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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)
Cost to be a victim 2004-04-29
Ed (1 replies)
Perhapse you captured some of the problem in mentioning cost. Not only does it cost the user nothing to become infected, but it costs them something to avoid infection. How do you justify to an end user that they need to spend the $60 for a firewall/anti-virus package? I know there are free firewalls, Zone Alarm is my friend, but I think that many users feel better when they get a box off of a shelf at Wal-Mart that comes with paper instructions. On top of that you can't even tell them the Anti-Virus program will fully protect them because they could become infected before the new dat file is released.

For all of that it is even possible to have an infected computer that does not seem to have any problems at all. It may run a little slow at times, but that's a computer for you. In this case the user isn't even hurt by needing to fix the problem. How do you convince people it is worth the money to buy the Anti-Virus?

Ed

[ reply ]

Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/columns/236/26008#26008
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)
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