Posted by
michael
on from the does-renter's-insurance-cover-this dept.
sagman writes "Russ at NTBugtraq is proposing fines for those whose computers allow the propagation of viruses, worms, etc., knowingly or unknowingly... Russ is taking a poll on his site. Russ states in an email that he wrote this up at the request of a US Senator staffer..."
Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!
by
inertia187
·
· Score: 5, Funny
I can just see the virus protection software making changes to their notifications to keep track of attacks that could cost people money and list it in a tally window: "You've saved $764 in internet fines this year because you used Morton AntiVirus 2005! Want to upgrade to the Pro version?"
The Pro version will include an insurance plan in case you go on vacation for a week and leave your XP box on and a new exploit surfaces while you're gone.
-- A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
Denial of Money attack?
by
soren42
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
The problem with this system is that it opens people who already aren't that skilled at running a computer to a new kind of attack. Imagine someone spoofing your IP and broadcasting worm packets, running up your fines.
ISPs probably would have too much volume to deal with to investigate every packet, so it becomes easier to pay the fine than fight the system.
There's got to be a better solution than this.
--
"Adventure? Excitement? A Jedi craves not these things."
Re:Denial of Money attack?
by
eln
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
Yes, this would effectively push >90% of today's Internet users off the network. While some people might think this is a good thing, I doubt the many thousands of people that would lose their jobs in an already down economy would agree.
The only way to do something like this is to make virus scanning software compulsory, which opens up an entirely new can of worms relating to privacy rights, freedoms related to what one can do with one's own property, and implementation of such a thing without a.) forcing every American to spend money on virus scanning software or b.) jacking up everyone's tax rates. This doesn't even take into account what sort of staggering class action lawsuit would result if a destructive virus was not picked up by the now-required scanning software.
All in all, this is a kneejerk reaction of the worst kind.
No way in hell this would fly.
by
grub
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
"..whose computers allow the propagation of viruses, worms, etc., knowingly or unknowingly.."
Rather than fining the people (victims?) of poorly written software and OSes, why not have a
class-action suit against the corporations that make the worms & viruses possible in the first place?
Most people are up in arms when the RIAA goes after the wallet of individuals who knowingly download their
Evil MP3s whereas the bulk of users that get these infections just don't know any better.
Fining lusers won't give them clues, education will.
-- Trolling is a art,
Re:No way in hell this would fly.
by
McAddress
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
forget a lawsuit. fine the maker of the software for each copy of an OS or other piece of software that propogates a bug. After all, the OS belongs to MS. I only have a license.
Re:No way in hell this would fly.
by
eln
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
Sounds great for Microsoft, but in a market where successfully introducing a new competing OS is already near impossible, such a policy would push any fledgling OS company instantly into bankruptcy the minute a minor security flaw is detected in their software. Microsoft is probably the only software company in the US right now that could begin to absorb the costs of such a policy, leaving it the only company standing.
You think Microsoft owning 90% of the market is bad, wait until they own 100%.
What he proposes is way too strict. Right now, I run through a firewall and proxy, keep my system up to date, etc. Is it my fault if someone hacks into my computer and uses it? No. I've done everything possible to make my computer secure, short of spending thousands of dollars on corporate-level firewalls, etc., or disconnecting it from the internet completely. No computer is 100% hackproof.
A couple of problems
by
aridhol
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
First, I think this will lead to ISPs only allowing "approved" OSs on their networks, in order to prevent themselves from getting fined. Unfortunately, the approved list will probably contain the worst offenders.
Second:
ISPs must receive freedom from liability for dropping the identified traffic. False detections are the fault of the "Independent Authority", who should also be free from liability.
Sorry we blocked your critical data, but you can't do anything about it.
-- I can't say that I don't give a fuck. I've just run out of fuck to give.
Fine the O/S vendors instead
by
Dark+Coder
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
The operating system vendors should face the music.
If the U.S. Federal government mandates automobile recall because of some faulty protection system, exceeding exepected normal operation or rusted-thru "firewall", then the same should apply toward operating systems; be that may Microsoft, Linux or Unix-based.
Another impartial proposal (not)
by
Rosco+P.+Coltrane
·
· Score: 5, Informative
Russ at NTBugtraq is proposing fines for those whose computers allow the propagation of viruses, worms, etc., knowingly or unknowingly...
