Software to idiot proof uncle's PC

[evident]

After building my uncle a sweet new rig with xp pro on it and all the stuff he needs to burn movies, he ended up getting Antivirus 2009 virus and totally screwed his whole system up. I decided this time around ot install vista 64 home premium.

Is there anything else besides avira antivirus that can help prevent him from getting tricked into going onto crap websites and getting infected w/ malware? I put adblock on his firefox, but what else should i do?

 

[Spicedaddy]

give him a user account instead of admin

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: evident
After building my uncle a sweet new rig with xp pro on it and all the stuff he needs to burn movies, he ended up getting Antivirus 2009 virus and totally screwed his whole system up. I decided this time around ot install vista 64 home premium.

Is there anything else besides avira antivirus that can help prevent him from getting tricked into going onto crap websites and getting infected w/ malware? I put adblock on his firefox, but what else should i do?

Here: http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security2.html Making him a Standard User instead of an Admin is definitely the first step :thumbsup:

And drill him on recognition of those faked "scareware" sites and animated "scanners" designed to fool people into thinking they have an infection. I added a YouTube video of a sample "scareware" site in action, they're everywhere nowdays.

 

[lxskllr]

Linux?

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Linux?

lol, i'll probably even get more phone calls from him then i do now.

 

[nordloewelabs]

if all he does is browsing the web, Linux is a good idea!

 

[zenguy]

If you are really mean, you could use "Deep Freeze".

http://www.faronics.com/html/deepfreeze.asp

Setup the PC so it's Good.
"Freeze It".
Now every time he restarts the PC its back to that state.
Anyting he installs is "undone".

Not sure he would like that :>>

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: nordloewelabs
if all he does is browsing the web, Linux is a good idea!

That's what I did for my mother. Has worked for over a year now and not once have I had to fix anything. Since all she does is browse the web it wasn't a difficult transition at all.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: nordloewelabs
if all he does is browsing the web, Linux is a good idea!

That's what I did for my mother. Has worked for over a year now and not once have I had to fix anything. Since all she does is browse the web it wasn't a difficult transition at all.

no, he also burns movies and cds, downloads music like a madman. he also takes lots of pictures with his family and stuff as well.

he's also going to try to hook his PC up to his TV and have a dual monitor setup. i'm going to have to hold his hand through that process as well. *shudder*

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: nordloewelabs
if all he does is browsing the web, Linux is a good idea!

That's what I did for my mother. Has worked for over a year now and not once have I had to fix anything. Since all she does is browse the web it wasn't a difficult transition at all.

no, he also burns movies and cds, downloads music like a madman. he also takes lots of pictures with his family and stuff as well.

he's also going to try to hook his PC up to his TV and have a dual monitor setup. i'm going to have to hold his hand through that process as well. *shudder*

Then I would not suggest giving Linux a try. Stick with Windows and follow mechBgon's advice on his site he linked to.