Agreed- it is a target rich environment!!

There are over 17 million broadband Internet subscribers (Leichtman Research Group ) in the United States alone right now- and growing. That number was at the end of 2002.

If even 10% of those are not properly secured (and you and I both know its more like 95%) that would mean almost 2 million computers could get infected with something like this.

I just wrote an article- False Sense of Security - talking about the potential for requiring some sort of test to be allowed to use the Internet.

The national highway system has to be shared by all so there are rules and regulations that must be followed. There are certain safety precautions that are dictated and policed- speed limits, wearing seatbelts, having brakes on cars- so that everyone can use the highway together in peace without too much destruction. To use the highway you must pass a test and obtain a license from your state government.

The information highway (Internet) is not that different. The same Internet that newbie AOL users connect to is the one used to provide critical infrastructure and operates systems like 911 emergency systems, airline ticketing systems, ATM banking systems, etc. Having a rogue user leave their system unsecure and propagate a threat that cripples the Internet that provides the backbone for business and critical infrastructure is no better or worse than someone going 100mph down the highway with no brakes.