Topic 'How to stay safe?' in forum 'Security' - dslreports.com

Re: How to stay safe?

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 05:18:05 EDT

Subaru posted : Something he said to me awhile ago when some messaged popped up I think he said he just shut the computer down because it scared him or something.. can't really remember but I chuckled.

I hope this takes care of it, I haven't heard anything bad back so far.

Re: How to stay safe?

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:05:45 EDT

Lagz posted :

said by Nightfall:

said by Lagz:

said by Nightfall:

Still some are out there that are better than the free products or nothing at all.

I have yet to find any that will protect against stupid.

I know some products protect against stupid better than others. Trust me, I have tested some of them.

I know a few people that would find a way to infect a toaster. They click OK for everything and install everything. Some people treat a computer like any other appliance or tool they might own. Turn it on and use it, then turn it off. I don't run any malware scanners or anti-virus software and haven't been infected in ages(1993'ish or so). I stopped running them about 6-7 years ago.

Their is a difference between most people and myself and that is I educated myself about the subject rather than filling my head full of the latest celebrity gossip. Don't get me wrong I don't recommend people not use anything to protect their computer, I'm just pointing out that some people just don't care about securing their computers.

»/nsearch?q=ant···t=remark

I generally recommend from our polls here. I currently recommend MSE for about the last year, but I previously recommended Avast and even prior to that I recommended AVG. Most people prefer free and frankly I haven't seen a difference in performance between free and paid.
--
When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football.

Re: How to stay safe?

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 09:52:26 EDT

Nightfall posted :

said by Lagz:

said by Nightfall:

Still some are out there that are better than the free products or nothing at all.

I have yet to find any that will protect against stupid.

True, and what AVD says is true. When I read the OPs post, I didn't see what he had installed (if anything). If he is trying to protect against stupid using a crap piece of software, maybe a change to admin rights is in order or a change to the software. I know some products protect against stupid better than others. Trust me, I have tested some of them.
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My domain - Nightfall.net

Re: How to stay safe?

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 01:18:58 EDT

AVD posted :

said by Nightfall:

Still some are out there that are better than the free products or nothing at all.

there are some pretty solid free products.
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Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:45:05 EDT

Lagz posted :

said by Nightfall:

Still some are out there that are better than the free products or nothing at all.

I have yet to find any that will protect against stupid.
--
When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football.

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:43:56 EDT

Lagz posted :

said by DarkSithPro:

said by Subaru:

Yeah it's stupid but we will see, most of this is his sites he goes to (xxx) and maybe a user under another account does something but not going to a porn site.

Tell them to get an iMac and call it a day. Seriously fuck it. If they're too stupid, or careless to be careful get them on an Operating System that caters to people who can't fuck it up.

That day is rapidly nearing an end. No longer is the Mac a haven for the stupid to escape learning to protect their system.
--
When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football.

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:04:17 EDT

DarkSithPro posted :

said by Subaru:

Yeah it's stupid but we will see, most of this is his sites he goes to (xxx) and maybe a user under another account does something but not going to a porn site.

Tell them to get an iMac and call it a day. Seriously fuck it. If they're too stupid, or careless to be careful get them on an Operating System that caters to people who can't fuck it up. I did this with a friend who got infected weekly. After a while when he wanted to get a new desktop I convinced him to get a Mac Mini. After that I never had a call for help, ever again. It was so great :)

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:54:42 EDT

Nightfall posted :

said by Lagz:

said by AVD:

said by Nightfall:

some other pay product that does a good job with malware infections?

no such animal.

Truth... else we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Still some are out there that are better than the free products or nothing at all.
--
My domain - Nightfall.net

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:20:13 EDT

David posted :

said by AVD:

they just find another sucker that will do it for free.

For my instance they have in the past did that only to come back either to me or someone else that would do it for free and screw it up worse. The one I got back they reinstalled the operating system on a crack and it was being flagged as not genuine.

I was like "if you are going to crack as least make sure Microsoft can't see it or tag it!" X-D

WHat made me laughter even harder was there was a legitimate key on the back of it.

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Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:24:06 EDT

John Galt posted : I live in an area with a bunch of 'old timers' who are pretty clueless when it comes to computer. Most of the are out of the area travelling at one time or another...especially during the winter.

They were keeping me busy with doing (free) repairs...to the point of exasperation. They are like my 'family' so the same issues apply.

I got around this by turning on automatic updates, installing MSE, ABP and the paid versions of MBAM, and ASC. They couldn't/wouldn't run the programs manually, and were pretty 'click-happy'. The paid versions allowed scheduling and background operation so they didn't have to deal with it.

