Broadband Internet: unsafe at any speed?

Last week the Dutch consumer rights organization ‘Consumentenbond’ proposed to make computer companies and internet service providers responsible for the security of home computers. The majority of home computer users has had security incidents in the past 12 months, and is not capable of accurately describing the most important computer security threats. See also my previous blog entry here on wireless security.

The industry’s reaction to this proposal is fairly predictable: users have their own responsibility. According to Microsoft, if the industry is made responsible, users can no longer have the opportunity to install arbitrary new software on their PC’s, or participate in certain online networks. Furthermore Internet power users would react strongly against a ‘neutered’ internet connection.

On the other hand, I know quite a few people who would willingly trade in flexibility for safety, and a market for ‘safe computing’ might exist. After all, these techniques are also used by my corporate clients to reduce their IT cost.