In Favor Of Per-Byte Broadband Billing? > I can see it happen without any "need."

I can see it happen without any "need."

Tools like that would be a big help, seemingly making it feasible. I'd still be too concerned that something could go unnoticed. I'd want something at the router level. Something with its own LCD and button interface. Something that doesn't even have an interface available to the LAN or WAN such that its configuation/firmware can't be altered by a trojan or a network user. Something that if it fails access either way fails.

I'm probably over reacting but many people I know, including myself, have had unpleasent surprises on thier phone and cell phone bills. And a phone is a much more controlled environment than a PC or network of PC's.

As an aside, imagine the trouble ignorant wireless router users stand to face. Ouch!! There better be some quick education in that department should pricing stuctures change.

I've thought of myself as a reasonably informed computer user, but I went for probably a year or two relying on MAC filtering to prevent outside access. In my mind the MAC was hardware based, inalterable. Then I learned it can be easily spoofed.

I didn't get any pamphlet. No advice from my ISP. No warning in my wireless router papers. Nothing from anyone saying, "Hey! That MAC filtering is as good as useless." I had to happen on it at a forum like this. I guess those are the sources that I think would need to change.

Today I use WPA2, not that I was ever informed that WEP is also useless. I use it out of fear that someone might missuse my wireless to protect their identity leaving me holding the proverbial bag.

Our society needs to end the decay into "someone didn't tell me" and "someone (i.e. government) needs to hold my hand" mentalities. Consumers must be responsible for their (in)actions. When bill-per-byte comes along, there will be a lot of rude awakenings just as we've had the horror stories of cell phone tethering in the last few months.

I agree to some extent. But the shear complexity of computers, computer security, computer networking, and computer networking security seems pretty daunting. Seemingly so daunting that most any consumer shouldn't feel comfortable with having a per byte fee pipe. We can bet ISP's wont be handing out that advice, not if a per byte fee structure is what they want to sell! The less scrupulous will even count on that ignorance.

Should ISPs be responsible for the virus or trojans that their users get by clicking on some pop-up that says "click here for a free iPod"? I suggest that an ISP's responsibility ends at the CPE. Maybe ISPs can sell security services as an additional revenue stream. Or maybe sell an "insurance policy" to protect those poor consumers who can't handle their own equipment. I see what you're saying, but I'm more of the mindset that accountability rules.

Rather than believing the ISP should be responsible, I think the metered pipe is just more risk than anyone needs. When I look at a headline for an "$85,000" phone bill I think to myself: "A phone just shouldn't be able to do that." It sure as hell can't do anything worth that much. Why would I want an internet connection with the same cost potential, but unlike a phone I can't be certian of what is and isn't happening in my home network. I know the difference between a web page and a 90 minute video, but I don't know whether a computer somewhere in my home network is infected with a trojan. What about the laptop, aka 24/7 FTP server? It sits behind a hole in my router and depends on an updated OS for protection. Is that enough? Has it been affected? Should I face tens of thousands of dollars in fees if it gets taken over?

Maybe some are willing to take that risk. Most, I suspect, would have no idea what risk they were taking.

This will never happen. Its like going backwards. When tech is new you charge by the minute, byte, whatever. Then you go to a flat rate. Well too bad for the providers but they jumped on flat rate too fast and now they get to lay in that bed they made. No one in their right mind would pay for per byte service in the state the internet is in.

reply to Millenniumle

How many thousands of examples are there of networks and commercially run systems being compromised, all systems run by teams of well resourced and experienced persons? How many thousands of examples of software exploits are there? I should think my network is protected and safe from being exploited without my knowledge?

And what is with this pushing of liability you keep mentioning I'm trying to do? I'm not pushing it off on anyone else, I'm simply not willing to put myself at the risk of hundreds or even thousands of dollars in fees because of an exploit over a metered pipe. I.e., eliminating the risk altogether rather than asking someone else to accept it.