I also use LogMeIn to remotely administer and maintain their machines when needed.

Easy-peasy! No problems at all now...! :p
--
Nothing makes an American want to do something more than telling them they can't.

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:20:12 EDT

cableties posted : I've had some issues with AdBlock Plus when I need to visit sites to buy or fill out forms. So it can get in the way sometimes.

+1 OpenDNS.

SuperAntiSpyware and MWBytes are good protectors too.

Other than that, can you make the user(s) non-admin?
crank up the internet settings to High?

Lastly, slap in a HDD and run some cloning script that mirrors the drive every other day. If the main system gets hosed, can just re-image back to last.

Better yet, mess with them and put Mint and FF on a USB drive, boot to that. :D
--
Splat

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:08:53 EDT

Blackbird posted :

said by Subaru:

Anything you "do" will be only a temporary fix - no matter how creative you are nor how many clever tools and barriers you erect, you can't fix stupid, especially habitual and deliberate stupid. Why not simply tell him how you feel... that you're getting a bit weary of continually cleaning up after his daughters (or whomever); and that either he needs to get them to exercise safe-hex (which means obeying some basic computer usage rules) or else he needs to look for somebody else other than you to fix the messes they create. Friends are glad to help friends... but friends also don't repeatedly take advantage of friends' goodwill or generosity - and you're reached the point where that's what you're feeling. Whether it's a friend or family member, the same truths apply.
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�The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.� A. de Tocqueville

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:46:25 EDT

AVD posted :

said by David:

Start hitting them in the pocketbook. They will figure it out eventually. That is what I started doing, it's amazing how quickly they change their habits!

they just find another sucker that will do it for free.
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Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:38:22 EDT

David posted : Start hitting them in the pocketbook. They will figure it out eventually. That is what I started doing, it's amazing how quickly they change their habits!

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:56:51 EDT

Lagz posted :

said by AVD:

said by Nightfall:

some other pay product that does a good job with malware infections?

no such animal.

Truth... else we wouldn't be having this discussion.
--
When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football.

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:46:26 EDT

AVD posted :

said by Nightfall:

some other pay product that does a good job with malware infections?

no such animal.
--
* seek help if having trouble coping
--Standard disclaimers apply.--

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:45:39 EDT

Nightfall posted : Why not install Symantec Antivirus or some other pay product that does a good job with malware infections? My sister is pretty bad when it comes to the same thing. I put the latest Symantec Antivirus on her system and she hasn't had a malware infection since. Yes, I also sat with her and educated her on this, but she still clicks on things she isn't supposed to and this package protects her.
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My domain - Nightfall.net

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 09:28:39 EDT

Frank posted : ive heard alot of internet cafes use a program called faronics deep freeze in order to not have to deal with what youre talking about.

if my understanding is correct it pretty much it wipes out and restores a saved image of the whole system upon every reboot with the exception of a few folders you can specify for saved documents unless a sysadmin pw is entered for maintenance (system updates, adding of programs to image, etc)

Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:08:17 EDT

AVD posted :

said by DarkSithPro:

Man... I don't think any security software program can defend against ignorant users, who just click and download everything they see. I guess if they did get a locked down OS-X box, or an IOS tablet they wouldn't get infected anymore.

this ^
this^
this^
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Re: How to stay safe?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 03:49:14 EDT

Subaru posted : Yeah it's stupid but we will see, most of this is his sites he goes to (xxx) and maybe a user under another account does something but not going to a porn site.

Re: How to stay safe?

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:06:02 EDT

DarkSithPro posted :

said by Subaru:

I'm a bit tired of working on this person's computer but besides telling them what not to click on.. I guess he has some daughters or who ever else that has a account for each of them on Windows 7..

Anyways the last crap he had was the FBI moneypak spyware and a bunch of pop-ups that will change your home page or the change what you were searching for to something else unrelated.

Any software I can use that will block this? Because clearly telling him does not seem to be working out too well..

Re: How to stay safe?

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:12:07 EDT

David posted : I had this problem for a while.... After I fixed it the first time I imaged the hard drive and kept a copy on the drobo, when the problem came back, I re-imaged it back to where it was, let everything update. I did this 2 times, and told them the 3rd time they are paying me as I consider that "strike 3 your out."

Her friends' friend got snippy and I was like... "Well take it to best buy and let them work on it. After that bill I guarantee you won't complain."
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Re: How to stay safe?

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:23:26 EDT

AVD posted : No script will be shut off after the first day. It is not for casual users.
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Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:51:19 EDT

Kilroy posted :

said by Subaru:

Using AVG for security.

