[LINK] Australians will have to have antivirus software?

[Richard Chirgwin]

Kim,

To specifically clarify the "unauthorised installation of software", 
here is the recommendation in full:

> That the Treasurer amend the Australian Consumer Law to include 
> specific protections against the unauthorised installation of software 
> programs:
> ? the reform should target the unauthorised installation of programs 
> that monitor, collect, and disclose information about end users’ 
> Internet purchasing and Internet browsing activity;
> ? the authority to install a software program must be based on 
> informed consent; and
> ? to obtain informed consent the licence/agreement must require clear 
> accessible and unambiguous language.
I think what's in mind here is "unauthorised by the user". It could be 
more clearly put: "make it illegal to install software on a user's 
computer without their informed consent".

So, no, the report is not proposing to force all software to carry a 
government endorsement.

(Reports on the report are very superficial, and as a result, there's a 
veritable tsunami of misinformation already. For eg: it's not "Labor 
plans to force us to install virus scanners", it's "a government task 
force which didn't even include Conroy among its members has published a 
report which includes a recommendation" etc. But the first one is 
shorter, punchier, and pushes readers' buttons.

RC



Kim Holburn wrote:
> May the FSM protect us from politicians with *ideas*.
>
> Some of these are all right.
>
> I particularly liked:
>   
>> . Companies who release IT products with security vulnerabilities  
>> should be open to claims for compensation by consumers.
>>
>>     
>
> This is sort of OK:
>   
>> . If a customer's computer was infected by malware, the service  
>> provider could introduce gradual restrictions and eventually cut off  
>> their internet connection entirely until the machine was "remediated".
>>
>>     
>
> but tending towards "ISPs examining your connection to see what you're  
> doing".   If the customer's computer is infected with malware you  
> could just charge them Telstra data rates and they would probably soon  
> sort it out.  Um... hey we do that already!
>
> On the other hand though, what were they thinking:
>   
>> . Changes to the law to make unauthorised installation of software  
>> illegal.
>>
>>     
>
> ?  WTF?
>
>   
>> . For their part, customers would have to install anti-virus and  
>> firewall software before their connection was activated and  
>> endeavour to keep the software up-to-date.
>>
>>     
>
>
> So would linux be "unauthorised software"?
>
>   
>> . The code of practice would see companies like Telstra give their  
>> customers security advice when they signed up and
>>
>>     
> Yeah, that'd go down well with grandma.
>   
>> inform them if their computer ever appeared to be compromised.
>>
>>     
>
> Sort of OK.  A sort of security version of three strikes and you're out?
>
>
> http://www.news.com.au/technology/no-anti-virus-software-no-internet-connection/story-e6frfro0-1225882656490
>
>   
>> No anti-virus software? No internet connection
>> 	• By Andrew Ramadge, Technology Reporter
>> 	• From: news.com.au
>> 	• June 22, 2010 10:29AM
>> A parliamentary committee has come up with some big ideas for  
>> combating cyber crime.
>>
>> AUSTRALIANS would be forced to install anti-virus and firewall  
>> software on their computers before being allowed to connect to the   
>> internet under a new plan to fight cyber crime.
>> And if their computer did get infected, internet service providers  
>> like Telstra and Optus could cut off their connection until the  
>> problem was resolved.
>>
>> Those are two of the recommendations to come from a year-long  
>> inquiry into cyber crime by the House of Representatives Standing  
>> Committee on Communications.
>>
>> Results of the inquiry, titled Hackers, Fraudsters and Botnets:  
>> Tackling the Problem of Cyber Crime, were released last night in a  
>> 260-page report.
>>
>> In her foreword, committee chair Belinda Neal said cyber crime had  
>> turned into a "sophisticated underground economy".
>>
>> "In the past decade, cyber crime has grown from the nuisance of the  
>> cyber smart hacker into an organised transnational crime committed  
>> for vast profit and often with devastating consequences for its  
>> victims," Ms Neal said.
>>
>> During its inquiry the committee heard a growing number of  
>> Australians were being targeted by cyber criminals and that  
>> increasing  internet speeds were likely to make the situation worse.
>>
>> It also heard the problem was costing Australian businesses as much  
>> as $649 million a year.
>>
>> The committee looked at several different examples of cyber crime,  
>> including hacking, phishing, malware and botnets.
>>
>> Among its final 34 recommendations were:
>>
>> — The creation of an around-the-clock cyber crime helpline.
>>
>> — Changes to the law to make unauthorised installation of software  
>> illegal.
>>
>> — Companies who release IT products with security vulnerabilities  
>> should be open to claims for compensation by consumers.
>>
>> Another of its recommendations was to create a new "e-security code  
>> of practice" that would define the responsibilities of internet  
>> service providers and their customers.
>>
>> The code of practice would see companies like Telstra give their  
>> customers security advice when they signed up and inform them if  
>> their computer ever appeared to be compromised.
>>
>> For their part, customers would have to install anti-virus and  
>> firewall software before their connection was activated and  
>> endeavour to keep the software up-to-date.
>>
>> If a customer's computer was infected by malware, the service  
>> provider could introduce gradual restrictions and eventually cut off  
>> their internet connection entirely until the machine was "remediated".
>>
>>     
>
>
>