This just underlines the engineer's problem with making something secure, yet making sure every moron in the U.S. can plug it in and turn it on and have it basically work.
This just underlines the engineer's problem with making something secure, yet making sure every moron in the U.S. can plug it in and turn it on and have it basically work.
Well, it's really just another example of engineers doing the job right, only to then have a PHB of some ilk tell them, "Now I want to be able to watch this from my office or my cell phone or from home, etc." Where the Engineer exclaims, "Doh!" and does it because he/she's not paid to THINK.
Well, it's really just another example of engineers doing the job right, only to then have a PHB of some ilk tell them, "Now I want to be able to watch this from my office or my cell phone or from home, etc." Where the Engineer exclaims, "Doh!" and does it because he/she's not paid to THINK.
I agree, but it really is an industry-wide problem with anything targeted at "consumers"/home users.
Unfortunately, since everything is getting connected and we rely on technology more and more, this is becoming an issue.
Everything from Wireless Network, to pre-sp2 WinXP Windows, to almost every home Cable/DSL has some security that should be on off by default to make it usable for end users.
I agree its a marketing/customer relations issue, and not an engineering issue (usually, there are a lot of designs that really failed to take into account the ingenuity of the millions of people who like messing with stuff for the sake of it), but it is a problem.
More unfortunately, its not an easily solved problem. Its not like we can make the average home user tech and security savvy (most people can't program a VCR, let alone program IP Tables), and its not like companies are going to give up market share by seeming difficult to install to average users.
I think we need more default security. If not, identity theft, Worms killin networks, privacy violations, etc., are going to go through the roof. Obviously, even Microsoft is finally sort of realizing this (but look at the sp2 backlash). A lot of it is about making good interfaces and protocols to automate setting up security (like a lot of the Cable/DSL systems are finally picking up), but being a developer myself, I know its much easier said then done, and sometimes, with existing technology, its just plain impossible...
Security vs. Stupidity (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Security vs. Stupidity (Score:5, Insightful)
Well, it's really just another example of engineers doing the job right, only to then have a PHB of some ilk tell them, "Now I want to be able to watch this from my office or my cell phone or from home, etc." Where the Engineer exclaims, "Doh!" and does it because he/she's not paid to THINK.
Re:Security vs. Stupidity (Score:1)
I agree, but it really is an industry-wide problem with anything targeted at "consumers"/home users.
Unfortunately, since everything is getting connected and we rely on technology more and more, this is becoming an issue.
Everything from Wireless Network, to pre-sp2 WinXP Windows, to almost every home Cable/DSL has some security that should be on off by default to make it usable for end users.
I agree its a marketing/customer relations issue, and not an engineering issue (usually, there are a lot of designs that really failed to take into account the ingenuity of the millions of people who like messing with stuff for the sake of it), but it is a problem.
More unfortunately, its not an easily solved problem. Its not like we can make the average home user tech and security savvy (most people can't program a VCR, let alone program IP Tables), and its not like companies are going to give up market share by seeming difficult to install to average users.
I think we need more default security. If not, identity theft, Worms killin networks, privacy violations, etc., are going to go through the roof. Obviously, even Microsoft is finally sort of realizing this (but look at the sp2 backlash). A lot of it is about making good interfaces and protocols to automate setting up security (like a lot of the Cable/DSL systems are finally picking up), but being a developer myself, I know its much easier said then done, and sometimes, with existing technology, its just plain impossible...