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Computer
Viruses and "False Authority Syndrome"
TRUE STORY.
A couple of years ago I dropped by the Software Etc. store in Fairview
Heights, Illinois just to browse. Another customer had come in before
me and told an employee about a problem with his video monitor.
The employee warned the customer he had contracted a newly discovered
computer virus, which he proceeded to describe in great detail.
I interrupted the employee. "Sir, you have it completely wrong.
That virus doesn't exist. It's the latest hoax."
"Oh, no,"
the employee replied. "We've got e-mail reports from our sales
headquarters telling us to keep our eyes open for it."
| What
credentials did this salesman hold in the field of computer
viruses? He may have flipped hamburgers at a McDonald's restaurant
two weeks earlier for all we know. Right now he sells merchandise
at a computer store -- does this qualify him to give advice
about computer viruses?
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To which I countered,
"Some upper-tier sales manager has been duped and is telling
you BS. McAfee Associates and others have issued public statements
dismissing that virus as a hoax. What you've described simply cannot
be done by any virus. Period."
I then turned
my attention to the customer. "Stop listening to this guy.
You don't have this magical virus he's describing because it simply
doesn't exist. You have some other problem with your video monitor."
What credentials does this salesman hold in the field of computer
viruses? He may have flipped burgers at a McDonald's restaurant
two weeks ago for all we know.
Most people
who claim to speak with authority about computer viruses
have little or no genuine expertise. Some virus experts describe
it as "False Authority Syndrome" -- the person feels competent
to discuss viruses because of his job title, or because of his expertise
in another computer field, or simply because he knows how to use
a computer.
I want you to question
the credentials of anybody who talks about computer viruses. Indeed, I
want you to question my credentials in
this field!
The U.S. Air
Force highlights the concept of False Authority Syndrome in Tongue
& Quill, their official publication on effective writing:
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Definition:
In a word...
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| ultracrepidarian:
(n., adj.) a person who gives opinions beyond his scope of knowledge.
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"Nonexpert
opinion or assumed authority -- Don't be swayed (or try to sway
someone else) based on the opinion of an unqualified authority.
The Air Force is chock-full of people who, because of their position
or authority in one field, are quoted on subjects in other fields
for which they have limited or no experience."
(As this Air Force publication notes, False Authority Syndrome can
attack people in all fields of expertise.)
Computer salesmen,
consultants, repairmen, and college computer teachersoften succumb
to False Authority Syndrome. In many cases a person's job title
sounds impressive, but his or her job description at most may only
include references to vague "computer security" duties.
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