In other news, the Haagen Das corporation is pushing a proposal to hasten global warming...
Another fine impartial article brought to you by Slashdot.
-- "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
Re:Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!
by
SuperBanana
·
· Score: 5, Funny
The Pro version will include an insurance plan in case you go on vacation for a week and leave your XP box on and a new exploit surfaces while you're gone.
Vacation? I don't leave my win2k box on when I go to WORK, lest a new exploit surrface before I get home:-)
Impossible to avoid
by
One+Louder
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
Unfortunately, at this point it's nearly impossible for a new user to keep from getting infected.
Let's say Joe Consumer is interested in a computer - he goes down to MicroCompuCenterUSA and buys a spanking new Windows XP-based machine, plugs in the cable modem, turns it on.
*WHAMMO*
He's infected before he even gets a chance to get the latest updates, assuming he even know that's something he's supposed to do.
My sister-in-law when through this exact scenario just recently. She got nailed by Blaster within a few minutes of powering up the machine for the first time. She has no idea what a firewall is, and would certainly wonder why she would need one with a brand-new computer.
This proposal is a little like buying a new car and having the wheels fall off as you drive off the lot, then being fined for causing an accident.
Slashdot Mirror
I can just see the virus protection software making changes to their notifications to keep track of attacks that could cost people money and list it in a tally window: "You've saved $764 in internet fines this year because you used Morton AntiVirus 2005! Want to upgrade to the Pro version?"
The Pro version will include an insurance plan in case you go on vacation for a week and leave your XP box on and a new exploit surfaces while you're gone.
A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
The problem with this system is that it opens people who already aren't that skilled at running a computer to a new kind of attack. Imagine someone spoofing your IP and broadcasting worm packets, running up your fines.
ISPs probably would have too much volume to deal with to investigate every packet, so it becomes easier to pay the fine than fight the system.
There's got to be a better solution than this.
"Adventure? Excitement? A Jedi craves not these things."
"..whose computers allow the propagation of viruses, worms, etc., knowingly or unknowingly
Rather than fining the people (victims?) of poorly written software and OSes, why not have a class-action suit against the corporations that make the worms & viruses possible in the first place? Most people are up in arms when the RIAA goes after the wallet of individuals who knowingly download their Evil MP3s whereas the bulk of users that get these infections just don't know any better.
Fining lusers won't give them clues, education will.
Trolling is a art,
What he proposes is way too strict. Right now, I run through a firewall and proxy, keep my system up to date, etc. Is it my fault if someone hacks into my computer and uses it? No. I've done everything possible to make my computer secure, short of spending thousands of dollars on corporate-level firewalls, etc., or disconnecting it from the internet completely. No computer is 100% hackproof.
Second:
Sorry we blocked your critical data, but you can't do anything about it.I can't say that I don't give a fuck. I've just run out of fuck to give.
The operating system vendors should face the music.
If the U.S. Federal government mandates automobile recall because of some faulty protection system, exceeding exepected normal operation or rusted-thru "firewall", then the same should apply toward operating systems; be that may Microsoft, Linux or Unix-based.
Russ at NTBugtraq is proposing fines for those whose computers allow the propagation of viruses, worms, etc., knowingly or unknowingly...
...
- Russ Cooper is editor at NTBugTraq
- NTBugTraq is a division of TruSecure Corporation
- Russ Cooper is chief scientist at TruSecure Corporation
- TruSecure Corporation sells security solutions and services.
In other news, the Haagen Das corporation is pushing a proposal to hasten global warming
Another fine impartial article brought to you by Slashdot.
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
Vacation? I don't leave my win2k box on when I go to WORK, lest a new exploit surrface before I get home :-)
Please help metamoderate.
Let's say Joe Consumer is interested in a computer - he goes down to MicroCompuCenterUSA and buys a spanking new Windows XP-based machine, plugs in the cable modem, turns it on.
*WHAMMO*
He's infected before he even gets a chance to get the latest updates, assuming he even know that's something he's supposed to do.
My sister-in-law when through this exact scenario just recently. She got nailed by Blaster within a few minutes of powering up the machine for the first time. She has no idea what a firewall is, and would certainly wonder why she would need one with a brand-new computer.
This proposal is a little like buying a new car and having the wheels fall off as you drive off the lot, then being fined for causing an accident.