Microsoft suggests Internet usage tax to combat viruses
The increasing frequency of computer virus infections and attacks by hackers around the Internet is a growing concern. The Web has remained largely open like the Wild West with very little policing of any kind. Microsoft wants to change all of this by suggesting an Internet tax that could help put some structure around the Web.
When Internet users catch a virus there is really no process in place to help quarantine the machine. Without a proper mitigation plan in place nasty Internet viruses can spread like wild fire. In real life, when a case of a serious virus infection is reported, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would storm in and quarantine the infected.
However, since there is no such organization in place for the Web, viruses usually tend to spread fairly easily. Microsoft has spent millions in patching Windows operating system on a constant basis. According to PC World, Microsoft is suggesting a new strategy to put some structure around fighting Web viruses.
Microsoft’s VP for Trustworthy Computer, Scott Charney recently stated that the IT industry needs to start thinking about leveraging “social solutions” against hackers. Charney also commented that the heath care model is a good example of how the industry can combat viruses and hackers.
He stated that with health care there are programs to not only educate but also to inspect and quarantine the sick. Charney believes that a similar model could work to fight computer viruses too. He stated, “You’re not just accepting it [virus] for yourself, you’re contaminating everyone around you.”
Of course the question is – who would be responsible and pay for the service? Charney believe that an Internet usage tax may help cover the cost of ISPs providing this service. He stated, “You could say it’s a public safety issue and do it with general taxation.”
It’s definitely a difficult proposition to raise as almost everyone cringes at the thought of another mandatory tax. However, with hackers getting smarter and no foundation to combat them, this may not be such a bad idea.
March 8th, 2010
Completely un-manageable.
You think Chinese hackers are going to pay your tax? There’s no accepted international presence to levy such a tax fairly, plus how would you make it non-regressive? And what about spammers and bot droppers and other such internet criminals who have no connection, all they do is leech off others freely offered connections?
What a stupid idea.
March 8th, 2010
Taxes won’t do it. Applications should always run in a sandbox while the basic OS should be firmly locked down, just like the old (non-PC) days when OS-es lived in ROM. I caught my first virus in 1989, but viruses could easily be removed and did not interfere with the OS.
Now look at Windows. The OS comes with tons of tools which are mixed up with the core. Notepad, Calc, Moviemaker etc. That’s not it, even the most pathetic piece of software can write to Windows folders like System32. No problem. The registry is chaotic. Errors are still as cryptic as possible and don’t expect to find anything at Microsoft site. Click on a link and most of the time you see a fancy MS 404 error ‘the page was moved!’ or ‘there is no info’. Even while there IS info.
You don’t have control over i.e. files and services when Windows thinks you should not have control, when services run in quirk mode, when files are locked etc. The default task manager is a joke, the excellent Process Explorer (SysInternals, Microsoft) is not included by default. And although it is powerful, it won’t let you kill anything if Windows decides so. And even in Process Explorer core OS services/tasks and other stuff is mixed up.
Windows and MS applications have become better over the years, but there is a huge legacy. There are plenty people still using WindowsXP or Windows2000/98 even. The MS Update procedure is a joke. Windows Update? yes go here, then there, then there, click this, then that, etc. On older machines: go to update.microsoft.com, don’t get fooled by the worthless Windows update, click Microsoft Update. And wow, suddenly there are a lot of more patches. If you first install things, reboot, run the updates, restart, check for more updates, install, reboot, check for more updates, although Windows states that it’s done while it’s not, restart, double check updates. Don’t expect that the average user understands this maze.
I bet a lot of future viruses would be prevented if older OS-es are decently patched. Update ALL and EVERYTHING via a single click on an icon on the desktop. Besides that, a virusscanner should be included. One that immediately is updated whenever somewhere in the world a new virus has been detected. The Fortinet Fortigate firewalls (can) work like that, Panda Cloud antivirus works that way.
March 8th, 2010
Only a monopolize corporation like Microsoft would want such stupid thing. No one will ever pay tax for using the internet. This company just love stealing money and making bad software.