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Millions Continue To Click On Spam
An anonymous reader writes "Even though over 80% of email users are aware of the existence of bots, tens of millions respond to spam in ways that could leave them vulnerable to a malware infection, according to a Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG) survey. In the survey, half of users said they had opened spam, clicked on a link in spam, opened a spam attachment, replied or forwarded it — activities that leave consumers susceptible to fraud, phishing, identity theft, and infection. While most consumers said they were aware of the existence of bots, only one-third believed they were vulnerable to an infection."
FIRST POST!!
which is totally what she said
Humans will always be the weak link in security.
And then they call the IT Dept. claiming that they did nothing..It's just started acting weird..all by itself.. I was just reading this cute mail I got about penises and viagra!
there will be no end of this, not until we let morons use computers
I'm really not sure what to say to this...
Users are ignorant to computers. Users have always been ignorant. We can do whatever we can to protect them, either through education, security, antivirus, and anti-malware, but the problem is they aren't geeky tech-people that keep us and like this stuff enough to learn it.
How about we just have a TV show or a movie they want to watch, but teaches them? We could make it a romantic comedy for the ladies or a war movie for the guys, but insert in proper computer use and warnings about spam, viruses, phishing, fraud, etc. We need some kind of mass media to actually teach the masses, and it needs to be a regular interval to keep up with the problems.
Millions of computer users are idiots.
I propose we link spam filters into some kind of device which shocks the user if a link is clicked or attachment opened in a spam message. Maybe it'll make them finally learn not to open those things, much like how one teaches stubborn dogs not to pee against the couch.
Site & blog: http://www.mayaposch.com
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They're probably the users who believe that computers run off magic. For any above-absolute-beginner, common sense should kick in naturally.
This goes to show the level of incompetence, and talking from experience too:
Me: "Okay you're logged into the system?" ...(proceed a barrage of troubleshooting)...
Cust: "Uh-yes"
Me: Click on the Reports menu item"
Cust: (silence) I don't see it.
Me: "Any errors pop up recently?"
Me: "What DO you see?"
Cust: "Just a white page with an image, that says 'Google'"
You can, but all cures are lethal.
From TF pdf, under methodology
"Survey participants are all members of Ipsos' opt-in consumer panels in each of the six markets and were invited to participate via email".
So, people who respond to spam also respond to bullshit surveys via email.
Who'd a thunk it ?
Anyone quoted by a reporter knows how little they understand
Don't believe what you read is the truth.
How about some crusaders who mount spam campaigns that, when clicked, scare the holy living hell out of the recipient? Display your geo-location info and a big flashing progress meter that says, "withdrawing funds from your bank account...55%...100%...done" and then a dialog box pops up and says, "Why'd you click on a spam link, sucker? I'll be enjoying your money while I vacation in the Cayman Islands!" Of course no money would be stolen but it would at least give a few idiots the scare of their lives and get them to stop clicking on spam.
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
Running Linux doesn't make you safe at all, man.
Instead of clicking on links in message that "might be" real, have a look at the message source. Safer.
In defense of your mother, I would have had no idea what to do if you told me to look at the start bar. Task bar, notification area, system tray, I'd have understood any of those, but "start bar" is completely new to me.
Foxnews? That's one of the worst online parasites!! They won't suck your bank account dry - instead, they hoover up your BRAINZ!!!
"Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
apparently they allready are
Yes we can. Advertise cyanide capsules as v1agra and sell them via spam. Problem solved.
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
"continue to....forward it"!!!?!?!?!?!
FORWARD IT?!!
* apocalyptic seizure *
wha'? where am i?
Why not force users to copy/paste a URL if they really want to see the webpage their "friend" sent them?
yea. you fail with people's skills. I would just say "right bottom corner" directly and we would all be happy.
Survey detects idiots are plenyful. What next??!?
Studies reveal 87% of AC posters on slasdot can't spell.
Have you ever looked at a "normal" user interact with a computer? In my experience is more or less like this:
What's that? A mail about some interesting photos I must check out by clicking here... Uhm, I don't know the guy sending it... and I have really no time for photos, but I have to check it to be able to drop it from my mind.
What's that? The Internet opened up. Ah! the photos must be there, but there is some stupid error message that stops me moving Yes! Yes! I said YES! Stupid machine!
What's that? Didn't work. No photos. Again the same message, or it's another one. Impossible to know since I never read the first one, they are all equal, anyway.
What's that? Again the same message. I'll have to read the message to see why I'm not moving forward. Stupid messages! What's an "X active" anyway, do they think I have time for all that. Oh! It seems that to go forward I have really to click "No" on the second message. Must be to avoid stupid users clicking blindly on "OK" all the time. Ain't I smart? I can now move. What? Installing what? Always waiting. Well, it seems to work now. Oh! Those are porn photos! Close, close, close. If the boss sees me I'm dead. Damn SPUM mail!
Ok, next point in my to-do list, banking. What's that? Yes , I want to ALLOW that program to access the site "allOfYourMoney.AreBelong.to.us". Stupid firewall. Won't let me alone to do my work. ...
People, probably due to a nomadic origin or something, think in computers in terms of "going" places, "reaching" things and "routes" they know (To open the Excel you go here, press here). Messages from the computer are interpreted as obstacles that one must overcome to reach the goal. Some other paradigm has to be found for security in computers. I have some ideas, but too tired to write more. If some rich company making OS's is interested, I do expensive consulting.
Rome taught me patience and assiduous application to detail. Virtues which temper the boldness of great, general views.