It's not elitism to expect that someone could run proper security software. If you use M$ products they even provide a nice security suite for free. I honestly don't believe it's too much to ask of people to be involved in learning the basic maintenance of their possessions. I don't know alot about cars but I do know how to do an oil change. I don't work in construction but I have learned to do some of my own home repairs. What you are advocating for is company sponsored intellectual laziness. Sorry I can't support that.

Horrible place to use this but it applies in lesser circumstances as well as greater..... Those who would trade freedon for security deserve neither. Learn to secure your own damn box.

I'd mod you up if i had some points today, well said.

Barter is a great way to do business. I trade stuff from my garden to the neighbor, who raises chickens, for eggs. I need a new front step built for my porch so I rebuilt a PC for a mason I know he is pouring my new step when the weather gets decent in spring. I do business by barter anytime I can and definitely encourage everyone to do the same.

unfortunately true but much of that money is used to get re-elected. If enough of their voting base is telling to vote for something or be booted next election they are likely to listen. It doesn't have to be a majority either just enough of a vocal minority to get their attention.

So contact your representatives and voice your opinion. If you don't have their contact info it's easy enough to look up online or if you happen to have an android phone download the "Congres" app. It will give you the contact info of your local congressional representatives. Part of the reason that lobbyists have so much power is that ordinary people don't inundate their reps with opinions and facts the way that special interests do. So contact them and express your opinion. They won't completely ignore it if enough of their constituency speaks up. So you can either bitch online or call the people who can have an impact. I've already contacted my reps concerning net neutrality, here's hoping anyone with an intelligent opinion here does the same. It's your government folks participate or don't bitch when you don't get what you want.

Southwestern Bell is one of the companies that was created when the original AT&T company was broken up. Essentially one of the child companies grew and swallowed up most of the other "Bells". The company also controls what was Cingular Wireless and the original AT&T wireless. Is there really so much competition now that the FCC should have allowed these mergers? Considering the new AT&T encompasses not just landline but wireless, television and internet services i'm not sure. In some areas they have a near monopoly on telecommunications.

that everyone who is here on slashdot, has a strong opinion about this and is a U.S. citizen is taking a few momnets to contact the FCC with their thoughts. It's easy enough to bitch about the way our society is going and how ignorant governemt agencies are but the truth is many civil servants do take input presented in an intelligent manner. Everything that happens in this country is brought on by the action or inaction of it's citizenry. Sadly inaction and complacency seem to have become the order of the day.

After taking a moment to review my girlfriends shoe collection, I'm convinced this is another instance of women choosing form over function.

Interesting idea.

All of those things have been hacked before.... so your point being.

No I'm not a cracker virus writer I am logical though. There are TONS of exploits for Linux jackass. They do exist and you not wanting ot admit it doesn't make it go away. Read gsgriffins response it sounds like he has some experience working with linux. Talking about theft banks are still a favorite of thieves and far more is still stolen from banks than from 7-11's. You're analogy still works a little though. The low end thugs with no talent( script kiddie sfo rour purposes ) hit 7-11's, crooks with more finesse (actual crackers) steal much larger amounts by defrauding banks. Both get robbed so obviously even with security there is risk. jackass.

and in other news this virus had an industrial target. It wasn't simply looking to disrupt internet traffic. Once a malware writer decides they want to disrupt internet traffic in general I'm sure we'll see things written to affect those linux machines. Don't get me wrong i prefer linux and run it at home but blaming the target doesn't solve the problem. If you are putting forth the idea that no viruses/malware/exploits exist for linux then you sir are either woefully unaware or a complete idiot.

and if macOS were ever to become popular enough that malware writers decide to target it? Just because something is too obscure to be targeted does not mean it's totally secure. The virus was written for windows because that's what the system runs. If it ran Linux it would have been a Linux virus.

I won't dispute that windows has it's share of holes that is true. The thing is they end up being found more often because 90% PC's run it. If Linux or macOS had that market share they would be put under the same magnifying glass buy exploit writers. It's the same reason that more legit software is written for Windows than macOS or Linux. The writers want as wide a distribution as possible.