nanog mailing list archives

Re: Dumb users spread viruses


From: alex () pilosoft com
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 19:08:26 -0500 (EST)


In this past year's tour of my friends and family, I've taken to
removing their antivirus software at the same time I remove their
spyware, and I've taken to installing Mozilla (with its IMAP client) as
a way to keep the machine from having any dependency on anti-virus
software.  IT managers are encouraged to consider a similar move next
time they're asked to approve the renewal costs of a campus-wide
anti-virus license.

There is nothing wrong with a user who thinks they should not have to know
how to protect their computer from virus infections.  If we (the community
who provides them service and software) can't make it safe-by-default, then
the problem rests with us, not with the end users.
And tomorrow's worm will instead send itself to Mozilla addressbook
instead of Outlook addressbook, and users will keep clicking on "Open" 
when they see an attachment "DANCING BEARS - OPEN ME.SCR" or "Mozilla 
Internet Patch.exe".

(I agree with spyware aspect though)

-alex


Current thread: