Slashdot Mirror
Computer Competency Test For Non-IT Hires?
wto605 writes "As computers are used for more and more vital business functions, small businesses must have office employees who understand the dangers of, and how to recognize and avoid, malware, spam, and phishing. After having been stung by monthly virus cleanups (at $75 an hour) due to an otherwise competent office manager, my parents have realized they need to be aware of their employees' computer skills beyond the ability to type a letter in Microsoft Word (currently the closest thing they have to a test of computer competence). The problem is, as a small business, they have no IT expert who would be able to judge a potential employee's competency. I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good way to test these security/safety awareness skills, such as an online test, a set of questions, etc. I have already pointed them to Sonicwall's Spam and Phishing test, but it definitely does not cover all of the issues facing computer users."
competency tests are all racist. they only seek to restrict minorities. you cannot legally require these - the courts have ruled. live with it, right wing tea bagger.
Please answer all of these questions with a 'Yes' or 'No':
Are you familiar with Windows? (Yes / No)
Is Linux a computer operating system, a breed of penguins or some guy from Europe? (Yes / No)
When was the last time you rebooted your computer? (Yes / No)
Have you ever had a password you wouldn't share? (Yes / No)
Do you know enough about computer security not to watch porn at work unless it's at lunch or a boring meeting? (Yes / No)
What is the name of your first pet, the town you grew up in or your elementary school? (Yes / No)
Do you post on Slashdot? (Yes / No)
Your hired!
Have the pre-hire install Ubuntu. No prompt, no job. Ubuntu can do anything.
but you can't fix stupid.
Global corporate policy forces me to install McAfee on every server I set up and run... even test servers for our lab.
My manager has no say in it, her manager has no say... the head of the office in my country has no say in it... it is decided in germany by the central "IT Security" department.
So... dont tell me what I can and cant do. If I had a choice I would dump mcafee... unfortunately I dont.
Kind sir, computers are "fad". A mere inconsequential passing fancy. Computers are either used as tools of amusement (aka Windows, the formerly best $80 Solitaire game money could buy) and for destruction of the world (aka, hypertrading systems on Wall Street and cruise missile guidance systems).
Why does a small business need computers? Think about how much more efficient you could be without all of those mumbo-jumbo computers and all the click-happy workers amusing themselves while back-doors and trojans compromise your network and data (on company time of course).
Carbon paper, filing cabinets, and shredders. This is the path to an efficient small business. You may even want to question why your small business needs so many phone lines. Sorry I could not be more helpful, but just step back and ask yourself, "is all this technology really necessary?" I think you will agree, it is a fad that simply over-complicates everything.
I love admins like you. I work for a university and our individual desktop machines were - until the policy was changed - "locked down tight" as you say.
So my group spent a week harassing IT by constantly sending emails to them - and to the relevant department heads - asking them to google stuff for us, print it out, and deliver it. We had them over at least 3-4 times a day to install software we wanted to test out. We called them about every. Single. Issue. We could come up with.
Five days of this and we were given admin privileges, the net-nanny software was removed, and the admin who came up with the "lock it down tight" policy was sent on to greener pastures because, after all, the purpose of computers in the workplace is to get work done, not to just avoid getting them infected with malware.
Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.
Rule # 1 - the source of the problem is ALWAYS sitting between some keyboard and chair somewhere. Find that person!!!
Do you realize that almost half of the questions on this Yes/No questionnaire are not Yes/No questions? (Yes/No)
Dude.. my mom makes her presentations in excel !
You're just envious of the people with real jobs who aren't stuck doing IT support.
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it