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."
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.
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!!!