"Wake Up Your Computer"

The New York Times follows its Jan. 7 news story about botnets (see here) with an editorial that urges users to take steps to secure their computers:

Users need to update their computers regularly, bite the bullet and upgrade when out-of-date software is no longer supported by its maker, use the firewalls that come with their computers, and install antivirus programs. Most states require car owners to buy liability insurance. Asking users to make a minimal effort to keep their computers from damaging others is not beyond the pale.

And the editorial concludes:

Every user has a personal responsibility for our collective security, no matter how much of a hassle updates, firewalls and security patches may be.