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I agree with you there concerning computer users not in the information technology sector, which would probably be better for organisations to hire in other sectors other than IT.

I also will agree with you regarding a switch to careers related to computers.

As far as a "shortage of skilled IT people," not necessarily a shortage. Just a lack of demand even for skilled IT professionals. :)

but I do alot of hobbies that use computers but are NOT IT. I.e. my hobby is not learning network security or programming. If I had a choice I'd like to switch but would have to be well qualified to earn as much.

I've seen several threads of people jaded/ tired of IT. and their whole point was 'who wants to read cisco router manual off hours? ' Well, duh!

Still lots of interesting things to do with computers.

Since Cisco is a major part of my technical life and certifications are likewise a part of the 'Cisco-life'. I do endlessly read tech manuals. Sometimes I read things that are actually quite entertaining. Most of the time its part of the job/career.

Agreed though that you really need to explore whatever hobbies keep your mind sharp and relaxed enough for the technical stuff as well.

- beads

Please define:

"As far as a "shortage of skilled IT people," not necessarily a shortage. Just a lack of demand even for skilled IT professionals."

I have skills that are always in demand even after work because people know my skill sets and likewise know that I will get the job done in short order. Problem is there are too few hours in the day to accomplish all the work offered to me. I am not seeing a shortage of work but workers able to do such work.

- beads

"Sure, the computer companies will make O/S and software to make it harder to goof up. But we're not there yet."

There would never have been any technical difficulty in making mission-critical computers 100% Internet-proof. It would only take a NIC that "quarantines" every incoming bit (not byte or packet) as Internet-tainted and routing it to a memory range, then a partition, from which execute commands are never accepted under any circumstances.

There is more profit in manufacturing fast, insecure interfaces and OSes with security gaps an illiterate can find, which gave rise to a brand new industry to prey on the manufactured insecurity. Who remembers when there was no such thing as a "security suite", just an anti-virus app? No, computer companies are economically committed to opening new avenues of intrusion, not closing them.

but there are other holes:
in particular web applications seem to be riddled with holes

plug ins such as adobe can be called by other progs and do non-adobe stuff, ie called by other progs to send data out so even zone alarm not catch

I think 100% security means disconnecting from net