Saturday, August 26, 2006
Windows without viruses and spyware? Yes, it's possible
Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal takes tech questions from readers each week and publishes his answers in Mossberg's Mailbox. In this week's column, he tackles a question I get asked all the time. How do you set up a new computer for a relative who is an enthusiastic Internet user but is naive or technically unsophisticated?
I set my parents up with a new Dell PC, and included antispyware software that I run periodically to clean up the computer. I recently discovered they had more than 200 instances of spyware on the machine. This may be because my 81-year-old father surfs porn sites ALL the time (this isn't a joke). Is there any way to keep his computer bulletproof and safe?
OK, first of all, Dad's probably more typical than you might think. Grandma probably doesn't visit a lot of porn sites, but teenage boys and old men probably do (and so do a lot of guys in between those ages). Walt correctly notes that visiting these "bad" websites is a surefire way to run into the most aggressive pushers of viruses, Trojan horses, and spyware.
Walt's answer is the same one you'll get if you ask most reasonably experienced Windows users: "[Y]our best option is to switch to a type of antispyware program that blocks the installation and operation of spyware and adware programs as it is happening, rather than waiting until they are installed to clear them out."
Sorry, but I completely disagree with this advice. If this is the best you can do, then plan to come back once a month and clean up the mess. On the contrary, I think it's possible to set up a Windows computer for Dad, Grandma, or Little Ricky and make it practically bulletproof. And it shouldn't take more than about 15-20 minutes.[b]
(more…)
I set my parents up with a new Dell PC, and included antispyware software that I run periodically to clean up the computer. I recently discovered they had more than 200 instances of spyware on the machine. This may be because my 81-year-old father surfs porn sites ALL the time (this isn't a joke). Is there any way to keep his computer bulletproof and safe?
OK, first of all, Dad's probably more typical than you might think. Grandma probably doesn't visit a lot of porn sites, but teenage boys and old men probably do (and so do a lot of guys in between those ages). Walt correctly notes that visiting these "bad" websites is a surefire way to run into the most aggressive pushers of viruses, Trojan horses, and spyware.
Walt's answer is the same one you'll get if you ask most reasonably experienced Windows users: "[Y]our best option is to switch to a type of antispyware program that blocks the installation and operation of spyware and adware programs as it is happening, rather than waiting until they are installed to clear them out."
Sorry, but I completely disagree with this advice. If this is the best you can do, then plan to come back once a month and clean up the mess. On the contrary, I think it's possible to set up a Windows computer for Dad, Grandma, or Little Ricky and make it practically bulletproof. And it shouldn't take more than about 15-20 minutes.[b]
(more…)
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
