Yikes! AOL in the really hot water

OK... boiling water.

The link I picked is just one of thousands, at this point. Someone at AOL really messed up. The company admits that much, but the impact of this is going to depend on how it all plays out. Will they really get a fine that totals over a half billion dollars? If so, is that the end of AOL?

The authors of many comments on this story point out how AOL users tend to be "newbies." They are naive about the Internet and what dangers might lurk there. That makes this data all the more valuable to some and telling to others. Since a single numeric indicator stands in for each login ID, it has already become a game for some to see if they can piece together who might be represented by data strings. Couple that with the habit many people have of doing searches on their own name, address, or even SSN, and it is a recipe for disaster.

For all the spyware built into their software, I have to admit that AOL fills a vital role in our burgeoning Internet society. It gives a place where non-geeks can explore this brave new world, while not overly stretching their comfort zones. That is important, especially if we want all of our society to participate in the changes that technology is bringing us.

I hope that AOL does not go the way of the dodo. I think it still has a place to fill.