Microsoft calls for PC quarantines
A CORPORATE VP at Microsoft for 'trustworthy computing', Scott Charney has called for computers that have been turned into zombies by malware to be quarantined from the Internet.
Writing in his blog, Charney said there needs to be a global collective defence of Internet health much like what we see in place today in the world of public health.
Cyber defences such as firewalls, antivirus programs and automatic updates for security patches can reduce risk, but they're not enough, he claimed.
"Despite our best efforts, many consumer computers are host to malware or are part of a botnet. 'Bots', networks of compromised computers controlled by hackers, can provide criminals with a relatively easy means to commit identity theft and also lead to much more devastating consequences if used for an attack on critical government infrastructure or financial systems," Charney said.
He said that just as when an individual who is not vaccinated puts others' health at risk, computers that are not protected or have been compromised with a bot put others at risk and pose a greater threat to society.
In the real world health authorities can identify, track and control the spread of disease, which can include, where necessary, quarantining people to avoid the infection of others.
Charney said collective defence can and should be used to help improve the security of consumer devices and protect against such cyber threats.
Of course Internet service providers must be willing to act as police forces against customers' computers that have been infected with malware.
Then again, there would also need to be a requirement for sick operating systems that are full of malware to be euthanised for the good of humanity. For some reason Charney didn't mention that.
