I have my own ideas. I think some clever programmer out there should create an interactive quiz that comes up on screen whenever a new user tries to log onto the Net. Show them a screen shot of a phishing e-mail or a Nigerian 414 scam or one of the various hoaxes floating around and ask them to make a choice. If they pick the wrong option, they get shown the correct answer and asked another question. If they get that one wrong, they get another question, and so on.

Newbies can't log on until they get at least three consecutive correct answers. Do that three times in a row, and the quiz goes away and they get unfettered access to the Net -- less like a punishment, and more like mandatory education.

Of course, not everybody agrees we should limit access only to the Net savvy. As frequent noted:

At first blush, a computer test seems like a good idea. However, this would prevent many folks from getting access and this would be a bad thing.

Perhaps this should be handled like taking out a loan. If someone can't pass the test, then someone who CAN pass the test must co-sign for them.