10-4. --- Tim Fournet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The same momma and pappa can go to the same Sears and buy an iMac > loaded > with MacOS X and have a relatively secure Posix OS, yes. Either > way, I > don't think it's the job of the computer-educated to make the > purchasers > of computers preloaded with Microsoft operating systems feel good > about > their purchase. Cajun Clickers' interest in keeping users feeling > good > about MS Windows is an economic one, which I can understand, but > that > doesn't apply to me. > > > -Tim > > > On Wed, 2002-07-03 at 10:34, Doug Riddle wrote: > > An Operating System in the hands of a novice is inherently > unsecure. > Some OS's are worse than others, but it is the wetware that is > the > larger issue at the outset. And while "forced" is a strong > term, it > doesn't miss the mark by much. You are not suggesting that > momma and > pappa can go down to Sears and get the Hot Wheels Computer for > little > Johnny or the Barbie PC for little Jill with a secure Posix OS > and > Barney software on it are you? They're going to buy Microsoft > because they don't trust the hippies in the Yurts and Tepees > that are > trying to give their software away, and the MS tortureware > comes with > the cute little box they're buying.` > > Doug > > > --- Tim Fournet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I think you're making an incorrect assumption in that any new > > computer > > user is forced to use an inherently insecure operating > system. > > > > -Tim > > > > > > > > On Wed, 2002-07-03 at 09:42, Doug Riddle wrote: > > > > I want to wade in on this one, because I can see both > sides. > > > > I'll use my father as an example. He is very > intelligent, a > > former > > general of the US Army, captain of industry, etc, etc. > He is > > not, by > > any stretch of the imagination computer literate. He can > use a > > PC > > and send and recive emails, but if the screen changes > colors, > > he > > calls for help. To him, a computer is a "blackbox." At > almost > > 70 > > years old he has no interest in trying to learn the > workings of > > said > > box, he just wants to stay in touch and talk to some old > > friends. He > > should be able to do that in reasonable safety. He > understands > > there > > are security issues, and has accepted the fact that his > > ignorance > > will occassionaly lead to his PC being wiped out. He > counts on > > keeping a low profile and a decent virus scanner to > protect him > > from > > most problems, and it will. > > > > I, on the other hand run some domains, manage some > websites and > > love > > Linux. My exposure is a higher, and I have to take more > steps > > to be > > sure that not only am I safe, but that I am not > unwittingly > > used as a > > tool by someone else in a DoS or worse. > > > > Then there is the new user. Unless they are so dense as > to > > have to > > have someone come over and turn on the PC and use the > mouse for > > them, > > they have to be aware of the basic threats a computer > user on > > the > > internet faces. However, their skill level does not > allow them > > to > > combat these threats. Informing them of specifc threats > on a > > constant and consistant basis does them no good, as they > cannot > > respond. It is a sad but true fact that there is more > > misinformation > > than factual information available. > > > > It is deplorable that Microsoft doesn't make a better > effort to > > secure their software and educate their customers. Given > the > > current > > disasters in the American corporate model it is not > surprizing > > that > > Microsoft treats their customers as non-entities, but it > is > > unethical. > > > > So, what is a good approach to sending out notices about > > security > > flaws? Probably a new mailing list. Anyone that wants > to > > suscribe > > and try and protect themselves can subscribe. Advise the > new > > users > > to tackle the basics before subscribing. That way it is > a > > self-paced > > system and those that wish to remain blissfully ignorant > are > > welcome > > to do so. > > > > In a perfect world, these would not be issues, we do not > live > > in > > Perfect as the commercial says. We live in a society > where > > half of > > the people are so failed by the education system that > they > > cannot > > read and write well enough to fill out a job application. > We > > need to > > cut the new people some slack while they come up to > speed. > > Besides, > > there is no surer teacher that fire is hot than a scorch > mark > > on your > > hand. > > > > My two cents, US. > > > > Doug Riddle > > > > > > --- Jerald Sheets <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > But don't you consider it a moral issue that common > *REAL* > > security > > > threats are not discussed freely? > > > > > > I find that amoral at best and criminal at worst. In > any > > event, it > > > does > > > a disservice to new folk. > > > > > > A very palatable method of succeeding at free discourse > > without the > > > detriment of speech deprivation :-) would be to have a > > > "clickers-announce" list where such items are > "announced" as > > they > > > occur, > > > and then in the context of the same message you could > present > > the > > > time > > > and place (and cost if applicable) of the discussion > "what it > > is > > > and > > > what you can do". > === message truncated ===
===== Warmest Regards, Doug Riddle http://www.dougriddle.com ## Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the Peoples' Liberty Teeth." - George Washington ## __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
