10.27.04
I have a wrench, can I fix your car?
Imagine it. The Model "T" just came out, and most people are finally able to afford their own car. One day, the car breaks. You don't know what's wrong and there are few "certified" people available to do the work.
Your neighbor, Frank, says, "I once changed the wheels on my wagon and reshoed my horse. I can fix your engine." Would you trust him? Yes you would. Why, because you don't know any better. He knows something more than you do, so your willing to entrust him with your valuables.
Well, it's the 21st century and people are doing the exact same thing with their job's computer network. In my job working for an ISP, I talk with people everyday that entrust the functionality of their day to day productivity to people who, at most, hooked two computers together with a Linksys router to share Internet access.
Folks, this is dangerous...and stupid. Dangerous because these people call in and request a 512k T1 and "need" a block of 16 IP addresses. No firewall will be used, so you have 13 potential machines spewing out viruses, SPAM and are likely dorment zombie BOTs waiting to be activated.
This is stupid because under no circumstances would these same individuals use a 13 year old "C-" math student audit their business records. So why would they even consider letting someone with little know-how do the equivilant? I think the reason is two-fold.
First, high-speed connections are being hyped as the norm for modern living. In a world where communications is quickly becoming IP-centric, the network industry (both service providers and manufacturers) need to build an audience that isn't afraid to use their products. DSL can nearly alienate their users on its own, so "Providers" are forced to find a way to make this broadband transition as easy as possible. Unfortunatly, making things simple gives users a false sense of knowledge of all things networking.
Second, there's no education. Driving has traffic laws, traffic schools, driving certifications. While I'm not saying we need an authority to moderate use of a computer, there should be a more proactive approach to educating people to the danger high-speed Internet access poses.
OK, I know education will never happen...and yes I mean NEVER, but since the push in communications is truly "always connected, always available" access, sitting back and letting "Timmy from down the street take a look at it" will only cost in the long run.
3:32 pm in teknikol pepole | 1 person viewing0 ramblings so far