it must be pointed out at this point that not every pc user must be a techie in order to use the internet, or pass some exam before access is granted.

Giving someone a hard time for lack of knowledge is unfair.

Virus/hack problems are NOT user problems, they are caused by poor operating systems with more security holes than swiss cheese.
Good old MS put out a rushed fix that introduces another problem, then the new problem goes to the bottom of the "list to be fixed pile". It is SOP for them.
Users just get caught in the middle and shouldn't be expected to know this stuff. To them, the PC is an APPLIANCE and rightly so.