Joe Average User Is In Trouble

The Register ^ | 10/27/03 | Scott Granneman

[an amused spectator]

You ever hear of AVG (www.grisoft.com), FreedomPoster?

First I ever heard of it was last month, when one of my support circle got their computer hosed by something (still not sure what).

Freeware, and seems to be on the up-and-up.

The biggest thing is that people will pay for a year of Norton or McAfee, and then stop. We all know how useful an out-of-date DAT file is. ;-)

Getting the ordinary user to use a freeware AV package seems to be the best bet to me.

[rdb3]

The Penguin Ping.

Wanna be Penguified? Just holla!

     .-.
     /v\    L   I   N   U   X
    // \\  >Phear the Penguin<
   /(   )\
    ^^-^^

Got root?

[AppyPappy]

Being an IT guy, I sometimes get requests to come to people's houses and work on their computers. I tell them to bring the computer to me and I'll look at it. No one has ever taken me up on it. They don't want to admit they can't disconnect their computer. I figure they don't need a computer anyway. All these people playing with computers are causing the problems on the internet.

Imagine if you drove a car but didn't want to bother learning how to use the brakes or the seat belt. Everyone should have a basic understanding of how to protect their computer.

[Hatteras]

We've got to educate our parents, our other family members, our boyfriends and girlfriends, our wives and husbands and partners, our in-laws, our friends and acquaintances, our co-workers, and even the people we just bump into for a few moments at parties.

Hmmm, tried to slip this one by us, huh?

[FreedomPoster]

I've heard of it, don't know much about it. If people won't pay $15 or $20 a year for an AV subscription, they shouldn't own a computer. Ask them what their data is worth.

[Gumption]

Does that thing make punchcards?

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Well, the problem is that computers are much too complicated for average people. They expect it to work like a car or a coffee machine, and so the idea that they need firewalls, virus software, anti-spyware stuff, etc. really never crosses their mind. And the people who are aware of this stuff don't want to learn about it or mess with it; my family just doesn't care about "science junk", and that's a big roadblock in and of itself.

[general_re]

No, but it runs "Hunt The Wumpus" like a champ ;)

[txzman]

I refloozle my friend's computer hossenblobbets with tinklewickets all the time.

Fortunately they are nice enough to do things like buy me dinner gift certificates to nice restaurants after I completely rework their machines to make them useable again.

[FreedomPoster]

It's part of the Norton Utilities. Cleans up bad Windows Registry entries. They don't have a good description of it on the Symantec web site. Hmmmm - from the Help file:

Norton WinDoctor is the safe and easy way to diagnose and repair the most common types of Windows problems. It checks all the information necessary for Windows to run properly. Plus it checks for components needed by programs that run under Windows.

Norton WinDoctor starts with a Wizard interface to let you choose the kinds of diagnostic tests you want to perform. After running the tests, Norton WinDoctor displays an easy-to-read report of the problems it has found. Problems are listed by problem type in the order of severity. You can choose to display the list sorted by name or status (whether they are fixed).

Norton WinDoctor lets you tailor the repair process to your own needs. You can specify which problems to fix and how to fix them. Or, you can let Norton WinDoctor fix all found problems automatically.

If you decide you don’t like a repair WinDoctor has made, you can undo it. To undo repairs you made in previous sessions, use Norton WinDoctor’s Repair History feature. Norton WinDoctor keeps Windows running at peak efficiency. This not only makes using your computer faster and easier, but also safer. By fixing errors that might otherwise lead to data loss, Norton WinDoctor protects your work.

Don't know why they don't have something like that on their web site. Basically, it scans the Registry and cleans up issues that it finds. This is generally A Good Thing.

[FreedomPoster]

I've had 4-5 take me up on the "bring it to my house" offer. I find it usually takes about 3/4ths of a day, with 1-2 hours of real time spent, to clean things up. Lots of load/reboot cycles in there.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Ask them what their data is worth.

Depends on what you use your computer for. I currently use anti-virus freeware, but even if my computer physically disappeared tomorrow, the only thing I would lose of importance is old/current homework.

