It all sounds fine, all except for a subtle detail: you're making up everything you just said. The article didn't mention anything about cops or half the bullshit you just wrote.

Stick to the fucking article, stick to the fucking article!

Yep, pigs flu... I mean, flew. Bad joke, I know, I know.

You know people like to complain a lot. Specially when it's about Microsoft. :-)

Somehow they have this weird logic of upgrading to Windows 7 to use Windows XP.

Why is this Microsoft fault or problem for that matter? They made up their minds on something, whether its good or bad, that's really beyond this discussion. Chip makers have to adjust to that decision, and so happens that Intel isn't quite prepared for that kind of strategy. It seems that the only company in trouble here is Intel.

Yes at all. It's pretty much the same effort US government is doing in making sure everyone completes the transition to digital TV.

They're not promoting X brand of digital TV converters or XY cable TV company or XYZ satellite TV company. It's the same thing really, and you're taking it out of context.

I agree that promoting ONLY the use of an anti-malware software as a solution to security problems is not the way to go. However, promoting the best practices of computer security (which includes having an up-to-date AntiVirus) would be a good way to start.

We could argue about how secure is Linux or any other operating system in the hands of a security unaware individual. But that's not the point, because last I heard more than 80% of the world computers run on Windows and their operators are not experts or have any sense of security.

Usually Linux users are more technical people (even home users) and usually posses knowledge and common sense regarding security. I don't think they would be the scope of this idea, rather the other 99 percent of the users that don't have a clue.

Seems like you're taking (greatly) out of context the idea.

I don't think any money should go to advertise software companies, rather than to promote good computing practices. If you think it's a waste of money, you should think a bit more about the amount of money that flows through the Internet.

As our lives become more and more connected, I see this as a requirement. More and more people everyday start making money transfers, purchases, and basically any transaction that they would otherwise do physically over the Internet, yet, they do it so carelessly without even knowing the risks and consequences of their careless actions.

It wouldn't hurt to just let them know and inform them. After all people even pay taxes over the Internet, I think this should concern the government a bit too, wouldn't you agree?

I think it's a bit irrational to only blame the OS vendors.

Although I, of course agree that software companies should build secure software from the get-go you also have to understand that much of the blame also goes to the user. They shouldn't be opening (or clicking for that matter) ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that passes through their mailbox or instant messenger.

And I believe that to prevent bad or unideal user actions a good AntiVirus/AntiSpyware suite comes handy. Aside from instructing users on good practices.

So, in short, I believe that the government sponsoring healthy and good practices in their computing experiences is a very, very good idea.