Got Spyware? Throw out the Computer!

geeber writes "The New York Times (reg. required) has an article about a new response to spyware - throw out the computer and buy a new one. The notion is new computers can be had for $400 so it's a cost effective and 'rational response.'" From the article: "While no figures are available on the ranks of those jettisoning their PC's, the scourge of unwanted software is widely felt. This month the Pew group published a study in which 43 percent of the 2,001 adult Internet users polled said they had been confronted with spyware or adware, collectively known as malware. Forty-eight percent said they had stopped visiting Web sites that might deposit unwanted programs on their PC's. Moreover, 68 percent said they had had computer trouble in the last year consistent with the problems caused by spyware or adware, though 60 percent of those were unsure of the problems' origins. Twenty percent of those who tried to fix the problem said it had not been solved; among those who spent money seeking a remedy, the average outlay was $129."

Comments

Re:Sssshhhh!

[drakken33]

boxen = multiple (*nix) computers

In your world maybe. I find that abortion of a word pretentious, overly geeky and sad. And yes, I know it's creeping into dictionaries (mainly techie ones) but that doesn't make it right or mean that anyone has to use it.

Re:Not quite that cheap

[Chris Tucker]

The De Facto standard is USB. I can't tell you the last time I saw a Windows machine with PS2 ports.

Dude, y'all need to get out more, or stop shopping for hardware at Goodwill.

One or the other.