Ubuntu 6.06 criticisms from a programmer 2736

Don Seglio

You can't force people to use sensible behaviour on the internet (well, you could introduce a "drivers license", but that would be a bit much). So you can't force people to use a firewall. But it's not unreasonable to require ISPs to supply a firewall with every broadband connection (as I said, they could easily make a half-decent one on their side of the connection). Remember, every time somebody connects an unprotected windows machine to the net, it costs you and me time and money through increased spam, viruses, worms, attacks bots, and other nasties. And every time an ISP offers a customer a broadband connection without a firewall, they are acting irresponsibly - the average customer does not know anything more than the ISP tells them, and will suffer the consequences. The only thing that stops ISPs giving out firewalls is the cost, which would put them at a disadvantage compared to their compebreastors. Regulations requiring firewalls to be provided would keep the playing field even.

No, but you have regulations forcing suppliers to inform customers about hidden dangers (like food labels saying "may contain nuts"). At the very least, ISPs should have to inform customers that they are not safe without a hardware firewall.