Search: Home Bugtraq Vulnerabilities Mailing Lists Jobs Tools Beta Programs
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)
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
Amen Mr. Mullen. NO ONE is asking computer users to be experts...if only they'd be remotely competent it would get the job done. I deal with end users constantly, and the big frustration isn't that they don't know how to update their virus scanners (if they even have one) or how to use Windows Update (which isn't exactly rocket science), but rather that they wear their ignorance like a badge of honor. I don't know how many times I've spoken with end users that proudly stated "I don't know a THING about this computer!", as though that was something to brag about.

Technical people are no more demanding that users be experts with their computers than the auto industry is demanding people to be Formula 1 drivers to operate a vehicle. However, you do need to know that you're supposed to grip the steering wheel and mash on the pedals with your feet. By the same token, it isn't asking too much for end users to be able to operate a mouse and actually READ what's on the screen in front of them.

Ignorant users don't want to believe it, but it takes a willful effort to continue to be ignorant, when it is simple to just make a slight effort to educate themselves.

[ reply ]

Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/columns/236/25969#25969
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







 

Privacy Statement
Copyright 2009, SecurityFocus