AntiVirus/Spyware/Malware Protection

[Shu]

Originally Posted by bigjnsa

I've run Macs (and Linux) machines for over a decade. Never had an issue with any attacks. In fact, I'm on a quite congested University network with no firewall and no AV software. You have to understand that undernearth the Macs bang wizz interface is BSD (a unix variant). By design, malicious software cannot install itself without YOU giving it permission. There simply is not a why to get around the system permissions. This is what makes Mac and Linux so powerful. You put ONE windows machine on the 'net and I can guarantee you within 5 minutes it'll be infected. Its simply NOT POSSIBLE for Macs and Linux machines to get infected.

I may have to take a look at them. It would save me a ton of grief. Where can you pick a new one up cheap? That may be her Christmas...if Santa's checkbook looks better by then. Right now I am on the cheap because she wrecked her dirtbike (hit a telephone pole) and broke her knee cap into 10 pieces. Surgery and lots of therapy's and big doctors bills (I bet their kids are getting Macs for Christmas).

[Jason's Sporty]

Advise her to not click on pop-ups, spam e-mails, etc. Especially tell her to not to open files sent by her friends sent at odd hours of the day. A e-mail from her BFF at 3:20am is probably a Data Miner or Spam Bot. Are there any classes she can take to better show her how to surf safely online? In PA the Library has them for like $10 for 3 hours once a month. I use free Avast never had a virus or anything for like 2 years.

[Shu]

Originally Posted by Martimus

I've been in the technology field for nearly 30 years now and I've found that AV software is only part of the solution. A major piece of the puzzle is education! Sounds like your daughter may need to learn a little something about Netiquette (Internet etiquette).

I couldn't agree more! I try to show her (make her sit with me while I fight the issues on her machine so she can see how hard some of these are to irradicate. She does good for a while but then we are back to being solders against computer terrorism. AV is only as good as the last know virus.

[Shu]

Originally Posted by Peg Scraper

Set up a virtual machine or get a sandbox program.
Then have her run from there.
I believe Microsoft has VM for free.

Explain? I'm not sure what you mean.

[Peg Scraper]

Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC Home

[bigjnsa]

Originally Posted by Shu

I may have to take a look at them. It would save me a ton of grief. Where can you pick a new one up cheap? That may be her Christmas...if Santa's checkbook looks better by then. Right now I am on the cheap because she wrecked her dirtbike (hit a telephone pole) and broke her knee cap into 10 pieces. Surgery and lots of therapy's and big doctors bills (I bet their kids are getting Macs for Christmas).

You don't need a newer one. I'll agree they are WAY to expensive. You're paying for the Apple name. I'd search Craigslist for a G4 1Ghz or higher. When looking don't compare CPU frequency to an Intel. A 1Ghz G4 Mac is equivalent to speed as a 2 Ghz Intel.

Here's some stuff locally (for price comparisons).

iMac G4 17" screen with a ton of extras - $250
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/sys/1447987153.html

Powerbook G4 1.5Ghz (laptop) - $300
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/sys/1433690837.html

[Peg Scraper]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Virtual_PC

[Shu]

Originally Posted by Jason's Sporty

Advise her to not click on pop-ups, spam e-mails, etc. Especially tell her to not to open files sent by her friends sent at odd hours of the day. A e-mail from her BFF at 3:20am is probably a Data Miner or Spam Bot. Are there any classes she can take to better show her how to surf safely online? In PA the Library has them for like $10 for 3 hours once a month. I use free Avast never had a virus or anything for like 2 years.

All very good advice. I will check to see if our local library has a class. She is in computers in school but I doubt they will do internet safety justice in that class. I may unhook that machine from our network next time and hand her a flash drive and my laptop and tell her to fight the infection herself.

[Peg Scraper]

Sandboxie - Sandbox software for application isolation and secure ...
Sandboxie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GueXMq-Vyi8

[cootertwo]

Yup, you need to educate her. If you don't, she'll just keep sayin "Daddy, my puter is broke again"! And any and all of that anti this and that stuff can really slow a puter down to a crawl. I use Firefox for browsing, and Thunderbird for mail, and NO anti nothing! But I guess a young Girl might not be able to stay away from FaceBook, Messenger, and all that CRAP. Shame she can't enjoy USING the internet, instead of PLAYING with it. But I'm pretty sure if I were her age again, I'd be right there too, clicking away............