RE: Stopping open proxies and open relays

["Vivien M." <vivienm () dyndns org>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michel Py [mailto:michel () arneill-py sacramento ca us] 
> Sent: February 7, 2004 12:43 AM
> To: Vivien M.; nanog () merit edu
> Subject: RE: Stopping open proxies and open relays
>
>
> > Vivien M. wrote:
> > Now, if hooking up an unsecured computer to a network was 
> punishable 
> > by a $1000 fine, and law enforcement somehow had the staff to 
> > prosecute all offenders (or a representative sample), I'm sure 
> > everybody would agree that suddenly they'd be able to afford 
> > antiviruses.
>
> It's not that I don't like the idea, but it's been tried 
> before. Making stupidity punishable by fines does not work; 
> if it did we would not have a budget deficit issue.

Well, it seems to work relatively well when it comes to motor vehicles...
Oh, sure, there are still lots of morons driving unsafe poorly-maintained
vehicles around, but I'm sure there would be WAY way more if traffic laws
(and inspection requirements, etc, depending on your jurisdiction) went
byebye tomorrow. The problem, in any case, is one of limited enforcement
resources: triple the highway police force, and I'm sure a lot more morons
will get caught/fined/forced to fix their vehicles.

If stricter laws on computers forced even 50% of people to start caring a
little more, wouldn't that be progress? The day a couple of grandmothers get
taken away in handcuffs because a script kiddie took up residence in her
computer is the day a few people will wake up to the fact that computers
need regular maintenance... 

Vivien
-- 
Vivien M.
vivienm () dyndns org
Assistant System Administrator
Dynamic Network Services, Inc.
http://www.dyndns.org/