Australian ISPs Asked to Disconnect Malware Infected Computers
Australian ISPs Asked to Disconnect Malware Infected Computers
Posted 09/14/2009 at 5:43pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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Australia’s Internet Industry Association (IIA) has released a new set of guidelines designed to limit the effect of malware infected computers. The non-mandatory code of conduct instructs ISPs to contact owners of infected PCs and provide advice to fix the problem. Failing that, the ISP may even cut service to the affected PC.
IIA spokesman, Stephen Conroy, points to a recent government program to get users to change their passwords as evidence that not enough is being done. "I think there's about two or three websites doing exactly the same thing and they all assume you've got to log on to the website. It's kind of like a web 1.0 style approach," said Conroy.
Many in government and industry welcome the proposed rules, but some worry about cost. Would ISPs actually be able to deal with the added costs of contacting users and walking them through a malware cleanup? Australian ISP iiNet said it would be happy to adhere to the new standards, if the process could be automated. So, would this policy help, or would droves of customers find themselves disconnected without explanation?
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nekollx
September 15, 2009 at 11:31am
I wonder if they have thought about how this will make patching the anti malware/virus softwere kinda hard :)
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pdavis
September 14, 2009 at 10:25pm
Actually i can confirm that in my country (Poland), when my ISP finds malware or just some virus on client workstation sends an email to the owner to perform some actions to remove the virus if he doesnt do that they have the right to cut the connection and yes they did that to me for a few days until i removed the problem
1337Goose
September 14, 2009 at 7:16pm
I've heard ghost stories of ISPs doing this kind of thing here in Canada, but I've never had anybody confirm or deny any of these stories. I wouldn't be surprised however, the service agreement that the ISP hands out pretty much gives them the freedom to disconnect you at a whim.
~Goose
gendoikari1
September 14, 2009 at 6:51pm
Strange, any MPC article about Australian authorities seems to show them as comically inept at what they're supposed to police/monitor/etc.
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