronger
Brute-force estimate.

How to answer Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing questions

Identify the threat or right at stake and name the matching protection.

  1. 1Is it an attack on data (malware, phishing) or on rights (copying)?
  2. 2Name the type: spam, phishing, digital arrest; copyright, patent, trademark.
  3. 3State the safe practice or legal protection.
  4. 4For passwords, compute the number of combinations.

Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Password strength

Suppose one password uses 8 lower-case letters and another uses 8 characters drawn from 62 (letters and digits).

How many combinations does each have?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 26 to the power 8 = 208,827,064,576.
  2. 62 to the power 8 = 218,340,105,584,896, about 2.18 x 10^14 and about 1,046 times larger.

Answer: 26^8 = 208,827,064,576 and 62^8 = 218,340,105,584,896.

Memory hook: Variety and length multiply strength.

Tricks to remember Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • C-I-A

    Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability.

    Use it when: Security goals.

  • Copy, Patent, Mark

    Copyright for works, patent for inventions, trademark for brands.

    Use it when: IP.

  • Free as in speech

    FSF free means freedom, not price.

    Use it when: Free software.

Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Phishing · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

A message that pretends to be from a bank and asks you to enter your OTP on a link is:
(a) spam only (b) phishing (c) a firewall (d) netiquette

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. A fake message that steals credentials is phishing.

Answer: (b) phishing

Example 2: IP rights · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Distinguish between copyright, patent and trademark with an example of each. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Copyright: original works such as a program or a book.
  2. Patent: a new invention such as a new machine.
  3. Trademark: a name or logo that identifies a brand.

Answer: Copyright protects expression of works (a software program); a patent protects an invention (a new process or device); a trademark protects names and logos (a brand logo).

Example 3: Password numbers · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Find the number of combinations for (i) a 4-digit PIN (ii) 6 lower-case letters (26 letters) (iii) 8 characters from 62 (use 62^8 = 218,340,105,584,896). Compare (ii) and (i), and say how many times larger (iii) is than 26^8 = 208,827,064,576. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) 10^4 = 10,000.
  2. (ii) 26^6 = 30,89,15,776 (308,915,776).
  3. (iii) 62^8 = 218,340,105,584,896.
  4. (ii) is about 30,892 times larger than (i) (308,915,776 / 10,000 = 30,891.58).
  5. (iii) / 26^8 = 218,340,105,584,896 / 208,827,064,576 ≈ 1,045.55, so about 1,046 times.

Answer: (i) 10,000; (ii) 308,915,776; (iii) 218,340,105,584,896; (ii) is about 30,892 times (i); (iii) is about 1,046 times 26^8.

Example 4: Spot the scam · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

A caller on a video call says "I am a police officer. A parcel in your name contains illegal items. You are under digital arrest; stay on the call and transfer Rs 50,000 to a safe account." Identify the type of fraud, list four warning signs and the correct response. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. This is a digital arrest scam (a form of vishing/impersonation).
  2. Warning signs: claims of official authority over a call; threats of arrest; urgency; demand for money; request to stay on the call and not tell anyone.
  3. Real agencies do not arrest people or take money over a video call.
  4. Response: end the call, do not pay, tell family, report to the cyber crime helpline or website.

Answer: A digital arrest scam. Signs: impersonation, threats, urgency, demand for money and isolation. End the call, do not pay and report it.

Example 5: Licences and piracy · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

A company installs one licensed copy of an office program on 20 computers. Another school uses an open source office suite. Evaluate both from the viewpoint of law, cost and security, and state the four freedoms of free software. (6 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The first company breaches the licence: software piracy, illegal, risk of penalty and of malware from unofficial copies.
  2. The school using open source software acts legally if it follows the licence; it saves licence cost and can study and modify the code.
  3. Security: open code can be reviewed by many people, but updates must be applied.
  4. Four freedoms: to run the program for any purpose; to study and change it (source needed); to redistribute copies; to distribute modified versions.

Answer: The company is guilty of piracy; the school is legal and saves cost. Four freedoms: run, study and modify, redistribute, and distribute modified versions.

Where students lose marks in Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Equating free software with zero price

    Common usage.

    Wrong working

    Free software is free of cost

    Right working

    Free means freedom (FSF)

    Do this: Free as in speech.

    Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

  • Mistake: Mixing patent and copyright

    Both IP.

    Wrong working

    Copyright protects an invention

    Right working

    Patent protects an invention

    Do this: Learn the object of each.

    Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

  • Mistake: Responding to a digital arrest call

    Fear.

    Wrong working

    Transfer the money to a safe account

    Right working

    End the call and report it

    Do this: Real agencies do not do this.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Give a duration and an example for each IP right.
  • List three signs for each scam.
  • Mention both legal and security risks of piracy.

Practice questions on Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The Free Software Foundation was founded by:
    (a) Bill Gates (b) Richard Stallman (c) Tim Berners-Lee (d) Linus Torvalds

    Hint

    1985.

    Answer

    (b) Richard Stallman

  2. Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

    State three safe practices to protect an online account. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Passwords, 2FA, links.

    Answer

    Use a strong unique password, enable two-factor authentication, and never click unknown links or share OTPs.

  3. Q3 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain the difference between proprietary software, freeware, shareware and open source software with one example type each. (4 marks)

    Hint

    Cost and source code.

    Answer

    Proprietary: paid licence, secret source (a commercial office suite). Freeware: free of cost, no source (a free PDF reader). Shareware: free trial then payment. Open source: source code available to study, change and share (an open source office suite).

  4. Q4 · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    A 6-character password uses digits only; another uses 6 characters from 62. Find the combinations of each, the ratio, and the time to try all of each at 1,000,000 attempts per second (give seconds, rounded). (5 marks)

    Hint

    10^6 and 62^6 = 56,800,235,584.

    Answer

    Digits: 10^6 = 1,000,000 (1 second at 10^6 attempts/s). 62^6 = 56,800,235,584 (about 56,800 seconds, over 15 hours). The second has about 56,800 times more combinations.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    A student downloads a cracked game from a website to save money and finds that her computer slows down and shows strange pop-ups. Explain the link with piracy, malware and the law, and recommend two better options. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Risks of pirated copies.

    Answer

    Cracked software is a copyright violation (illegal) and often carries malware, which explains the slowdown and pop-ups. Better options: buy a licensed copy or choose a free or open source alternative.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.CIA stands for?Show answer

    Confidentiality, integrity, availability.

  2. 2.Patent term?Show answer

    20 years from filing.

  3. 3.Copyright in India lasts?Show answer

    Author's life plus 60 years.

  4. 4.Phishing steals?Show answer

    Passwords, OTPs, card details.

  5. 5.FSF founded?Show answer

    1985 by Richard Stallman.

Cyber Security, Netiquette, Phishing, Intellectual Property and Software Licensing: frequently asked questions

Is copyright registration compulsory?

No, protection is automatic.

Is shareware free?

Only for the trial period.

What is two-factor authentication?

A second proof besides the password.

What is ransomware?

Malware that locks data for a ransom.