In our research, we are regularly dealing with technologies and techniques that could potentially be misused to cause harm in all sorts of ways. We also demonstrate the application of those techniques and the necessary tools in class, in order to raise awareness and prepare our students for situations where they might be affected by said misuse. When doing so, we always stress that it is of paramount importance to only apply this knowledge in a responsible and sanctioned way.
To further emphasize our commitment to the ethical use of potentially harmful knowledge and technology in research and teaching, we work by a set of rules based on the code of ethics (http://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE):
We, the members of the Institute of Networks and Security (INS), in recognition of the importance of our knowledge and technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree: