Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The end of the big, ugly operating system
Australian Reseller News has a strange opinion piece on the end of the big, monster operating systems like OS X and Windows Vista.
Ephraim Schwartz thinks "our grandchildren will be using discreet, unobtrusive operating systems that will be invisible to the naked eye." I have news for him, we're using them already in mobile phones, DVD players and motor cars, just to name three of many thousands of items.
The small, compact and reliable OS is with us it's just that they are discreet and unobtrusive.
Comparing computers and operating systems to cars is a valid thing to do. I do it all the time because the analogy works well.
Unfortunately, Ephraim makes the comparison of today's operating system to a guy who built his garage in 1959 to fit a monster Cadillac of the ear. The problem with that analogy is such a garage would fit a modern SUV just nicely.
There's no doubt operating systems should go on a diet and I think that will happen as the current crop, particularly XP and Vista, are collapsing under their own weight.
They may well be simpler and have a smaller footprint but it's unlikely they'll have less features. This is what the market wants in an operating system. I don't think it's likely to change.
Ephraim Schwartz thinks "our grandchildren will be using discreet, unobtrusive operating systems that will be invisible to the naked eye." I have news for him, we're using them already in mobile phones, DVD players and motor cars, just to name three of many thousands of items.
The small, compact and reliable OS is with us it's just that they are discreet and unobtrusive.
Comparing computers and operating systems to cars is a valid thing to do. I do it all the time because the analogy works well.
Unfortunately, Ephraim makes the comparison of today's operating system to a guy who built his garage in 1959 to fit a monster Cadillac of the ear. The problem with that analogy is such a garage would fit a modern SUV just nicely.
There's no doubt operating systems should go on a diet and I think that will happen as the current crop, particularly XP and Vista, are collapsing under their own weight.
They may well be simpler and have a smaller footprint but it's unlikely they'll have less features. This is what the market wants in an operating system. I don't think it's likely to change.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Vista installation blues
Andy Pennell had a terrible experience installing Microsoft Vista. It started when he couldn't open the box, continued with a failed BIOS upgrade to his motherboard (luckily covered by warranty) and finally concluded with "My particular hardware cannot install Vista, and no-one knows why".
So what you might ask? Well Andy Pennell is a software developer at Microsoft.
What this shows is even skilled, well connected people like Andy struggle with operating system upgrades.
This is why we recommend consumers DON'T install Vista on a machine running XP. If the system is running well then it should be left alone, if it isn't running well then installing a new operating usually makes the problem worse.
If you want Vista, then buy a new system.
So what you might ask? Well Andy Pennell is a software developer at Microsoft.
What this shows is even skilled, well connected people like Andy struggle with operating system upgrades.
This is why we recommend consumers DON'T install Vista on a machine running XP. If the system is running well then it should be left alone, if it isn't running well then installing a new operating usually makes the problem worse.
If you want Vista, then buy a new system.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Securing Internet Explorer
ZD Net runs through the instructions for securing Internet Explorer from exploits and drive by downloads. The advice largely relies on disabling Active Scripting which is fair enough as this is way most malware gets on. The problem with this advice is that takes most functionality from IE.
Many secure sites, such as banks and stockbrokers, need Active Scripting to run properly. This is why those sites often don't work with Firefox, Safari or Opera.
To get around this, the advice is to add the secure sites you want to your trusted user list. There's a number of problems with this.
The first is many sites aren't consistent in their domain names. Your bank's online transaction site might have a completely different address to their main name. To further complicate things, the login page might be completely different to everything else.
A further problem is the risk that even trusted sites can be compromised. The Sydney Opera House fell to this and a number of Italian sites have hacked recently. So you can't necessarily trust trusted sites.
The final, and telling blow, to this advice is that Active X is not the only way to get infected. If you've been infected through another avenue, then you'll be in trouble anyway. What's worse some of the better spyware is watching as you type your password.
The best solution in my view is to surf the net in a restricted user profile. That is, a profile that doesn't have the rights to change the system settings or install anything new.
