"Sebastian Gurovich" <sebas0@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Unfortunately Dave, most people in this world don´t have electricity
nor do they manage their own computers and networks.
In the future some of these people and newborns will own a computer
and manage their own network. This means they may need to learn like
you once had to, and yes make mistakes, much like you did too.
So what seem like reasonable steps for you now, might not be
reasonable to others. The notion that computer licences be required in
order to operate computers (and networks) much like car licences are
is a very interesting one, especially for an opensource community.
-Seb
Actually, we got to here by me suggesting that people be held liable for
damages caused by systems that they own (or, as I jokingly put it, they
supply power and and internet connection and someone else p0wns the
box). Generally, if you wish to play with something that can either
harm yourself or others (guns, knives, cars, airplanes, bow and arrow,
etc.), most of the the world holds you responsible for what damage you
cause. This approach strikes the balance that people who own and
operate such things should make sure they know how to keep themselves
and others safe.
So I'm not asking for a universal computer operators license. What I am
asking for is that people maintain their computer's security to
customary and reasonable standards. If they do and they still get
hacked, I won't like it but they have done what can reasonably be
expected of them. If they run a known to be vulnerable system and
someone uses that system to damage others, they are partially
responsible and it should be possible to hold them liable. I'm guessing
that once such a policy becomes known, a lot of people will suddenly
take computer security a lot more seriously.
If a joyrider breaks into a locked car, steals it and then injures
someone in an accident, the law typically holds the owner to not be at
fault since they took "customary and reasonable" steps to ensure their
car was not stolen. If the same joyrider instead finds an unlocked car
with the keys in the ignition and injures someone in an accident, the
owner of that vehicle is judged to be partially at fault since they did
not take "customary and reasonable" steps to secure their vehicle. I'd
like to see the same idea applied to those who provide power and an
internet connections to zombified computers.
Cheers,
Dave
--
Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.
-- Ambrose Bierce
