Ethics are the policies you internalize and use to measure how you function. The standard that others apply to you or that you are forced to meet by external forces, such as licensing bodies, may be called ethics, but is more accurately described as laws. Many professions now call these laws codes of conduct or professional responsibility (Bill Nelson, 2010). People need ethics to maintain their balance, especially in problematic and controversial situations, and for guidance on their values. Ethics also helps you maintain your self-respect and respect for your profession. Because computer forensics examiners do not have the same formal, detailed codes of conduct that professions such as medicine and law have, relying on an internal code of ethics may be more important. Additionally, your internal standards, whether related to a conceptual, religious, or moral position, may be higher than the standards set by professional codes of conduct. Laws governing codes of professional conduct or liability define the lowest level of action or performance required to avoid liability. Even with ...