Spyware is the biggest problem facing Windows users. The reason for this is the total access most users have as administrators. By running as a limited user, you stop those problems.
Many secure sites, such as banks and stockbrokers, need Active Scripting to run properly. This is why those sites often don't work with Firefox, Safari or Opera.
To get around this, the advice is to add the secure sites you want to your trusted user list. There's a number of problems with this.
The first is many sites aren't consistent in their domain names. Your bank's online transaction site might have a completely different address to their main name. To further complicate things, the login page might be completely different to everything else.
A further problem is the risk that even trusted sites can be compromised. The Sydney Opera House fell to this and a number of Italian sites have hacked recently. So you can't necessarily trust trusted sites.
The final, and telling blow, to this advice is that Active X is not the only way to get infected. If you've been infected through another avenue, then you'll be in trouble anyway. What's worse some of the better spyware is watching as you type your password.
The best solution in my view is to surf the net in a restricted user profile. That is, a profile that doesn't have the rights to change the system settings or install anything new.
Spyware is the biggest problem facing Windows users. The reason for this is the total access most users have as administrators. By running as a limited user, you stop those problems.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Turn off the TV
It's not surprising Australian TV viewers are turning off the commercial TV stations. The Daily Telegraph reports viewers are down 7% this year.
Given the arrogance of the Australian commercial TV networks, this isn't surprising. They have kicked around their viewers for too long and people are getting the message.
Here's a few examples of how they treat viewers badly.
1. Slow bringing good product to market. The top US TV shows arrive on Australian screens at least one season late. This might have been alright in 1973, but viewers know better today.
2. Crap Australian product. Too little homegrown product and what does get to air is often rubbish. Licensed version of Big Brother and other pointless tripe just turns viewers off, even the dimwits who watch this garbage eventually get bored with the same thing.
3. Too many repeats. Now, I enjoy The Simpsons, but honestly Channel Ten just how many times can you flog repeats of poor Bart?
4. Bizarre programming decisions. When the good stuff finally arrives from the US it gets scheduled late at night. This wouldn't be so bad if you could record it, but the networks make that hard by showing the episodes out of order and a different times each week.
5. Inconsistent program times. You can't record these programs because no-one has any idea when the show will go to air next week. It might be 1.00am this Tuesday and 11.45pm the following Monday.
6. Late running programs. Even if you do figure out when the program is scheduled to be on, you may well find it's not anyway. Peak time shows commonly run late, by midnight shows can be up to an hour out.
7. Out of order shows. This has to be the ultimate insult. You get a TV series like the Sopranos and show it out of order. What's worse, you sometimes drop in episodes from a previous series just to make sure everyone is confused.
8. The death of late night TV. No-one expects good television at 3am. But the "interactive quiz shows" that encourage morons to waste their pensions on texting premium call lines are beyond an insult.
9. The death of the ad break. The crucial moment in CSI arrives where you find whodunnit. As the music rises to a climax and the DA prepares to give their denouement, Rove McManus's head bounces across the bottom the screen to announce his interview with Paris Hilton tomorrow night.
10. Sheer incompetence. Channel Seven paid over $300 million Australian dollars for the rights to show half the Australian Football League games. They promptly gave the good ones to the Pay-TV networks and scheduled the remaining ones in a way that managed to irritate every Aussie Rules fan in the country and cause a major clash with their coverage of the V8 Supercars.
The latter point probably explains why Pay-TV subscriptions are up. Half the country's Aussie Rules fans are either signing up or about to. With this Channel Seven also managed to singlehandedly sink the Save My Sport campaign. Most Aussie sports fans now know free to air sport means "near live" or "we might show it next Wednesday at 3.00am after Hot Dogs super text quiz."
There's a simple answer to criticism of TV: Turn the thing off.
I have for the above reasons: The only commercial TV I now watch is the 5pm news (it suits our family routine) and the odd bit of sport. It seems I'm not the only one.
