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In article <lcWMf.294509$c31.80010@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Chadwick
Stone© <chad_stone@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> People who have problems with malware or system break-ins are generally
> idiots who shouldn't be allowed to touch a computer regardless of what
> logo pops up when the box boots.
That is often the attitude; it seem to come from either hackers or
Windows users.
I suggest only the opposite approach makes any sense today -- that
since a computer can be hugely more helpful, more stable, and set up
correctly from the start, that it is the computer industry that is
responsible for that knowledge and safety, not the users.
For instance:
Mail clients should load with defaults not to open attachments, not to
load HTML, not to run helper applications.
It should not be easy to accidentally send a newsgroup message when you
are composing e-mail.
Firewalls should be on by default and protect both directions. Setting
up additional services (like printer sharing) should have an additional
instruction to change firewall settings.
Users should be persuaded to create a non-admin user account by the OS
so that they are not running under root all the time.
Messaging services should be OFF by default; until the user does
something indicating an interest in them, that simply should not work.
Browsers should not be able to install software and package local info
with hidden helpers; this should either be disabled or presented to the
user. ActiveX had some nice ideas, but it is far too robust and hidden.
There are MANY more examples.
Note that these would all make a significant difference. None are about
any new technologies, all are very simple.
Yet, Microsoft in particular DECIDED AGAINST setting all of these
things this way. They knew how, they presumably knew each was important
-- and they did the opposite.
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