Dump AVG and switch to Avast!. I used to install AVG on machines I cleaned, but had the same problem you're seeing, they came back every other month. Install Avast! and if it gets infected wait a day or two, update Avast! and run a scan.
--
�Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.� � Robert A. Heinlein

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:55:51 EDT

Phoenix22 posted : it can also be a hidden administrator account

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:31:22 EDT

chrisretusn posted : Yeah, I am considering doing the same for my Mom next time I visit.

In addition to my house, I also "on an insane idea" :), converted our clubs computer to Linux. Our bookkeeper wasn't to excited the first time she sat down at the computer, but it been a little over six months now and she does the job with no complaints. Our CPA was a bit more resistant. She still grumbles a bit, but did the last quarterly audit with out complaint. The real test will be the end-of-year audit.

We switched primarily because we have an old computer, it was running a bootleg version of XP. This has always bothered me. We don't have the funds to pony up for a more up to date computer or Windows, so Linux was our next best option.
--
Chris
Living in Paradise!!

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:55:49 EDT

Subaru posted : I hope it wont come to that.. well I handed over the computer to him so I'm going to see how long this lasts, no script works really well as well as adblock, using AVG for security.

I will tell you one thing.. I may of ran my system on a 60GB Chronos drive which is no intel but man does a Sata hard drive feel super slow now :-/

I'm stuck on my HTPC computer right now with a 80GB Samsung Sata which is not 3.0GB/s

Debating if I want to throw Win 8 on it for testing
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Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:45:09 EDT

praetoralpha posted :

said by chrisretusn:

I had a similar problem with my kids, mostly one of my daughters. She would routinely get her laptop infected.

You may not like my solution, but it works for me. I removed Windows from her laptop and installed Linux. She grumbled at first, but she really did not have any other choice, if she wanted to continue to use the laptop at home. She is happy now, I am very happy now. It been over two years now, no infections. That was also when I decided on a new rule in my house. Windows is not allowed.

I did this with my parents computer on an insane idea. It has worked really well for almost 3 years.

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:30:20 EDT

AVD posted : unfortunately in windows, admin accounts are "regular" accounts.
Even Dad's should be a LUA, with a special administrator account to be used when necessary.
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Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:27:15 EDT

Kilroy posted :

said by Subaru:

it's like every 4-5 months because one of the other accounts clicked on something..

Are all of them Admin accounts? Change them to regular and let Dad be the only Admin.
--
�Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.� � Robert A. Heinlein

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:12:11 EDT

NetFixer posted : The answer is simple. Tell the person (and/or the daughter) that you have restored their PC for the last time. Tell them to take it to BestBuy, Staples, (or any commercial repair depot) the next time that they bork it.

Depending on your relationship to the parties involved, you may not find that choice an easy one, but it is the only one that will work. If you are actually being paid to do the work, then you have to decide if the aggravation is worth the money you receive (because the work will continue to come your way).
--
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:11:10 EDT

Subaru posted : Thanks I will check this!

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:03:00 EDT

Phoenix22 posted :

said by Subaru:

i use ff18........however, it is imperative that you add all the cleaners .......filters.......ad blockers.......privacy filters and list subscribes........

you can have a completely ad and link free screen........

oh btw.......install noscript and only allow top level sites..........you will learn how 2 add and allow the things you need..........this is gonna take time and commitment on your part........the first time i started w/mozilla......i never started......2confusing....now......... you could not pry it outta my hand...........sure it has mem leaks and flaws........but hey?.....what doznt.........imho.......jd

i've been using ff for 5years.........my email is in the clouds w/google....
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Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:02:21 EDT

VerdeDude posted : Set their PC and/or Router to use OpenDNS. It can be set to filter out a lot of bad junk.

»www.opendns.com/home-solutions/p···ontrols/
--
I thought I had a handle on life, but it broke off!

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:07:24 EDT

Lagz posted :

said by Subaru:

Hmm.. maybe I need to change something? It's annoying to have ads showing or those little sliding ads that move up and down a page when you scroll.

And yeah I have pretty much no other option but to charge them 60 miles is a bit of a drive

You might want to check that you're not allowing non intrusive ads. It's checked by default.
[att=1]
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When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football.

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:02:08 EDT

Brano posted : I've switched to linux our entire household long time ago. Never looked back. Keep up with regular patching and you can focus on what you need to accomplish with the computer rather how to keep it functional and safe.