Given the arrogance of the Australian commercial TV networks, this isn't surprising. They have kicked around their viewers for too long and people are getting the message.
Here's a few examples of how they treat viewers badly.
1. Slow bringing good product to market. The top US TV shows arrive on Australian screens at least one season late. This might have been alright in 1973, but viewers know better today.
2. Crap Australian product. Too little homegrown product and what does get to air is often rubbish. Licensed version of Big Brother and other pointless tripe just turns viewers off, even the dimwits who watch this garbage eventually get bored with the same thing.
3. Too many repeats. Now, I enjoy The Simpsons, but honestly Channel Ten just how many times can you flog repeats of poor Bart?
4. Bizarre programming decisions. When the good stuff finally arrives from the US it gets scheduled late at night. This wouldn't be so bad if you could record it, but the networks make that hard by showing the episodes out of order and a different times each week.
5. Inconsistent program times. You can't record these programs because no-one has any idea when the show will go to air next week. It might be 1.00am this Tuesday and 11.45pm the following Monday.
6. Late running programs. Even if you do figure out when the program is scheduled to be on, you may well find it's not anyway. Peak time shows commonly run late, by midnight shows can be up to an hour out.
7. Out of order shows. This has to be the ultimate insult. You get a TV series like the Sopranos and show it out of order. What's worse, you sometimes drop in episodes from a previous series just to make sure everyone is confused.
8. The death of late night TV. No-one expects good television at 3am. But the "interactive quiz shows" that encourage morons to waste their pensions on texting premium call lines are beyond an insult.
9. The death of the ad break. The crucial moment in CSI arrives where you find whodunnit. As the music rises to a climax and the DA prepares to give their denouement, Rove McManus's head bounces across the bottom the screen to announce his interview with Paris Hilton tomorrow night.
10. Sheer incompetence. Channel Seven paid over $300 million Australian dollars for the rights to show half the Australian Football League games. They promptly gave the good ones to the Pay-TV networks and scheduled the remaining ones in a way that managed to irritate every Aussie Rules fan in the country and cause a major clash with their coverage of the V8 Supercars.
The latter point probably explains why Pay-TV subscriptions are up. Half the country's Aussie Rules fans are either signing up or about to. With this Channel Seven also managed to singlehandedly sink the Save My Sport campaign. Most Aussie sports fans now know free to air sport means "near live" or "we might show it next Wednesday at 3.00am after Hot Dogs super text quiz."
There's a simple answer to criticism of TV: Turn the thing off.
I have for the above reasons: The only commercial TV I now watch is the 5pm news (it suits our family routine) and the odd bit of sport. It seems I'm not the only one.
Dell listen and admit mistakes!
The Direct2Dell blog is an good insight into the workings and thinking of Dell. So today's blog entry about the mistakes Dell have made with trying to close down a consumerist story is a very interesting read.
Dell clearly made a mistake by letting their lawyers send off a take down demand without supervision. Experience shows take down demands only draw attention to the message. In my view, every lawyers letter should be checked by relevant managers who should ask "how does this demand help the business".
That said, the blog is a good apology for it and an interesting look at Dell's thinking and strategy.
The original consumerist article came about because Dell have too many channels offering too many products. So it's not a surprise a canny buyer can exploit loopholes and inconsistencies to get a better deal.
Dell's current set up just confuses customers. I have to say I'm often confused when I visit their website. So the point made in the Direct2Dell blog entry that small business products will be different to their Home and Home Office offerings is important.
I'd actually like to see them drop the "Home and Home Office" label, put the home office products in with small business and offer systems purely for home.
One of the banes of my life are home business owners who allow their home office computer to be used as a home computer by the kids. We need to get the message out to those who work from home that letting the kids use your business computer is as dumb as letting the kids drive your car.
It's good to see, though that Dell are listening. You just hope they won't let their legal counsel to go off half-cocked in future.
Dell clearly made a mistake by letting their lawyers send off a take down demand without supervision. Experience shows take down demands only draw attention to the message. In my view, every lawyers letter should be checked by relevant managers who should ask "how does this demand help the business".
