[A2k] Web 2.0: Internet too dangerous for normal people

[Meredith Filak]

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
I think the more important point missed by this article is the fact that
technology so dramatically democratizes information exchange that no matter
what security measures are implemented, so long as they exist on a purely
digital level, they will almost invariably be overcome. The question really
becomes one of computing power, and the arms race is precisely what keeps
people like Mr Stamos in business. (Though I do agree with his points about
Oracle, Mozilla, etc being a few of the only projects getting any more
secure!)

The beauty of open-source security is, paradoxically, the near-asymptotic
result it produces with regards to efficiency and accuracy; get enough
people picking each other's work apart and the number of errors or loopholes
begins to decrease exponentially. More brains, more eyes, fewer chances for
error or sabotage. I once heard somebody refer to it as the Wikipedia
Paradox--the more people edit something, the more accurate it tends to
become (even if that accuracy is in accurately reflecting multiple prominent
viewpoints).

What's more interesting--to me at least--is the discussion about safety on
the user end. Traditional media seems to giddily promote this notion that
the "everyuser," so to speak, is so blatantly oblivious to the perils of the
internet that he walks off the proverbial cliff, regularly, without noticing
or caring. Granted, the net-sense of the average user probably hasn't
reached the level of paranoia required for total safety. But, I think that
as people become more accustomed to the dangers (and--no offense intended to
the over-30 crowd--the "e-generation" grows up and creates a generally more
savvy user-base than its predecessors) the collective attitude toward safe
internet conduct will become, on the whole, a more well-adapted one.

Bottom line: user-wise, I think it's more a question of an expanding user
demographic which is still settling into the notion of net-safety.
System-wise, go open source!

-Meredith (just an observer!)

On Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 11:17 PM, Jeffrey A. Williams <jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com
> wrote:

> All,
>
> See: http://www.nextgov.com/web_headlines/wh_20090402_4043.php
>
> Now what is the proper/legal definition of "Normal People"?
> Anywone?
>
> Regards,
>
> Spokesman for INEGroup LLA. - (Over 284k members/stakeholders strong!)
> "Obedience of the law is the greatest freedom" -
>   Abraham Lincoln
> "YES WE CAN!"  Barack ( Berry ) Obama
>
> "Credit should go with the performance of duty and not with what is
> very often the accident of glory" - Theodore Roosevelt
>
> "If the probability be called P; the injury, L; and the burden, B;
> liability depends upon whether B is less than L multiplied by
> P: i.e., whether B is less than PL."
> United States v. Carroll Towing  (159 F.2d 169 [2d Cir. 1947]
> ===============================================================
> Updated 1/26/04
> CSO/DIR. Internet Network Eng. SR. Eng. Network data security IDNS.
> div. of Information Network Eng.  INEG. INC.
> ABA member in good standing member ID 01257402 E-Mail
> jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com
> My Phone: 214-244-4827
>
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