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Is this fair? Should the "average" Net user be sufficiently aware of things such as spoofed URLs to spot a scam when they see it?

And, if they should be that savvy, whose job is it to make sure that they are?

Should ISPs be required to test their customers for Net-IQ before handing over the ID and password that will get them online?

Should government step in and mandate that those who wish to jump onboard the information superhighway must now have an "info-highway drivers licence"?

Some argue that we can't compare the Net to our highways. After all, if someone is driving a car without the right knowledge and training then they're a danger to other road-users -- but if someone gets scammed on the Net because they're naive or unskilled then that affects nobody but themselves -- right?

Well not true actually.

You only have to look at how many people run their computers without firewalls or anti-virus software, or who open unsolicited attachments containing viruses that then send copies of themselves out to hundreds or thousands of other Net users to see that ignorant Net users *can* adversely affect others.

So what do we do -- use a carrot or a stick?

Do we mandate that only those with a certain level of knowledge, awareness and competency use the Net?

Or do we suggest that since government sees fit to plaster our TV viewing with commercials on safety around the home (courtesy of the ACC), safety on the road (courtesy of the LTSA) and other similar advertisements -- maybe its about time they offered some "safety on the Net" commercials too.

I can think of a myriad of safety issues relating to the Net that very much deserve to be thrust into the public's gaze.

Don't reply to spam, don't buy from spam, don't let young kids use the Net unsupervised, identifying the hallmarks of a scam, good email practice, avoiding worms/trojans/viruses, etc, etc.

Surely, given its new charter, TV1 ought to be taking up the cudgel against Net-ignorance and helping educate all those "average" Net users as to the traps and dangers of life online.

There can be no doubt that a better educated net population would go a long way to reducing spam, protecting our kids and safeguarding the population against unscrupulous scams.

What say you?

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