That said, the blog is a good apology for it and an interesting look at Dell's thinking and strategy.
The original consumerist article came about because Dell have too many channels offering too many products. So it's not a surprise a canny buyer can exploit loopholes and inconsistencies to get a better deal.
Dell's current set up just confuses customers. I have to say I'm often confused when I visit their website. So the point made in the Direct2Dell blog entry that small business products will be different to their Home and Home Office offerings is important.
I'd actually like to see them drop the "Home and Home Office" label, put the home office products in with small business and offer systems purely for home.
One of the banes of my life are home business owners who allow their home office computer to be used as a home computer by the kids. We need to get the message out to those who work from home that letting the kids use your business computer is as dumb as letting the kids drive your car.
It's good to see, though that Dell are listening. You just hope they won't let their legal counsel to go off half-cocked in future.
Dell and Nokia rise to meet the iPhone
The story that Dell are going to offer unlocked Nokia mobiles is an interesting counterpoint to the Apple iPhone's release.
It seems to me Nokia and Dell are using their comparative strengths to counter Apple and their phone. The biggest advantage for the Dell-Nokia partnership is that the phones won't be locked to any phone company. This puts the iPhone at a huge disadvantage with many early adopters.
This won't kill the iPhone though. One of the attractions of the Mac is "it just works" and it indeed it does for the typical user. If Apple can do the same thing with the iPhone then the customers that just want their phones to work will be quite happy sticking with whoever Apple wants to tie their service to.
While I'm an iPhone skeptic, one thing is for sure: It's going to shake up the existing mobile industry. This Dell-Nokia deal looks like the first reaction. We'll no doubt see more of this in the future.
It seems to me Nokia and Dell are using their comparative strengths to counter Apple and their phone. The biggest advantage for the Dell-Nokia partnership is that the phones won't be locked to any phone company. This puts the iPhone at a huge disadvantage with many early adopters.
This won't kill the iPhone though. One of the attractions of the Mac is "it just works" and it indeed it does for the typical user. If Apple can do the same thing with the iPhone then the customers that just want their phones to work will be quite happy sticking with whoever Apple wants to tie their service to.
While I'm an iPhone skeptic, one thing is for sure: It's going to shake up the existing mobile industry. This Dell-Nokia deal looks like the first reaction. We'll no doubt see more of this in the future.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Sensis to sell The Trading Post
The Australian Newsagency Blog picks up the news that Sensis might be selling the Trading Post.
This isn't before time. When Sensis purchased it, I was baffled as to how a classified listing service like the Trading Post would fit with the monopoly Yellow Pages business. It's difficult to think of a sector more different than Sensis' core business.
As it turns out, it looks like Trading Post hasn't delivered, or rather Sensis hasn't found those synergies. With the rise of free listing services like Craigslist and auction sites like Ebay, the Trading Post was always going to struggle anyway.
I say it's difficult to think of a business more alien to Sensis, but they did find one. They decided to become a competitor of ours by buying Invizage.
To say the Home and small business IT support industry is alien to Sensis is an understatement. The industry is fragmented and even players like Invizage wouldn't have 5% of the market. This on it's own would be alien to Sensis' management.
Selling and providing IT services is even more different to Sensis' Yellow Pages business. I actually feel sorry for the Sensis managers who found themselves having to get their heads around the cultural differences.
If the Trading Post is up for sale, then Invizage can't be far behind. Hopefully Sensis will stick to it's knitting of the Yellow Pages and find ways of leveraging the massive market power they currently have in this sector.
This isn't before time. When Sensis purchased it, I was baffled as to how a classified listing service like the Trading Post would fit with the monopoly Yellow Pages business. It's difficult to think of a sector more different than Sensis' core business.
As it turns out, it looks like Trading Post hasn't delivered, or rather Sensis hasn't found those synergies. With the rise of free listing services like Craigslist and auction sites like Ebay, the Trading Post was always going to struggle anyway.
