home | board | compass | prayer | eCard

[Main Index]

10/28/2003 Entry: ""

Refloozle Hossenblobbets with Tinklewickets

That's what computer language sounds like to the average Windows user.

Tech people are starting to understand that people buying and using computers don't speak computer.And that is as much a security problem as any trojan coming down the pipe.

Most of my students are office workers, or writers, or homemakers. Almost all of them run Windows at home and at work, usually ME or XP. They all know how to "use" their computers, which means that they can write papers, read email, use the Web, and even install software (as long as it's not packaged as a ZIP file: most of them have no idea what a ZIP file is or how to use it). In other words, your typical American computer user.

I'm here to tell the security pros reading this that we are in deeeeeep trouble when it comes to securing the computers of these people.

Security is just not a concept that "normal" folks focus on. It's not even on the radar screen. It's just not thought about at all.

What little security speak I know, came about because of what a tech friend called a level 4 uplink attack. A whazit? On dialup?Where I live a Mac costs a lot of money. Linux? Isn't that a Peanuts character?Hey, I use Windows. I could afford it. But I don't know all the gobblegook that goes with it.

We can't just ignore the problems with insecurity that our non-IT friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances have with their computers. If their machines are compromised, we feel the effects, whether we realize it or not.

We feel the effects when we end up spending several hours each week doing pro bono IT work at the homes of the people we know (I've tried sending my Mom a bill, but she never pays, the deadbeat).

I'm normal. I'm no different than millions of other users. I have learned, am learning. And I learn from tech people that speak english, that don't talk down to me, that understand the relationship of machine to owner to web to the rest of the world, and don't start screaming, muttering or lecturing like a crazy person.

Going back to my classes at Washington University in St. Louis and St. Louis Community College, I always spend time with my students educating them about various issues in security. I try to impress upon them the importance of anti-virus software, and Windows Update, and firewalls, both hardware- and software-based. If they have a broadband connection, I take some time to talk about the advantages it brings, but also about the dangers, and how they can protect themselves against those dangers. And you know what? My students are genuinely interested in what I can tell them, and most of them think about what I've said and actually act on it.

Yes, when Joe Average is told this clearly and respectfully I suspect we will.:^)

Posted by Roberta @ 11/01/2003 05:19 AM CST

If I wanted to bake a few cakes, sure, I'd want to learn. I agreee that the main issue that is the problem is the way one goes about it. I wouldn't want to learn every cooking and baking term and how exactly ovens work and how to fix them, before you'd even begin with the real pie-crust and cake instruction. And I wouldn't want you to sneer at me for asking simple questions in lay terms.

Posted by Swan @ 11/01/2003 12:40 AM CST

I'm sorry that there are so many people in this world that don't find this stuff fascinating enough to learn all about it. But, in truth, would you be fascinated and want to know eveything there is to know if I tried to teach you how to make flaky pie-crust or a cake that will not fall.

Posted by Roberta @ 10/30/2003 07:30 AM CST