How to help a 'novice' ?

[~*Nat*~]

Hi all.

I have several friends who dont know computer security.
They are unprotected - infested probably with all kinds of ...well.
A novice in computer handling - knowing we should treat our computer almost as if protecting our own home......
What do I do to help them? And get them to install security apps that are free.

What to look for if your pc is infested?
And what should they do before installing ANY security software. ?

Thats my main question.....what should they do BEFORE installing a software firewall and a virus scanner..?

Thanks guys - who can give a quick answer...

[lodore]

Hello Nat,
You should firstly teach them the basic information such as dont open attachments unless you are expecting an attachment. dont visit dodgy websites. I dont think HIPS programs should. to complicated for new users.
What security setup do you currently use? and what operating system?
What is the main operating system of the people who you helping?

After a little eduction you should run drweb cure it which im sure you know is an ondemand scanner that doesnt need to be installed. this can be used to check for malware and remove if there is any. If there is still malware on the system then download superantispyware and run that.
once your almost certain the computer is malware free you should work out what is really needed. keep superantispyware installed and ask them to update it and run it say once a week.

You should breifly ask what they use there computer for. you could always give examples such as if a popup came up telling you have won something what would you do.
i would reccomend at least the following:
AV
Firewall
alternate browser such as opera or firefox.
setup automatic updates for windows.
If vista is the OS try to have their main account a limited user account.
find out if they have a hardware firewall. if they dont you should ask them to invest in one.

[raakii]

Reinstall windows ,use firefox installed updated Antivirus like nod32 , kaspersky or avira.Take a backup of the os partition.

[djohn]

If Reinstallation windows is not a option,I would pick a good all around AntiVirus Avast Free Home Edition comes to mind,It Is Well rounded covers what any Good standalone AV should such as Web shield,Email,P2P,IM etc.I also would make sure at minimum windows firewall is on.

I would make sure windows is up to date with the latest and all current programs and browsers are update to date.You can run Secunia that looks over there system and will let them know exactly whats not current such as java etc..

I also would install malwarebytes or SuperAntispyware and run full system scans along with the Antivirus of Choice to be sure its clean.

Some other Good choices would be virtualization but that may be at latter,though they are simple soulutions such as sanboxie or returnil unless taken the time to teach them to use properly it may wait until they grasp the OS and AV.

Thats all the Easy Stuff, No comes education and decision making and what to watch out for and proceed with caution,using some common sense and Dont be trigger happy.Think of it as a bullet let it go and you cant call it back,its to late.Good luck with the novice

[Pedro]

-{ Quote: "
What to look for if your pc is infested?
And what should they do before installing ANY security software. ?
" }-
Perhaps Process Explorer, and navigate it with them and show which processes are legitimate?
Then MBAM+SAS+CureIt+Spybot, Autoruns/Runscanner (show them the google search option).

Tell them about limited user accounts, SRP, DEP, Firefox.

[the Tester]

It might be a good idea to check on how current they are on Windows Updates.

[eniqmah]

When I get these kinds of phone calls, I simply tell them to refer to the golden rule of safe computing: don't surf porn. Then I hang up.

Or, scan the machine with various types of scanners, online, freeware, etc... and then harden their OS, or deepfreeze the crap out of it, and I don't get any more phone calls. For a list of online scanners and freeware scanners, refer to CastleCop's page.