September 12, 2008
Interesting to see the output so far of the work undertaken by AusCert as part of the Stay Smart Online program. I wasn’t even aware it had started, but we’re a couple of newsletters and alerts into it I noticed today. As discussed here previously, I have to wonder who’s using this service or even aware of it? Not sure I have changed my views on the value to the taxpayer…..easy money for some….need to get me some gigs like this!
I didn’t know AusCert actually did something other than the crappy conference.
One could argue the ‘Stay Smart Online’ people have very little faith in their own product, judging by their written disclaimer.
According to Stay Smart Online’s legal disclaimer, the information contained on the site is of a general nature only and “not intended” as advice !
Go figure.
Here’s the disclaimer:
“The information is intended for used by home users and small to medium sized businesses and is general information only and not intended as advice…etc” (they also mis-spelled ‘use’ as ‘used’)
What then, is the value of their so-called ’service’ ?
But wait. It gets worse.
A paragraph titled: “What we recommend you do” lists the actions ‘Stay Smart Online’ people recommend you take. Thats right, what they “recommend” you & I do.
A visit to Dictionary.com lists the word “recommend” thus;
–noun
1. an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/advice
So, it seems, Stay Smart’s information cannot be relied upon by us as ‘advice’. And nor do their recommendations constitute ‘advice’, as per the plain English language meaning of ‘recommendation’, either.
Nothing else need be said, other than the obvious: WTF ??
BG.
How would the general masses even know about this site?
Now if the ISPs were mandated to offer a tiny toolbar that would appeared as ‘inline’ frame/html on all browsing sessions and it could be easily told to go away/disabled etc , which subsequently offered Government sanctioned advice then we might have a chance… customers could also opt out of this intrusive link/reminder etc and it must not be used for advertising etc…
D.
I know mentioned them before, but my mates in the UK have started:
http://www.surfingsafer.com/
It’s already something after a couple of weeks that I would rather refer my friends and family too than this Aus gov / AusCert thing.
I could imagine knowing these guys how much they could do with 1.2M thrown at them.
@BG, how is this one in the disclaimer:
“The material and information on this web site or in this Alert is not adapted to any particular person’s circumstances and therefore cannot be relied upon to be of assistance in any particular case.”
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