This should be the 2nd installment of Family Issues Friday, but it obviously is not. Thanks to those creative folks who create and distribute viruses, I've now lost my 2nd computer in 2 weeks. This loss is even worse than my primary PC, which simply cannot communicate online; my backup PC will not run ANY programs. My column for today, and another for next week are both on that PC, completely unavailable to me.

As one who has earned a living on computers for decades, I've seen some marvelous progress. For many years, the latest, greatest beast of a personal computer cost around $2500. Each new purchase cost the same but provided improved processing. It's possible now to get more than you need for less than half that cost. Communications speed has greatly increased, and software has become more reliable.

Unfortunately, a few people choose to demonstrate their computer skills by inflicting grief on the rest of us. It has become prudent to have not only virus-checking software, but to operate from behind a firewall. In order to keep updated against the newest viruses, one must subscribe to and download the latest updates frequently. Any lapse in protection can allow disaster, and even full measures are no guarantee.

I suspect that those who create viruses have no idea of the impact they can have, nor who they're most likely to harm. If one has sufficient resources, viruses are very little problem, but for the many who may happen to be financially challenged, or don't have the expertise to remain fully protected, the results can be extremely destructive. Those who are most likely to be harmed by viruses are those who are least likely to be able to recover from an attack... the poorer users.

It's a bloody shame that in the midst of such great hardware, software, and communications... which benefit all of us in increased productivity, lower costs and prices, and improved information, just a few assholes choose to screw up the works. They cause an enormous amount of wasted money, time, and cause great frustration.