"The Internet is Falling" redux

Been a bit quiet the last few weeks around here....

So. The deadline has passed and the temporary DNS servers we mentioned here have been shut down. What was the impact?

As Jerry Doyle mentioned during his talk show, the test Monday was simple - Can you get to a web page? If not - Hey - you were hit! And Why didn't you take steps to fix it months ago? It's not like there wasn't ample warning, the dudes that caused this were arrested back in November of '11. But there were still numerous people who found themselves de-cybered Monday.

A contact of mine, who will remain anonymous, works as a front-line tech for a major ISP in the US and confided a few details as to the impact of DNSChanger on users in the US. From what they saw, Call volumes spiked over 50% of the "normal" volume of requests for service. I'd think that would be pretty typical for other ISP's. Out of the average 100 calls, roughly 30% were actual issues that required intervention. Also fairly typical for a Tech Support call to a service provider. Those working for a Product Support venue (OS support or direct software, for example) normally see a higher percentage.

Surprisingly, they mentioned that most of the people affected were caught completely unaware of the issue or that they needed to do "something" to fix it themselves. With the volume of the pre-deadline publicity that accompanied DNSChanger, I can only assume:
        1. That a decent percentage of Internet users only send email, look at funny cat pictures, or download Pr0n. (any surprise there?)
        2. Far too many people have forgotten the Second Cardinal Rule of PC Ownership- "Thou shalt use an Anti-Virus program and keep it Wholly". If folks had updated AV software, this would have kept a major portion of these boxes on the 'net. Period.

Even more telling, my source mentioned that the callers "felt it should have been the responsibility of the internet access provider to make sure it was taken care of for them."  Hello? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Is it the car dealer's responsibility to make sure your gas tank is full and you change your oil regularly? Is it your Doctors responsibility to make sure you don't catch a cold?

OK enough soapboxing.