(He was kidding about the last bit.)

It really boils down to whether you believe Net access is a right (like freedom of speech) or a privilege (like driving a car). In other words, are you born with it or do you have to earn it by proving your competence? More and more, I'm leaning toward the latter.

As we become more dependent on the Net for everything -- education, the economy, social interaction -- the ability to safely navigate becomes vital, in part because . The biggest problem on the Net today isn't insecure software or cyberthieves; it's stupidity. (OK, maybe willful ignorance is a nicer way to put it.) Users are always the weakest link.

I predict one day you and your computer will have to pass a test before you can log on, to ensure you know how to drive and that your machine is patched and up to date; just as we use driving tests and vehicle inspections today.

If you need to do this before you can get on highway, why not the Infobahn?