Consumer advice

[tommed]

Hi Guys,

The Pitch
I have been toying with the idea of starting another Wiki online! Stay with me here.!...

The idea is for a free consumer advice wiki for members of the public who are unaware of the dangers of using social web sites, public WIFI, Internet on cell phones or tablets etc...

Free, practical advice for members of the public from security professionals; written in a way that is fairly non-technical, but not completely idiot proof (otherwise the information becomes too diluted).

From the revenue side of things, donations will be allowed on the site, and local councils should be contacted to request funding. There may even be the further possibility for people who contribute to the site to offer local seminar
and take a generous percentage of the entrance/sponsor money?

I'd thought I'd throw this idea around as I have some experience with writing articles (I have written for a few global Linux magazines and have learnt a good style of writing that works with technical and non-technical people), though I have no real experience with handling something like this (I'm guessing it could be founded as a charity?).

Help needed
Is there anyone who sounds mildly interested in this, enough to offer either some content, advice, some article suggestions, or even possibly offer to review the guides and offer input in a kind of communal, democratic way?

Obviously funding or funding ideas wouldn't go a-miss, though I am hoping to avoid putting advertising on the web site, as I feel it would give the wrong impression.

If it's a stupid idea, please feel free to say this aswell.. If I have missed something completely obvious, please feel free to introduce me to the elephant in the room!!

Why?
The basic reasoning behind this is, I do believe that the majority of people on sites like these are "white hats" who are learning these techniques (like me) for either their own protection, or to improve their skillset for their career? (am I wrong..?). I think this new site will help us communally organise our thoughts and advice as a synergy (iow, the combination of our knowledge is greater than the sum of its parts) to create something truely useful and rewarding.

Please note that I feel this idea is in no way conflicting or competing against HTS!

I'm sure that local councils would be interested in this idea (thought I have yet to discuss this with them), and getting them on-side will prove useful with marketing and funding efforts; though I realise the work required is substantial (especially if it is only me writing the content to being with!?! ), but feel that it will be rewarding (both from revenue and helping others).

ANYONE UP FOR THIS? Ideas, volunteers, suggestions, criticisms etc.. on the back of a postcard (or just relply below?!!)...

[tremor77]

I laughed at 2 spelling errors in your post.

The first one was "local semenars" --- because locally, I know where I am, people can't get enough semen.

The other was "offer input in a kind of "communal, domacratic editor" stance?" --- DOMAcratic? Are you referring to the Defense of Marriage Act? Or perhaps a big circular cover type object... because... well quite honestly you couldn't be referring to DEMOcratic, because.. saying "communal, democratic" infers that despite the fact they those two words could potentially belong together, Republicans will try to insinuate that your espousing some kind of communist ideology.

Sorry that I'm just trolling at the moment, your idea is probably terrific but I honestly wasn't paying attention. Maybe after a few cups of coffee and actually reading your post.. we'll see.

[tommed]

Ha ha, well spotted, thanks for that! Sounds like you might have just volunteered as a proof reader?!!

BTW, denouncing capitalism doesn't make you a communist

[VPR3]

Nothing wrong with capitialism, Rewards risk taking...
But I haven't thought deeply on this, but founding as a charity? IDK
Maybe a not-for-profit would be better...

[tremor77]

The idea is for a free consumer advice wiki for members of the public who are unaware of the dangers of using social web sites, public WIFI, Internet on cell phones or tablets etc...

Free, practical advice for members of the public from security professionals; written in a way that is fairly non-technical, but not completely idiot proof (otherwise the information becomes too diluted).

My consumer advice for members of the public... the internetz will give you HerpDerps - purchase my softwarez to help protect you!

-- in short, there is where you can make the cheese - Suggest software/hardware solutions, mobile apps you can download (on payment from those companies of course). Basically what you want is zdnet for noobs. I love getting zdnet e-mails.. todays headlines were fun.

-Alert: 56 percent of enterprise users using vulnerable Adobe Reader plugins
-Bing ads spreading new Mac Trojan (haha fuck you mac users)

and this cute article about M-disc http://www.zdnet.com/blog/emergingtech/a-stone-like-optical-disc-that-lasts-for-millennia/2709 Personally I think the future of data storage is in crystals, like you see on Goa'uld Motherships.

[JoeyPardella]

and this cute article about M-disc http://www.zdnet.com/blog/emergingtech/a-stone-like-optical-disc-that-lasts-for-millennia/2709 Personally I think the future of data storage is in crystals, like you see on Goa'uld Motherships.

so can you rewrite this thing or not...?

[Gatito]

I know where I am, people can't get enough semen.

I think I can help with that, but I'm probably misunderstanding.

Personally I think the future of data storage is in crystals, like you see on Goa'uld Motherships.

This is where you are very very wrong, the future is all about 3D, 3D storage, 3D holographs ect. like the one on Asgard Motherships.

Back to topic:

You could make this non-profit ( and I personally agree that it's better than charity) but I think there is enough place for both value and profit. You could advertise only the good products. Seminars are also an interesting idea. You could say screw the money I'm doing this for the sake of humanity. You could go many directions and end at something you didn't imagine. And if it doesn't work you've gained experience and who knows maybe you'll get ideas for something else, meet interesting people.

And don't forget to have fun.

[tremor77]

and this cute article about M-disc http://www.zdnet.com/blog/emergingtech/a-stone-like-optical-disc-that-lasts-for-millennia/2709 Personally I think the future of data storage is in crystals, like you see on Goa'uld Motherships.

so can you rewrite this thing or not...?

M-Disc is apparently just a single write - nearly indestructable disc. You would use it for super important documents.. I would use it for my pronz collection.

As far as the consumer wiki thing goes.. you need a good name and catch phrase. Like: Personal Internet Security Specialists (or PISS for short). And the slogan - "Keeping good people safe from evil hacker scumbags." --- or perhaps something more creative and less offensive than what i've come up with. In all - just making the site could be fun.. I'd enjoy being a columnist!

Oh and even better than Asgard Motherships - how about those head grabby things that the ancients left behind? Ultimate data storage - outside of the massive brain damage and eventual death caused by an information overload of our under-evolved brains.