If I actually did work with this thing, maybe I would shell out for something.

[Gumption]

But could it play tic-tac-toe? (or Global Thermonuclear War?)

[Hatteras]

Here's the problem in a nutshell. Computer weenies are using acronyms and abbreviations that they themselves haven't even taken the time to learn what the letters stand for and in developing computers and computer products they are using words that already have enough real definitions. Case in point:

Define "patch".

1. A small piece of material affixed to another, larger piece to conceal, reinforce, or repair a worn area, hole, or tear.
2. A small piece of cloth used for patchwork.
3. A small cloth badge affixed to a garment as a decoration or an insignia, as of a military unit.
4. A dressing or covering applied to protect a wound or sore.
5. A pad or shield of cloth worn over an eye socket or an injured eye.
6. A transdermal patch.(See beauty spot.)
7. A small piece, part, or section, especially that which differs from or contrasts with the whole: a patch of thin ice; patches of sunlight.
8. A small plot or piece of land, especially one that produces or is used for growing specific vegetation: a briar patch; a bean patch.
9. An indefinite period of time; a spell: weathered a difficult patch after losing his job.
10. A temporary, removable electronic connection, as one between two components in a communications system.

And now, they want us to add another definition to the word "patch".

11. Computer Science. A piece of code added to software in order to fix a bug, especially as a temporary correction between two releases.

Hey, I learned how to "google" something, I can learn other new words. Just don't tell me to download a "patch". A patch is made of denim and my momma used to sew them on the knees of my pants.

[general_re]

HOW ABOUT A NICE GAME OF CHESS?

[cookcounty]

Why the fuss? Get some exercise, walk down to the bank, and do your finances in person.

As for fear of viruses. Hey, you're going to get a new cheap computer every 36 months anyway, so if some virus takes it down, that's how you know it's time to shop. All these software add-ons cost more than the computer is worth.

As for teaching computer classes, unfortunately, from my experience, the world seems to be composed of two types of humans:
Those who can communicate in clear, simple language, and those who are good at computers. Rarely are both skills found in a single individual. Hopefully you're the exception.

[an amused spectator]

I've had 4-5 take me up on the "bring it to my house" offer. I find it usually takes about 3/4ths of a day, with 1-2 hours of real time spent, to clean things up. Lots of load/reboot cycles in there.

Same here. There IS a beer requirement, too. ;-)

What's the deal - did you give up beer, Hank? :-)

[an amused spectator]

Computer weenies are using acronyms and abbreviations that they themselves haven't even taken the time to learn what the letters stand for and in developing computers and computer products they are using words that already have enough real definitions.

Being a computer weenie, I'll have to agree with you there. :-)

[FreedomPoster]

Yup on the beer requirement. Generally Sam Adams. I get the same for recoding Audi transmissions to sport mode with my laptop and VAG-COM. Or better yet, the last guy took me for a lunch at Macaroni Grille that included a nice bottle of Italian chianti, that we split. He had lived for a time in Italy, and doesn't drink the cheap stuff. ;-D

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

The article is a good one. I would just take it one step further. It's not just that Joe Average User is clueless about security. It's that he is clueless about damn near everything. We can put the blame on microsoft, the educational system, or sunspots, but the fact remains that people cannot understand or troubleshoot the complex systems that modern PC's have become.

This situation could be addressed by building dumb clients and putting all the smarts in the network, but this idea has been trotted out every few years and it never seems to gain traction. I imagine there is a business opportunity for ISP's here. Your ISP in theory *could* become like the administrator of a corporate LAN. They could become your network admin, provide better firewall services, anti-spam services, security updates, software services etc. etc. They could differentiate themselves by providing the most friendly, helpful, and efficient support desks. This is feasible as the users in the corporate world are just as clueless as the ones at home - they just have better support.

I don't know if this will happen or not, but it seems that their is a value proposition here - I think most people would gladly pay a reasonable monthly fee to insure that the damn thing works all the time the way it should, and that they won't be vulnerable to the latest virus or worm or what have you. Whether this industry is willing to provide a service such as this remains to be seen.