> That is because this is a responsibility of the OS, not the browser. > > IMHO, that Mom should not be running a user account that can instantly > install such software.
Easier said than done. First "instantly" is questionable. A well patched box of any kind will not allow the anonymous/hidden installation of software, however once I make the decision to install software I do, indeed, want it done instantly without having to restart, reboot or otherwise interrupt my day. But what is "such software"? How do we let "Mom" still install "Mahjong Collection 58" and "Hoyle's Card's Up Yer Butt" but not those things that we don't want? How do we let her still play PopCap games, but not install Gator? Forgetting Mom (somebody presumably with a geek on hand) how do we deal with "childless widow"? Does Dell force buyers to take a test before allowing installation to a newly accquired machine? (Although that leads to a thought: it wouldn't be difficult to modifying existing Internet Security/Child Monitoring software to track "mom's" usage and actions and forward them regularly to a desinated "helper". MS has done wonders for mom's all over with remote assistance, it could be easily extended to allow a son Boston (me) to keep up to date with a mom in Houston (her) and notice potential spyware, run checkers, etc. I think there is potential for a new class of software leveraging the best of corporate remote access/protection with the best of child monitoring/protection to create a "virtual geek" kind of set up. Of course it's nothing that doesn't exist already, but to package it up and market it in such a way could be very lucrative.) Again, it's a content management/filtering issue. I hope that this will be dealt with at the virus/internet security level (and indeed, there have been strides made there) but there are still legal issues to be confronted. The spyware manufacturer's are suing anybody that's preventing their installation on legal grounds. "Why," they ask, "when the end-user accepts this installation do you claim we're malware?" I don't believe it's the OS' job to determine whether software is good or bad. If preventing the installation of software is acceptable to your situation then more power to you (and I envy you) but I doubt it's applicable to more than a small subset of the target "masses". Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Special thanks to the CF Community Suite Silver Sponsor - CFDynamics http://www.cfdynamics.com Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:186301 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
