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Stop Being a Victim
Tim Mullen, 2004-04-27

An influential newspaper columnist blames "contemptuous techies" for allowing users to fall prey to viruses and spyware. But don't some users deserve a little contempt?

Comments Mode:
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Clownface (2 replies)
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Matthew Murphy
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Curt (1 replies)
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-30
Anonymous (3 replies)
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-02
Eu (1 replies)
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-07
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-03
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-06
zaster (1 replies)
Re: Stop Being a Victim 2005-07-10
Harold
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Anonymous (1 replies)
First of all, you hit the proverbial nail on the head. I'm sure we've all struggled with the same question... "Why don't end-users care about what happens to their, or someone elses, computers?". As you pointed out, nobody needs to be a master mechanic to drive a car or chef to boil water. What you failed to point out was that the products of these areas are rather costly to start. I'm not a master mechanic, but I care enough about my $28,000 SUV to do what's necessary to keey it running smoothly, which in turn, keeps everyone else safer on the road. Similarly, none of us would be content with paying for an expensive meal that was marginally acceptable. But what high schooler driving their $500 banged-up special cares about maintaining it? Do we get really upset when a $30 meal wasn't so hot? Why don't end-user's care about what happens to their, or someone elses, computers? They're too cheap. We care about our new cars or an expensive meal because they're just that... EXPENSIVE! When you screw-up your $800 Sunday deal or Bob's Corner Computer Shop special, you junk it and go buy a new one without any regard for all the hapless souls you ran into a brick-wall on the information superhighway. This isn't to say I want to see computer prices go through the roof, but until the end-user's closely guarded pocket book is affected, they won't care what they do or who else they hurt in their quest to IM dear ol' Aunt Freeda on the homestead or forward that email of the latest naked superstar to everyone they can. What, you mean that funny paperclip looking thing next to the subject was a bad thing?!? Oops, sorry... I thought I was pretty computer savy, after all, I know how to email and get on the Internet!

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Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/columns/236/25965#25965
Cost to be a victim 2004-04-29
Ed (1 replies)
Re: Cost to be a victim 2005-07-10
Harold
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Ivan
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Anonymous
Un-tech-friendly people 2004-04-28
iago (1 replies)
Un-tech-friendly people 2004-04-29
AnonYmousE
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Paul (2 replies)
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-01
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-07
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Bob Beck
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
It's not MY Fault
Another d00zie from Mellon... 2004-04-28
Linux Sux (1 replies)
Another d00zie from Mellon... 2004-04-28
iago (2 replies)
Another d00zie from Mellon... 2004-04-29
Anonymous
Another d00zie from Mellon... 2004-05-01
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Anonymous (2 replies)
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Micheal
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Anonymous (1 replies)
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-29
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Anonymous (4 replies)
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
contemptuoustechie
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
Anonymous (1 replies)
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-08
Anonymous
The truth lies somewhere in between 2004-04-28
incongruity
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-28
A non-ymoose
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-29
DocB
Victim !!? 2004-04-29
Mandar
Stop Being a Victim 2004-04-29
HiVeloCT
I don't think people get it ... 2004-04-30
Robert Escue
Be careful what you wish for... 2004-04-30
Anonymous
COMPLETE NONSENSE 2004-04-30
I Have Google Shares (2 replies)
COMPLETE NONSENSE 2004-05-04
Anonymous
COMPLETE NONSENSE 2004-05-04
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-03
Anonymous
Getting End-Users to Wake Up 2004-05-03
I'mNotThatSmart
Little Gain in Finger Pointing 2004-05-03
Anonymous (1 replies)
Little Gain in Finger Pointing 2004-05-04
Anonymous (1 replies)
Little Gain in Finger Pointing 2004-05-05
Anonymous
User Certification 2004-05-04
gnot a gnome
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-04
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-04
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-05
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-05
BrinH
What next? 2004-05-06
Anonymous
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-07
Jeroen
Stop Being a Victim 2004-05-08
blacklight
Half working 'solutions' 2004-05-10
Anonymous
Fantastic 2004-05-10
mind-ops.com (James Carter)
Stop Being a Victim 2007-08-08
Afterfreeze







 

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