I say it's difficult to think of a business more alien to Sensis, but they did find one. They decided to become a competitor of ours by buying Invizage.
To say the Home and small business IT support industry is alien to Sensis is an understatement. The industry is fragmented and even players like Invizage wouldn't have 5% of the market. This on it's own would be alien to Sensis' management.
Selling and providing IT services is even more different to Sensis' Yellow Pages business. I actually feel sorry for the Sensis managers who found themselves having to get their heads around the cultural differences.
If the Trading Post is up for sale, then Invizage can't be far behind. Hopefully Sensis will stick to it's knitting of the Yellow Pages and find ways of leveraging the massive market power they currently have in this sector.
Smashing Keyboards
I smashed a really good keyboard on Friday thanks to a customer.
Last week, I visited a home where their wireless network was down. I did good job. Before leaving, I explained that wireless networks were unreliable and it might be that we have to look at alternatives.
The following morning she rings and gives me an earful. I was "out of my depth", "incompetent" and didn't follow her instructions.
I smashed the keyboard after she hung up.
The sad thing is I walked out of that job thinking I did well.
This episode made me think about why this industry is so difficult. Out of a hundred customers, you'll get twenty call backs about other problems. Of that twenty, five will be angry and rude like the lady on Friday.
You'd be lucky to get one in a hundred thank you for a good job.
I'd suggest the biggest cause of burn out in the IT industry is this constant battering on a tech's self esteem. Getting shot down like on Friday really hurts.
Last week, I visited a home where their wireless network was down. I did good job. Before leaving, I explained that wireless networks were unreliable and it might be that we have to look at alternatives.
The following morning she rings and gives me an earful. I was "out of my depth", "incompetent" and didn't follow her instructions.
I smashed the keyboard after she hung up.
The sad thing is I walked out of that job thinking I did well.
This episode made me think about why this industry is so difficult. Out of a hundred customers, you'll get twenty call backs about other problems. Of that twenty, five will be angry and rude like the lady on Friday.
You'd be lucky to get one in a hundred thank you for a good job.
I'd suggest the biggest cause of burn out in the IT industry is this constant battering on a tech's self esteem. Getting shot down like on Friday really hurts.
Multiple listing in the Yellow Pages
Smarthouse News has a grumble about Audio Visual retailers having to list in two Yellow Pages categories. They should be so lucky as IT support businesses have the luxury of listing in seven different categories.
Computer equipment-hardware
Computer equipment-home &/or small business
Computer equipment- Installation & networking
Computer Equipment - Repairs, service & upgrades
Computer Equipment - Supplies
Computer systems consultants
Computers-Technical support
Now that's a nice little earner for Yellow Pages. Given a Yellow Pages listing is probably the single most expensive marketing expense for a small business asking to list in SEVEN categories is prohibitive and probably impossible.
Computer equipment-hardware
Computer equipment-home &/or small business
Computer equipment- Installation & networking
Computer Equipment - Repairs, service & upgrades
Computer Equipment - Supplies
Computer systems consultants
Computers-Technical support
Now that's a nice little earner for Yellow Pages. Given a Yellow Pages listing is probably the single most expensive marketing expense for a small business asking to list in SEVEN categories is prohibitive and probably impossible.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Vista service pack on the way
It seems there's more sighting of Vista service pack one. The latest being in Mary Jo Foley's "All About Microsoft Blog".
Many experienced users won't touch a new Microsoft release as history has shown the first version always has bugs that will be fixed in the first service pack.
Microsoft's strategy seems to be to pretend there will be no Vista service pack so you'd be silly to wait. This strikes me as a silly strategy. All it means is many users simply won't buy it.
Another problem is the situation with Windows XP service packs. SP3 is way overdue and a new computer now has over 80 critical downloads when you first run Windows Update.
It's a real shame Microsoft have let flawed marketing ideas override the more important task of giving their customers secure and reliable computers.
Many experienced users won't touch a new Microsoft release as history has shown the first version always has bugs that will be fixed in the first service pack.