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:55:55 EDT

AVD posted :

said by Snowy:

You've got options!
1. Eliminate all the malware on the net.
2. Eliminate the users.
On reflection, you've got this option.
3. Eliminate the use of Admin accounts for day to day browsing. :)

this was going to me my serious answer.
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Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:54:35 EDT

AVD posted :

said by Subaru:

Any software I can use that will block this?

Linux
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Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:32:56 EDT

JoeSchmoe007 posted :

said by Juggernaut:

I've reached a far simpler conclusion for these types of people: I just refuse to do it anymore.

Family, friends... I don't care. I gave them the tools, and taught them. I gave up.

Same here. I only do this for my parents, that's it. I set them up with a regular user account (they only check email and browse internet, so don't need to install anything), they know what not to and follow it and their computer never has any problems.

Doing it for someone else this way is difficult for multiple reasons (keep in mind that I have never charged anybody for this):

1) You tell them what not to do but they will still do this again and again (or their kids will)

2) Setting them up with limited account will not work because someone always wants to install something. I did this multiple times but always gave them admin password - this is their computer after all. They all end up always using admin account.

3) [The worst] After you help them once you are considered to be responsible for their computer forever. You will be called often and expected to fix whatever problems they now have RIGHT AWAY. When I suggested to someone dropping their computer at my home so I would look at it when I get a chance within a week or 2 that person actually asked me "Well can't you come to my house and do this right now?" And that wasn't even a close friend.

If you charge people for that then it is of course a different matter.

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 07:21:44 EDT

chrisretusn posted : I had a similar problem with my kids, mostly one of my daughters. She would routinely get her laptop infected.

You may not like my solution, but it works for me. I removed Windows from her laptop and installed Linux. She grumbled at first, but she really did not have any other choice, if she wanted to continue to use the laptop at home. She is happy now, I am very happy now. It been over two years now, no infections. That was also when I decided on a new rule in my house. Windows is not allowed.
--
Chris
Living in Paradise!!

Re: How to stay safe?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 06:35:28 EDT

Juggernaut posted : I've reached a far simpler conclusion for these types of people: I just refuse to do it anymore.

Family, friends... I don't care. I gave them the tools, and taught them. I gave up.
--
"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots." ~ Albert Einstein

Re: How to stay safe?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:53:36 EDT

La Luna posted : I don't know what you would need to change. I updated Fx on Friday and ABP just continued to work as always. Maybe try uninstalling/reinstalling it?

At the price of gas these days, you absolutely should charge them, and your skills are worth something too. Might be different if they lived next door, but they don't.

Re: How to stay safe?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:21:03 EDT

HA Nut posted : I agree that Sandboxie is an excellent answer. It's a great program. I set a friend up with it almost 2 years ago and he's still infection free. Without it, I am convinced he would have been infected within the first week he owned his PC.

Re: How to stay safe?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:19:32 EDT

Subaru posted : Hmm.. maybe I need to change something? It's annoying to have ads showing or those little sliding ads that move up and down a page when you scroll.

And yeah I have pretty much no other option but to charge them 60 miles is a bit of a drive

Re: How to stay safe?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:12:20 EDT

La Luna posted :

said by Subaru:

using ad block edge since Ad block plus does not work on the newest firefox.

Yes it does. Using ABP with no issues on Fx 18.0.

Also, charge them gas money and for your time. They might start to think twice about clicking on crap if they have to pay to have it fixed everytime.
--
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20,196 DEADLY TERROR ATTACKS SINCE 9/11

Re: How to stay safe?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:01:28 EDT

TheMG posted : Another option: Mac.

Re: How to stay safe?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:52:53 EDT

MarkAW posted : How about setting up the system with the accounts needed but they all only have limited access no admin rights, then install a sandbox on the system and have everything be opened in sandbox.

quote:
Secure Web Browsing: Running your Web browser under the protection of Sandboxie means that all malicious software downloaded by the browser is trapped in the sandbox and can be discarded trivially.
Enhanced Privacy: Browsing history, cookies, and cached temporary files collected while Web browsing stay in the sandbox and don't leak into Windows.
Secure E-mail: Viruses and other malicious software that might be hiding in your email can't break out of the sandbox and can't infect your real system.
Windows Stays Lean: Prevent wear-and-tear in Windows by installing software into an isolated sandbox.

»www.sandboxie.com/
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Re: How to stay safe?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:39:58 EDT

Subaru posted : using ad block edge since Ad block plus does not work on the newest firefox.

I might switch over to that on my desktop since I've noticed more and more ads showing up, and I hate how pop ups show up on mouse clicks.

but so far so good, I'm on his system now with no issues