Computer Security: It's Not Just For Computers Any More
from the who-should-do-it? dept
My parents recently bought a new computer, and while visiting them last week, I helped them get it set up, including all the various security applications and settings they would need. Thanks to some weird configuration issues from the manufacturer, it took a bit more tweaking than it should have, but eventually we got it figured out. Amusingly, the timing of the computer purchase was done on purpose. They knew I was coming to visit, and bought the computer in time for me to be there to help them get it set up safely. That can work for a once-every-few-years type of purchase like a computer, but it gets much trickier when you need to set up security for just about everything electronic in your house. As we're moving towards a world where everything is connected, from your computer to your TV to your phones (both mobile and wireline) to your fridge to your alarm system to your light switches, it's simply asking way too much of individuals to handle their own computer security all the time. Who wants to reinstall anti-spyware software on each light bulb they change? It's getting to the point where do-it-yourself computer security is getting to be too big of a job for most people, and they're going to increasingly look to someone for help. Most likely, that "someone" is going to be their broadband providers. While some still say that if you're going to use the technology, you should have a basic level of competence, the truth is that that's unlikely to happen, and people are still going to be expecting the problems to get fixed -- and the three most likely targets are the broadband providers (they bring the connection), the software providers (they leave the security holes) and the hardware providers (people identify the device with its manufacturer). Unfortunately, right now, all three seem to be playing the blame game. Call one up to complain about problems and they send you to the other. Instead of passing the blame, someone needs to step up, and start offering better solutions for protecting everything that will be connected to a user's network (whether at home, at work or on the go). If they can do so successfully (no small challenge) customers will flock to them.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Who's going to eat the cost?
In the current market environment, many companies are walking that very thin line between charging just barely enough to show a profit and charging too much and losing customers to a cheaper competitor.
About the only way someone is going to be able to offer computer security is as an optional support package with an ongoing monthly or annual subscription fee.
There are a lot of us who are technical enough to figure out our own security solutions and would resent a $10/month surcharge on our ISP bill to cover security services.
Maybe that's the next big marketspace for unemployed IT people to jump on - door-to-door computer security consultants!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Who's going to eat the cost?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
IP connected lightbulbs?
That said, the current solution of the "geek in the family" security solution seems to work for some. Getting anyone to pay for security is not really effective, because we're still going to get blasted by the zombie machines of the lonely geekless families.
jason
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Why...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Why...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Why...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Exactly what we are seeing on the street...
- no anti-virus or anti-spyware running
- unsecure wireless network (using all of the defaults and available to wardrivers
- no clue that the "14 year-old" that there kid is chatting with online is really a 49 year-old man
So, we started seminars that teach parents this information. We do them at the schools, often when other events are happening. It has proven tremendously helpful to them.
Education is the key and we cannot rely on the big players to help. They are way too stuck in their "ROI" mode and this type of help brings no (short-term) ROI.
You can see our resources on the link above if you know of anyone who can use them. We are adding to them each week after the seminars to help.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]