What does the average computer user know?

The average home or small office computer user has a simple setup for a good reason. They do not specialize in (or, as in most cases, even know about) computer security.

Why? Two reasons really.

1) It is a highly technical field. This doesn’t mean that they couldn’t learn it if they wanted to - most people just don’t have the inclination or the time to dive into such matters.

2) They wouldn’t even consider doing some of what is going on and therefore have no idea that any of it is even remotely possible.

How unknowing are average home or small office computer users? Recently America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance conducted a survey to see just how much the average home or small office computer user knows or does not know about computer/Internet security.

You can see what they found here:
Safety_study_v04.pdf
(NOTE — you will be downloading a pdf file)

The results show what I have been dealing with for over 14 years. Not that I mind, but trying to get people to what is REALLY going on can be a challenge to say the least.

The amount of disbelief is actually rather interesting in that it shows to me that these are basically good people that I work for - because they wouldn’t think of doing these things to someone else.

I _LIKE_ my clients.