graeme_p - 5:15 am on Mar 5, 2010 (gmt 0)

I know my PC at home is infected with something, so it's turned into a streaming / downloading machine only. I don't even use it access emails. I switch to Linux for anything remotely personal.

You are part of the problem, and demonstrate exactly why we need measures like this. You protect yourself by limiting use of the infected PC, but it is still sending spam to the rest of us, taking part in DDOS attacks, or whatever.

If Microsoft could be trusted with such power it would be a great idea. But how long before they use that power to shut down a suspect terrorist, then to shut down a parking offender, then someone whos windows licence isn't up to date, then someone who doesn't like the latest special offer.

Rather like the British government using investigatory powers it took to "fight terrorism" to gather evidence in cases of failure of clear up after dogs?

If you're an egregious polluter, either on the road or the internet, and can't afford to fix the problem then you don't get to come out and play.

Exactly, and,as I said on the thread on who should pay for it, fine them, or allow the victims to sue them (if the victim of a DDOS attack could sue any owner of a participating machine for statuary damages of , say a few thousand dollars, it would create a good incentive to keep your PC secure)