Hi, Siri.

 > So, "how do you solve a problem like Maria?"

In short, if you aren't in the position to help
set up their computer FOR THEM, or if they are
not compliant enough to simply OBEY your COMMAND
to install ZoneAlarm and not click on email
attachments, you will not be able to help these
people.  More suggestions below.

The real problems are:

1. People really *are* too busy.  Life keeps us
   very busy, and to get people to actually take
   time for something that is outside their sphere
   of concern is virtually impossible, until they
   get bit.  Hey, you see this among techies,
   don't you?  I've been working with computers
   for 35 years, and am the local expert on lots
   of things; but for 35% of the decisions I make,
   I have to rely on someone else who has the
   cookbook or specializes in some area to help me
   make the right decision.  For another example,
   we tend to make our political decisions based
   largely on the circle of friends (and/or web
   sites, publications, etc) from which we gather
   our information.  People are highly social
   animals, and DO rely on one another for
   guidance.  So you need to leverage this with
   the "Marias" in your world:  Call in the
   professional or social standing you have built
   with them, and simply demand that they let you
   influence them in these areas.

2. People do not act on what they know, but on
   what they want.  If they are so needy for "input"
   that they will click on every attachment, or if
   they are determined to surf pr0n sites, or if
   they are so rigidly individualistic that they
   will not accept guidance from those who know,
   then they *will* be hurt.  We can only sorrow
   for them, and keep the lines open in case they
   have a "learning experience" and become a little
   more malleable.

People learn from experience.  They do lock their
house and their car, don't they?  Maybe not their
car, because they don't believe anyone would want
that either, or don't believe how quickly someone
can drive it away without a key.  Maybe not their
house, because they've never been broken into.

I'm a computer dude, but when my wife's brother in
law visits, often bringing some pass-me-down
hardware for my wife's computer, he makes sure that
all her IE updates are installed.  But *he* doesn't
understand why she and I both do all our browsing
with Mozilla.  See how it goes?

If they gripe about pop-ups, definitely sell them
FireFox.  That was a good opportunity with my
daughter in law (she was *so* glad to be free of
the pop-ups!), and with my daughter (her kids were
getting to see some really nasty messages).

Siri, people are (let me say this kindly) *stupid*.
I don't exempt myself from this.  We all have blind
spots, we all choose what to pay attention to, and
what to simply ignore or rely on friends for.  That
last one is where you have a shot at doing some good.

So, pick your battles.  Just try to get across the
simple phrase, "the Internet is a two-way street
and you need to lock your door".  If they run
Windows, INSIST that they install ZoneAlarm and only
OK connections that they have initiated; and so on.

We have only so much time to live our lives.
Learn a little philosphy from this old guy, and
just do your best.   ;-)

Vic

Siri Amrit Kaur wrote:
> How do you explain the security risks of viruses,
 > worms, spyware, etc. to
> people who need to take security seriously, but have NO
 > technical background and don't want to believe that:
> 1. Their home computers are vulnerable. 
> 2. They have anything on their computer that anybody would want.
> 3. Bad guys would ever crack "their" computer
> 4. Having their computer used for Distributed Denial of Service
 > attacks can't be a big deal.
> 5. Keystroke loggers really can trace their sensitive data.
> 6. Their computer could be used as a porn server
> I've tried to explain to them ...   "But I don't care." Their level
 > of denial and deliberate naivete is dumbfounding!
> 
> So, "how do you solve a problem like Maria?"

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