Microsoft's strategy seems to be to pretend there will be no Vista service pack so you'd be silly to wait. This strikes me as a silly strategy. All it means is many users simply won't buy it.
Another problem is the situation with Windows XP service packs. SP3 is way overdue and a new computer now has over 80 critical downloads when you first run Windows Update.
It's a real shame Microsoft have let flawed marketing ideas override the more important task of giving their customers secure and reliable computers.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Slashing support services
It's always dangerous for a business to assume that slashing their support services will make them more efficient so the news that Telstra are cutting 500 jobs as part of a restructure of their support makes me raise an eyebrow.
When dealing with telcos, it's quite common to hit the problem of "siloing". That's where each group of employees lives in their own self contained world and rarely talks to other groups or divisions in the same company. Telstra are notorious for this.
These changes may well address part of this problem, Telstra services group managing director Michael Rocca claims " the new model would provide customers with improved service and fewer internal call transfers because more staff would be located in the same centres and receive the same training."
The real key to getting these plans to work is good management that's looking beyond short term savings in wages. The quick fix of saving money usually ends up biting technology companies hard in the medium term.
Hopefully, Telstra's management is serious about improving service rather than just looking at saving a few bucks.
When dealing with telcos, it's quite common to hit the problem of "siloing". That's where each group of employees lives in their own self contained world and rarely talks to other groups or divisions in the same company. Telstra are notorious for this.
These changes may well address part of this problem, Telstra services group managing director Michael Rocca claims " the new model would provide customers with improved service and fewer internal call transfers because more staff would be located in the same centres and receive the same training."
"We want our people to be able to assist and resolve more of our customers' issues the first time — first-call resolution and less call transfers"
The real key to getting these plans to work is good management that's looking beyond short term savings in wages. The quick fix of saving money usually ends up biting technology companies hard in the medium term.
Hopefully, Telstra's management is serious about improving service rather than just looking at saving a few bucks.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Free trial services
I noticed a Google ad on a webpage the other day referring to a free IT review of small business networks. In principle, a free consultation is a good way for a service provider to get their foot in the door for customers. Sadly in the IT industry this is rarely the case.
The main reason is most prospective customers don't value the service. You can present them with a beautifully bound and presented report and it will, at best, be filed. It's highly unlikely the report will ever be read, let alone acted upon.
In the rare occasion it does get acted on, most companies will put the job out to competitive tender. Your free audit and the recommendations become the specifications and because other IT companies don't have the overhead of giving out free audits they'll be cheaper.
Word of mouth is the best marketing tool in the IT industry. The best way to grow your business is to provide quality service to the customers who value those services. Giving away your services, like system audits, for free is only attracting the customers who don't value what you can do for them.
The main reason is most prospective customers don't value the service. You can present them with a beautifully bound and presented report and it will, at best, be filed. It's highly unlikely the report will ever be read, let alone acted upon.
In the rare occasion it does get acted on, most companies will put the job out to competitive tender. Your free audit and the recommendations become the specifications and because other IT companies don't have the overhead of giving out free audits they'll be cheaper.
Word of mouth is the best marketing tool in the IT industry. The best way to grow your business is to provide quality service to the customers who value those services. Giving away your services, like system audits, for free is only attracting the customers who don't value what you can do for them.
Dumping on the competion
Criticising your competitors is always a risky proposition. The SMH Enterprise Blog discusses an example of this.
Valerie Khoo's experience with a real estate agent is pretty typical of what we see in the IT industry. The first agent did the right thing referring her to a competitor that could help. The competitor could resist dumping on the guy who referred her.
This sort of behaviour is unprofessional and most customers hate it. When I look at another technician's work I generally don't comment on the quality of the work unless they've done something seriously wrong.
Sadly, a lot of computer techs don't see it that way. They can't wait to big note themselves on how good they are and how bad the previous guy was. All this confirms in the client's mind is that we are all cowboys.
