do not surf naked! (Score 2, Insightful)

I think a chapter should focus on how to be safely connected to the Internet. Explain the importance of antivirus software and firewall, and what they do. Also explain that just having them installed does not mean they are functioning (virus definitions need updating, etc). I do a lot of fixing for people who have let their definitions lapse or the software has failed for some reason.

And an explanation of email and viruses in general. Just because an email appears to be from some address you know, or even yourself, does not make it so. Once they understand that the system is inherently insecure, most people are more apt to be more careful with email attachments and check that antivirus software regularly.

Of course, there is no substitute for reading and attempting to comprehend the messages your computer gives you. When their antivirus warns them that their definitions are out of date, they should not just ignore it and assume the computer will magically fix that for them. So I suppose another section could be devoted to explaining that a computer, like an automobile, needs regular maintenance in order to continue to run properly.

If you can write a book that helps this kind of person, you will get hundreds of sales from me:
User: "I can't change my password, something's wrong."
Me: "Well what does the error message say?"
User: "It says it can't change my password."
Me: "But what does it SAY?"
User: "Oh. It says 'Your new password must exceed 5 characters and be'... oh. I see. Never mind."
"Glad I could help."

People think whatever the error messages say are for trained computer people only, not them. Get that out of their heads and you win.