1. Contracting
    1. General
      1. Brexit
    2. Business / Contracts
      1. Coronavirus Assistance
    3. Accounting / Legal
      1. Umbrella Companies
      2. HMRC Scheme Enquiries
      3. The Future of Contracting
      4. IR35 Reform
    4. Technical
    5. Welcome / FAQs
  2. Social
    1. Light Relief
    2. Social / Events
  • Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
  • Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!

Making a PC safe for dodgy websites

Collapse
X
1 to 10 of 27 Previous 1 2 3 template Next
Collapse
Reply to Thread
  •  
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
1 to 10 of 27 Previous 1 2 3 template Next
    #1

    Making a PC safe for dodgy websites

    A friend of mine is a complete IT illiterate and continues to use his PC for surfing all sorts of dubious websites. His most recent episode had me cursing him, Windows, virus writers and just about anyone within earshot. He'd managed to uninstall the anti-virus software I'd installed, click on a dubious pop-up 'advertising' some other anti-virus software, hand over his credit card details and download and install this other stuff which turned out to be a nasty virus of some sort. Can't remember the name of it but it took a while to get rid of and frankly was a waste of my time.

    I installed AVG and Windows Defender, plus AdAware and showed him how to use them. Got a call from him last night and AVG is picking something up called "psyme" which it doesn't seem to be able to get rid of, so I've got to go and sort it for him tonight.

    My question to the esteemed members of this forum is this: What can I do to ensure that no matter what websites he goes to, no matter what he downloads (or tries to) - that his machine won't keep picking up this crap?

    I've got rid of IE, I make him use Firefox and I tell him not to go on dodgy websites but he continues to do so. Apart from getting a Mac or not actually using a computer at all - is there anything else I can do?
    Tags: None
    #2
    Originally posted by interested View Post
    A friend of mine is a complete IT illiterate and continues to use his PC for surfing all sorts of dubious websites. His most recent episode had me cursing him, Windows, virus writers and just about anyone within earshot. He'd managed to uninstall the anti-virus software I'd installed, click on a dubious pop-up 'advertising' some other anti-virus software, hand over his credit card details and download and install this other stuff which turned out to be a nasty virus of some sort. Can't remember the name of it but it took a while to get rid of and frankly was a waste of my time.

    I installed AVG and Windows Defender, plus AdAware and showed him how to use them. Got a call from him last night and AVG is picking something up called "psyme" which it doesn't seem to be able to get rid of, so I've got to go and sort it for him tonight.

    My question to the esteemed members of this forum is this: What can I do to ensure that no matter what websites he goes to, no matter what he downloads (or tries to) - that his machine won't keep picking up this crap?

    I've got rid of IE, I make him use Firefox and I tell him not to go on dodgy websites but he continues to do so. Apart from getting a Mac or not actually using a computer at all - is there anything else I can do?
    get some decent friends with some common sense?

    Comment

      #3
      Originally posted by interested View Post
      I've got rid of IE, I make him use Firefox and I tell him not to go on dodgy websites but he continues to do so. Apart from getting a Mac or not actually using a computer at all - is there anything else I can do?
      Linux?? Some of the latest releases have some excellent GUIs... Check out Sabayon Linux.. The Professional version is fantastic, IMO..
      The "Fit" hits the "Shan"

      Comment

        #4
        Originally posted by interested View Post
        A friend of mine is a complete IT illiterate and continues to use his PC for surfing all sorts of dubious websites. His most recent episode had me cursing him, Windows, virus writers and just about anyone within earshot. He'd managed to uninstall the anti-virus software I'd installed, click on a dubious pop-up 'advertising' some other anti-virus software, hand over his credit card details and download and install this other stuff which turned out to be a nasty virus of some sort. Can't remember the name of it but it took a while to get rid of and frankly was a waste of my time.

        I installed AVG and Windows Defender, plus AdAware and showed him how to use them. Got a call from him last night and AVG is picking something up called "psyme" which it doesn't seem to be able to get rid of, so I've got to go and sort it for him tonight.

        My question to the esteemed members of this forum is this: What can I do to ensure that no matter what websites he goes to, no matter what he downloads (or tries to) - that his machine won't keep picking up this crap?

        I've got rid of IE, I make him use Firefox and I tell him not to go on dodgy websites but he continues to do so. Apart from getting a Mac or not actually using a computer at all - is there anything else I can do?
        A "friend" eh? Not that old chestnut!!!!!

        Kind of like "A friend" of mine looks at dodgy websites???
        "If you can read this, thank a teacher....and since it's in English, thank a soldier"

        Comment

          #5
          Originally posted by daviejones View Post
          A "friend" eh? Not that old chestnut!!!!!

          Kind of like "A friend" of mine looks at dodgy websites???
          Honestly - he is a friend of mine but a complete arse-head when it comes to IT. He runs his own business (very well, surprisingly enough) and does me great deals, but the flip side is that I have to do his IT

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by KevinS View Post
            Linux?? Some of the latest releases have some excellent GUIs... Check out Sabayon Linux.. The Professional version is fantastic, IMO..
            He uses Outlook, Word, Excel and IM extensively. I did think about getting him a Mac but he'd be too stupid to use it and would ring me every 5 seconds asking how you did stuff. It's taken him about 20 years to learn how to use a PC and he still gets it wrong.

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by interested View Post
              He uses Outlook, Word, Excel and IM extensively. I did think about getting him a Mac but he'd be too stupid to use it and would ring me every 5 seconds asking how you did stuff. It's taken him about 20 years to learn how to use a PC and he still gets it wrong.
              mac's are idiot proof, that's why so many people use them.
              Tell him to get a mac. In fact, buy him one yourself, it would be easier in the long run.
              Confusion is a natural state of being

              Comment

                #8
                Create a user account for him, which can't install anything. Lock down the control panel so that he can't remove anything either.

                Create an admin account that can do things, but don't tell him the password.
                Best Forum Advisor 2014
                Work in the public sector? You can read my FAQ here
                Click here to get 15% off your first year's IPSE membership

                Comment

                  #9
                  Assuming XP, try :

                  http://www.windowsecurity.com/articl...own_Guide.html

                  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/m.../cc160783.aspx

                  http://whitepapers.silicon.com/0,390...000437q,00.htm

                  http://www.informit.com/articles/art...29643&seqNum=5

                  http://www.infopackets.com/channels/...orized_use.htm

                  or http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=win...ing+down&hl=en
                  Best Forum Advisor 2014
                  Work in the public sector? You can read my FAQ here
                  Click here to get 15% off your first year's IPSE membership

                  Comment

                    #10
                    If he's that much of numpty he'll never notice the difference between the windows apps you mention and the open source equivalents. Give him a Linux box!
                    Public Service Posting by the BBC - Bloggs Bulls**t Corp.
                    Officially CUK certified - Thick as f**k.

                    Comment

                    Reply to Thread
                    1 to 10 of 27 Previous 1 2 3 template Next

                    Advertisers

                    1. Contracting
                      1. General
                        1. Brexit
                      2. Business / Contracts
                        1. Coronavirus Assistance
                      3. Accounting / Legal
                        1. Umbrella Companies
                        2. HMRC Scheme Enquiries
                        3. The Future of Contracting
                        4. IR35 Reform
                      4. Technical
                      5. Welcome / FAQs
                    2. Social
                      1. Light Relief
                      2. Social / Events
                    Working...
                    X