It time to start issuing Internet Safety Violation Tickets... I think most would agree today that the Internet is an information highway. And like users of any highway, you must be driving in a road worthy vehicle. If your vehicle does not have proper operating safety devices (windshield, headlights, brake lights, etc) you can be ticketed for having defective equipment. So should be true with users of the Internet today.
There are a lot of parallels we can draw upon here. If you drive recklessly, you can be ticketed. So if you allow your computer to send computer viruses, participate in denial of service attacks, send unsolicited commercial email, and/or a wide variety of inappropriate usages of the Internet, then maybe the owner/operator of that computer should be ticketed for reckless usage of the Internet.
In a vehicle, if you have defective equipment, you can be ticketed. So if your computer is compromised because the owner/operator chooses not to install the latest service packs and/or security updates regardless of the reason, then maybe the owner/operator should be ticketed. Most computers that are compromised could have prevented the problem by installing software updates that have been out for months.
If your vehicle is the cause of a serious accident and the operator was negligent, it is possible that the operator will have to answer to a judge. So it should be for computer users. If their computer is a repeat offender, then maybe it is time to stand before a judge and be prepared to defend yourself or accept the responsibility and suffer the consequences.
Of course, like many law enforcement departments allow, if you show proof that you have taken the necessary steps to correct the defective safety equipment, the ticket can be rescinded. So it could be with computer users. The offending computer users should be required to take their computer to a local computer repair center (or have a technician come to their home/office) to have it certified that it is internet worthy.
There are several things that the computer user should have done to keep their computer from becoming a nuisance. For example, the e-mail client should be upgraded to a version that prevents the opening of unsafe attachments. Learn how to run operating system and application updates. Another important area is for the computer to be protected by some sort of firewall product either as a software solution or via a hardware approach. Antivirus software is important too and should be considered. And finally, a requirement that the negligent computer user read and be tested on "safe computing practices" for the home/business user.
The Internet is a great asset to us all, and it is about time that the reckless users are held accountable for their computer's behavior. Just like in the vehicle world, one can loose their driver's license for bad driving practices, so should it be true of errant Internet users. Three strikes and your out...
David Barker
President
Electrosonics, Inc.
17150 15 Mile Road
Fraser, MI 48026