But then I found out the downside. My speed won't increase that much
> because of the need for a firewall and virus protection. Everything
> coming across the line, including today's constant java applets, must
> be carefully checked for virus and spyware infestation. That slows
> stuff down greatly.
I don't think it does. Has anyone made measurements? Text files and graphics don't have to be checked, only executable code.
How much effort does the technical people who define the Internet's
> data exchange protocols put into developing indelible "return
> addresses" and "postmarks" so as to track the source of sabotage and > harassment?
That I agree with. The Internet was designed for use within secure research labs. It needs to be completely re-engineered for use by the public. We can't make authentication perfect, but we can make fakery a *lot* harder than it presently is. We can also make our software make more intelligent use of the routing information that is already included in everything we receive; phishing, for instance, is close to 100% detectable if anyone cares to do it.