Would you buy a used car from this man?

On a recent Sunday morning when Lew Tucker’s Dell desktop computer was overrun by spyware and adware–stealth software that delivers intrusive advertising messages and even gathers data from the user’s machine–he did not simply get rid of the offending programs. He threw out the whole computer.

Tucker, an Internet industry executive who holds a doctoral degree in computer science, decided that rather than take the time to remove the offending software, he would spend $400 on a new machine.

Now, without belittling the plagues of spyware, viruses, worms and other assorted nasties that infect Windows-based computers, you’re going to tell me that an “Internet industry executive” (he’s the president of Salesforce.com) with a doctorate in comp sci can’t manage this task? Cripes, I manage that for an entire network and all my computers at home! It isn’t that difficult. At home, it doesn’t even cost me a cent and takes a few minutes a month to update definition files. (And of course, losing Internet Explorer helps.)

If anyone wants the magic incantations, comment here and I’ll write a brief tutorial and post it.

I just wonder if I’m the only one who would not be quite so comfortable using his company’s services after reading this?