__/ [ Peter Hayes ] on Friday 26 January 2007 13:09 \__
> BearItAll <spam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Peter Hayes wrote:
>>
>> > ...thanks to Microsoft Windows,
>> >
>> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6298641.stm
>> >
>> > "Operating systems like Microsoft Windows still made it too easy for
>> > criminals."
>> >
>>
>> MS are clearly not interested in properly securing their OS so I think
>> that because of the importance of the Internet to businesses these days
>> that MS security has to be taken out of their hands and given to a third
>> party.
>>
>> It is the only way I can see to put an end to the insecurities.
>
> There is another way and that is to require every Windows user to have
> an internet driving licence. The licence would be issued only to users
> who demonstrated an understanding of online security and knew how to
> avoid basic threats like phishing scams.
>
> Users of non-Windows platforms, Linux, OS X etc would be exempt.
This was discussed/proposed before, but the issue is that it sets /barriers/
and makes Windows something that's out of the question to folks who are
unwilling to learn, such as our grandparents. You could also find users who
are using Windows without a 'driving licence', let alone a valid Windows
licence. Either way, the consequence of this is, of course, the
consideration of 'approved' platforms such as Mac OS X, BSD and GNU/Linux. I
know someone who set up her mother's computer to use Debian after a security
nightmare with Windows.
Another possibility is to have the ISP get permission to disconnect users
whenever illegitimate traffic (e.g. packets on iffy ports) is detected. This
can lead to backlash and lose the ISP customer, but if it's the law, then
the ISP cannot take much blame.
--
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