Publication Ethics & Policies

The Computer Fraud and Security Journal (CFS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct in all aspects of publication. This page outlines our publication ethics and policies to ensure that all research published in CFS adheres to ethical guidelines and maintains the integrity of scientific research.

1. Ethical Guidelines
Research Integrity:

  • Originality: All manuscripts must be original and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable.
  • Accuracy: Research should be reported accurately and honestly. Authors must provide sufficient detail to allow replication of their studies.
  • Disclosure: Authors should disclose any conflicts of interest and provide a transparent account of funding sources.

Ethical Approval:

  • Human and Animal Rights: Research involving human subjects or animals must comply with ethical standards. Authors should obtain appropriate ethical approval and consent, and provide documentation as required.
  • Confidentiality: Personal information of participants should be kept confidential and anonymized unless explicit consent has been obtained.

2. Authorship and Contributions
Authorship Criteria:

  • Eligibility: Authorship is reserved for individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research.
  • Order: The order of authors should accurately reflect their contributions. All listed authors should have agreed to the manuscript’s submission and final version.

Acknowledgments:

  • Contributions: Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately in the manuscript.

3. Peer Review Process
Confidentiality:

  • Reviewer Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep the contents of the manuscript confidential and should not use information from the manuscript for personal advantage.
  • Author Confidentiality: Authors’ identities should be kept confidential throughout the review process.

Fairness:

  • Impartiality: Reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts based on their scientific merit without bias or personal prejudice.
  • Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their assessments in a timely manner to avoid unnecessary delays in the publication process.

4. Publication Ethics
Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication:

  • Plagiarism: Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is not tolerated. Authors must ensure that their work is original and properly cited.
  • Duplicate Publication: Manuscripts should not be published or under consideration for publication in any other journal or venue.

Corrections and Retractions:

  • Corrections: Minor errors or corrections to published articles should be addressed through errata or corrigenda.
  • Retractions: In cases of significant errors, misconduct, or ethical breaches, CFS may issue retractions. Authors must cooperate with the editorial board in investigating and addressing these issues.

Conflicts of Interest:

  • Disclosure: Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their judgments or decisions.

5. Editorial and Publishing Policies
Editorial Decisions:

  • Independence: Editorial decisions are based on the quality and relevance of the research. Personal relationships or external influences should not affect these decisions.
  • Appeals: Authors may appeal editorial decisions. Appeals will be reviewed by a different set of editors or reviewers if necessary.

Open Access and Copyright:

  • Open Access: CFS adheres to open access principles, making research freely available to the public.
  • Copyright: Upon acceptance, authors will transfer copyright to CFS. Authors retain the right to use their work for educational and non-commercial purposes with proper attribution.

Data Sharing and Transparency:

  • Data Availability: Authors are encouraged to share their data and methods to enhance transparency and reproducibility of research findings.
  • Supporting Information: Supplementary materials, such as datasets and code, should be provided and clearly referenced in the manuscript.