From the article: 60 Minutes, Conficker, and April's Fool
Fear sells. Whether intentional or otherwise, this can sometimes work to the advantage of the media and the disadvantage of consumers. Have you ever been influenced by fear-based reporting, only to find out later that the reports were wrong? If so, help others become more discerning news consumers by sharing your own experience.
Fear by proxy with regard to internet
- Hardy a week passes without my mother telephoning with yet another scare story she has read in the newspapers or has seen on the TV News broadcasts. The language used in these reports is always intended to frighten and sensationalize. Of course, I am sensible enough always to pay direct attention to my mother's concerns. This is not only to reassure her, but also to make sure I haven't missed a new threat to my security. I am not so arrogant as to dismiss her worries, nor am I so foolish. Everything that makes us double-check is good. It stops us from being complacent - and I am as complacent as the next person. I don't like the fact that these so-called "reports" upset my mother. Fear keeps us alert. It makes us make sure we update our protection.
- —Guest Neptune
fear sells
- Some psychiatrist discovered that people will watch whatever frightens them and the commercials afterwards parasite off the viewers fear.buy this and your fears will go away.crete hightened emotional response then package a products for teh viewer.years agow e discovered the US governmant wants us to e so afraid that we willingly spend 50% or more of our national budget for Army,reserve,army national guard,Navy,reserve,Coast guard,Air Force,reserve,Air national Guard,and a Marine Corps.All services have theri own air forces.so we have 5 armies,4 navies,and14 Air forces.Now we have HOMELAND SECURITY What a waste of time and money that could help the old teh sick and provide PHD education for anyone who wants it.All because of be afraid be afraid be afraid . look under you bed grandma maybe there is a terrorist hiding there.
- —Guest Harp Saint
Conficker: How you know you have it
- IC caught Conficker-A while recovering from a computer crash, and "system restoring" back to an earlier time. This mucked up my security. The first thing I noticed was a constant winking of my network icon down in the task bar ... even when I was not downloading or changing pages. That, and sluggish browsing. SpyBot Search and Destroy, when reinstated, found something - but could not remove it. Another product, "The Cleaner", didn't even see it at all. I hadn't read much about Conficker, but I knew I likely had a virus, and I sat bolt upright in my seat when it became clear that all the major security websites were blocked, and my ClamWin AV was being blocked from updating. This, it turned out, was the achilles heel of Conficker ... I Googled "browser won't go to security websites". Conficker! Major Geeks wasn't blocked, and I found a free application called Sophos Conficker. Half an hour later, it was gone ... but it was very clear that it had spread "everywhere" in my PC.
- —Guest Ross Kelly
What another!
- Over the years I have seen so many of these. Sugar, toilet roll, potato, whatever shortages, germs, viruses, diseases........ Not to mention this is going to be the wettest/driest/hottest/coldest summer/winter since records began. Now of course we have to contend with the prophets of doom with global warming, and body bags lining the streets due to VCJD/Swine flu, or whatever the latest 'thing' is. That's only here in the UK, what goes on in the rest of the world is quite another matter. I'm afraid my inclination is to think 'what ever', then carry on as if I haven't heard.
- —RosaleneW1
Is Symantec the source?
- Conflicker fear reporting was seen elsewhere on TV. In every report I saw, the video was produced in Symantec facilities with Symantec spokespersons (practically every scene had a Symantec logo prominently displayed). Were 60 Minutes and other 'news' venues paid to run a Symantec commercial as a news story?
- —Guest nutso fasst
Consumer Resistance
- The thought of having to deal with computer viruses put me off becoming an internet user for years. Eventually other users persuaded me to be less resistant to going on-line, and to find out how easy it can be to safeguard against most viruses.
- —Hedgecutter
confickervirus
- i was so scared of this worm that i defragged my hard disc and ran updated on all my security. turned out that microsoft had already automatically run an update to protect my computer from "conficker". why do these people put the fear of god in you like that. its not fair, and a waste of time.
- —Guest jocelyncanning
Fear-Based Reporting
- Has anyone ever conducted a study to determine how much actually occurs in the U.S.? It's not just CBS and 60 Minutes. A while ago, one of the networks did an hour-long documentary on the "exploding" gas tanks on the General Motors pick-up trucks. Upon review of the videos used in that presentation, and studies done by GM and others, NBC finally admitted to using devices to cause the actions seen in the video. And GM only asked for an apology!?!?!?! Instead of putting NBC out of business!!! They seemed to have the basis for putting an end to sensationalism, selling fear and fear-mongering, and yet they didn't. Why? I have my own thoughts on the matter, but would be nice to know what all was "really" considered/evaluated/decided that resulted in the request for a public apology!
- —Guest Arnwulf01
Fear based reporting is a HUGE problem
- Fear seems to have replaced truth in media. Be it Conficker, the latest hurricane, the amount of snowfall to be expected, a terror threat - you name it. You really, really, really have to think for yourself when you listen to media reports about ANYTHING - from the weather, to Obama, to a food scare.
- —timfisher
Fear based Reporting
- Here is another reason for me not to watch CBS News and 60 minutes. How can you do this to trusting public who watches your news and 60 minutes religiously. These people shoudl be terminated immediately for spreading a fear which is not true. From now on no more 6o minutes and no more CBS News. I guess CBS Executives did not learn from the fiasco Dan rather created. Good bye CBS for ever.
- —Guest Narvinnie
Threat level orange
- As soon as I saw the U.S. government set up a color coded threat level system, I knew that fear mongering was alive and well in Washington.
- —Tom_Nelson