Mytob e-mail worm proliferating quickly

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Not at all

There is a huge difference IMO between operating a computer and administering a computer, just like there is a difference between operating a car and fixing/modifying a car. All modern OSs (yes, Windows included) can easily be configured so that restricted users can only run administrator installed applications. At that point, the computer becomes more like a hammer because its functionality is well defined and not very modifiable. Someone with very little computer knowledge could operate a computer like this quite safely, no license required. If you ever want to add any new software though, you have to take in to the shop, just like with your car. If something breaks, you take it in to the shop, just like your car. When you buy the computer, instead of being told that you can install anything you want, you are told that you can't, just like when you buy a car. This is what I mean by setting end user expectations.

Anyone who WANTS to perform any work on their computer, can, just like I can buy a car starter and install it myself. If you are a good mechanic, you will probably install it correctly and it will work. If you are a bad mechanic and things break, no one would expect to come onto ZDNet talkbacks and see posts defending unfortunate people who ruined their cars because they messed up a car starter install. Today, I feel sympathy for the computer naive because they've been told that everybody has the knowledge required to administer a computer system. If that practice ever changes, and customers are told that the average user does not have the innate knowledge to administer a computer system, and you still go ahead and install trojans, I will no longer feel at all sorry for you.

Posted by: NonZealot   Posted on: 03/29/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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