WinXP- How restrictive are non-admin accts? (For parents)

[JEDI]

I have Avira antivirus and ad-aware installed on my parents computer.

somehow both are now disabled, and a program called AVG pops up saying they should buy it for $49.95.

my parents only use the computer for Word, and surfing the net. They are not computer literate and barely know how to print.

i'm going to save their data files, and re-image the computer.

I'm thinking of creating a non-admin acct w/o password, and putting a password on the admin account.
this way if they click yes to install malware again, nothing happens to the admin acct.


but how restrictive is the non-admin acct? lets say they want to install Turbo Tax?

And other suggestions in protecting my parents computer?

edit:
whoops.. please move to Operating Systems forum

 

[Jumpem]

You realize AVG is not malware right?

 

[Ken g6]

but how restrictive is the non-admin acct? lets say they want to install Turbo Tax?

Yeah, that could be a problem.

And other suggestions in protecting my parents computer?

If you leave them on the admin account, at least stick a call to DropMyRights in front of every shortcut to every web browser and email client. That prevents them from installing malware (or anything else) from the browser directly; but if they save it to the desktop then click on it they're not protected.

Meanwhile...are you sure Avira Anti-Vir got disabled? Maybe you just need to upgrade to the current free version? And you know Avira free pops up with an ad to buy its pro version once a day, right? Are you sure it's AVG that's popping up the ad and not Avira?

 

[jkroeder]

In non-admin accounts, if a user wishes to install a program, it's still possible to do so.

They just wouldn't be able to install it in C: \Program Files without the administrator password.

You could also use a software restriction policy to deny running executables except for in locations you define.
http://www.mechbgon.com/srp/

 

[Murloc]

are you sure that that is not the free antivirus' ad?

I think you could install some restriction programs

 

[mechBgon]

And other suggestions in protecting my parents computer?

Here's some: http://www.mechbgon.com/security What version of Windows do they have, exactly? XP, Vista, 7? Home, Pro, Ultimate?

edit:
whoops.. please move to Operating Systems forum

Sure thing 🙂

 

[JackMDS]

Free and Better than most others.

Microsoft Essential Security (a combo of AntiVirus,AntiSpyware).

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

PCTolls Firewall, http://www.pctools.com/firewall/

Together with Wireless cable DSL and One is very secured.

Unless he/she do stupid things that deliberately invites Junk.


😎