It's always best to be positive with a client. Even when recommending one product over another, I find it better to focus on the positives of the preferred product rather than the negatives of the the others.
There's karma in this too. Its too easy in the IT industry to be negative given the behaviour of many of the participants. By being positive, you feel better and so does your customer.
The simple rule is don't be negative: Don't dump on your competitors.
Valerie Khoo's experience with a real estate agent is pretty typical of what we see in the IT industry. The first agent did the right thing referring her to a competitor that could help. The competitor could resist dumping on the guy who referred her.
This sort of behaviour is unprofessional and most customers hate it. When I look at another technician's work I generally don't comment on the quality of the work unless they've done something seriously wrong.
Sadly, a lot of computer techs don't see it that way. They can't wait to big note themselves on how good they are and how bad the previous guy was. All this confirms in the client's mind is that we are all cowboys.
It's always best to be positive with a client. Even when recommending one product over another, I find it better to focus on the positives of the preferred product rather than the negatives of the the others.
There's karma in this too. Its too easy in the IT industry to be negative given the behaviour of many of the participants. By being positive, you feel better and so does your customer.
The simple rule is don't be negative: Don't dump on your competitors.
ZD Net interviews Kimmo Alkio the new CEO of Finnish security company, F-Secure, about the mechanics of online threats.
A very obvious point is malware writing is one of the few opportunities for a smart young programmer in the developing world. That's one of the reasons for the explosion in malware, phishing and spam. The Internet allows these opportunities from anywhere.
Where I would disagree with Kimmo is that mobile phone viruses and spyware are the stage now that PCs were at in the late 1980s.
In the late 1980s we were seeing the first viruses and they were spread by floppy disks with the odd ones lurking on message boards. The problem was there and the mass adoption of the Internet just took it to another level.
On the other hand, there's no reported mass outbreaks of mobile phone viruses which we would be seeing if there was a problem.
I suspect this is partly because mobile phones are used differently. People don't expect, or use, the functionality of a PC in a mobile and the telcos are reluctant to let their customers use such functionality because it allows the customer to break free of the Telco's content controls.
Kimmo makes a couple of other very good points: ISPs need to take more responsibility for protecting their customers and we need a .bank domain.
A .bank domain could be setup that only legitimate banks can sign up to. Having a reasonably secure domain means Internet banking because more secure.
On the other hand, were governments to make ISPs more responsible for security, we'd see a marked drop in spam, phishing viruses and compromised machines. I'd suggest making ISPs partly responsible for damages caused by compromised machines or swindlers on their network if the ISP can't show they've taken reasonable steps to close down errant account holders.
There's a few challenging ideas there that can be used to reduce Internet based crime.
A very obvious point is malware writing is one of the few opportunities for a smart young programmer in the developing world. That's one of the reasons for the explosion in malware, phishing and spam. The Internet allows these opportunities from anywhere.
Where I would disagree with Kimmo is that mobile phone viruses and spyware are the stage now that PCs were at in the late 1980s.
In the late 1980s we were seeing the first viruses and they were spread by floppy disks with the odd ones lurking on message boards. The problem was there and the mass adoption of the Internet just took it to another level.
On the other hand, there's no reported mass outbreaks of mobile phone viruses which we would be seeing if there was a problem.
I suspect this is partly because mobile phones are used differently. People don't expect, or use, the functionality of a PC in a mobile and the telcos are reluctant to let their customers use such functionality because it allows the customer to break free of the Telco's content controls.
Kimmo makes a couple of other very good points: ISPs need to take more responsibility for protecting their customers and we need a .bank domain.
A .bank domain could be setup that only legitimate banks can sign up to. Having a reasonably secure domain means Internet banking because more secure.
On the other hand, were governments to make ISPs more responsible for security, we'd see a marked drop in spam, phishing viruses and compromised machines. I'd suggest making ISPs partly responsible for damages caused by compromised machines or swindlers on their network if the ISP can't show they've taken reasonable steps to close down errant account holders.
There's a few challenging ideas there that can be used to reduce Internet based crime.
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