Locking down a computer for the ignorant

[Mr Bob]

I just installed a new OS for someone who thought it was ok to download and installed every program prompted to install. If she saw one of those "You are infected with a virus, please install this virus to make sure the other doesn't infect you." she would install it.

Is there anything I can install to help prevent .exe files from being installed? Or other ways of locking down this computer?

 

[Lonyo]

Limited user account + virus scanner + popup blocker?

 

[mugs]

Is it a user-level account or an admin account? Making it a user account helps some, only log in to the admin account when you need to install something. And keep this woman away from the computer.

 

[Mr Bob]

It is a user account.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Tell them to get a Mac Mini.

- M4H

 

[shimsham]

change her browser to firefox, maybe? and give her a 5 min lesson on what not to do if you havent already. i took the time to explain that stuff to my wife and kids and no problems.

 

[Mr Bob]

"change her browser to firefox, maybe? "
- That won't help.

"and give her a 5 min lesson on what not to do if you havent already"
- That's one of the first things I will do.

 

[imported_michealo]

local policy + appsec

 

[imported_LoKe]

Linux. She won't know how to install crap.

 

[Mr Bob]

"local policy"
- Just read over this site and couldn't see anything that would be helpful: http://www.amset.info/windows/policy.asp

Is there anything else this program does?

The AppSec looks like it only allows you to control what installed programs can be ran.

 

[MangoTBG]

Originally posted by: LoKe
Linux. She won't know how to install crap.

ftw

 

[Evander]

No one's pointed out the Consolidated Security thread yet? Here goes:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=33&threadid=1658987&enterthread=y
good stuff in there, although I don't feel the need to do most of it on my own machine. I'm pretty happy with just a firewall + Firefox + autoUpdates + common sense. also checking for spyware every once in a while