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Thread: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

  1. #1
    Formerly known as Andehh Andeh13's Avatar
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    Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    So here we go again, a PC full of crap, barely working because family member refuse to listen to advice & refuse to learn - knowing I will fix it all.

    Does anyone know of a good software to prevent ANYTHING from installing on the PC, without a password anyway? Would this help prevent the spyware, ad aware and toolbars that grind these PCs to a halt?

    Cheers

  2. #2
    root Member DanceswithUnix's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    Linux

  3. #3
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    User Account Control should sort this, failing that, make the only browser available in a virtual box so they can install all the browser toolbars they like and you can just revert the browser stuff any time you like.

  4. #4
    Splash
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    Simple: make their accounts Users rather than Admins. That way any cruft that they *are* able to install will only affect their account, and if it needs to be wiped out it only affects them. Change the password on the admin account and only give the details to those you wish to be able to install stuff.

    I'm amazed so many people don't bother to do this.

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    Chillie in here j.o.s.h.1408's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    Get a mac

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    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    Neither a Mac (Unix based) nor Linux (Unix like) will stop them downloading crud, unless they have user accounts - although Linux (and to a lesser degree, OSX) does encourage user accounts - and the crud is less likely to be damaging (esp on the Mac if you restrict downloads to downloads from the app store).

    But as others have said, simplest way is to enforce user accounts. As Splash says, its amazing how many people don't do this and always run as admin - just asking for trouble. as a general rule, always create a user account and an admin account, even if only one person uses the machine. Use the user account for everyday stuff, and the admin account for... er.... admin!

    In the OPs case, lock down the user account as much as possible on the basis of minimum privilege to do the job.
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    Resize the current partition.
    Install another, or clone the exisisting, Windows onto the new free space.
    For the current "dirty" OS, remove the drive letter for the additional partition.
    Set the startup sequence to boot the "dirty" OS by default.
    Rename the new "clean" OS to something like "Recovery Mode" to dissuade people from using it.
    Set a custom password for all accounts on the "clean" OS so the annoying people cannot log on to it. Or, perhaps Bitlocker/TrueCrypt the entire "clean" volume if you have a suitable version of Windows.
    Hide the "dirty" partition from the "clean" one, so there is zero chance of accidentally clicking on anything in it.

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    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    Start charging......

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  10. #9
    Formerly known as Andehh Andeh13's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    Cracking stuff, thanks guys.

    Does this mean anything he installs, nasty & all, will only effect his account - the admin account which I will password protect for me will still be squeaky clean?

    As for locking the account down, I can only see options for time limits, games rating and allowed/blocked programmes. I cant see any options to prevent installations? Can it be done?

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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    I had a friend a few years ago, who wasn't savvy at all. He had his pc around another friends and complained how slow it was, they didn't offer or really want to help so i thought sod it, let me have a look... he had no firewall, nada So i spent nigh on 5 hours running anti virus, spybot, ccleaner etc... Seriously i was googling the things that came up in spybot (it must have been over a 100!) thinking 'what the hell is this, i've never seen these before!' It was a mess. I tried my best to say 'run these 3 things once a week' pretty easy really... but i don't think he really listened Just reminded me reading this thread!

  12. #11
    Formerly known as Andehh Andeh13's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    I don't even bother now, fresh copy of windows 7 and copy & paste over the pictures & documents. Job jobbed

  13. #12
    Splash
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    Right click My Computer>Manage. Browse to Local Users & Groups>users and double click the account you want to amend. Select the "member of" tab and remove it from the "Administrators" group, and add it to the "Users" group (if it's not already).

    You'll then find that every time they want to install something they get a UAC prompt for admin credentials (unless you've disabled UAC, in which case re-enable it or log into the computer using the admin account and run the installer) - along you come and either say "no" or type in the credentials.

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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    I know it's been mentioned and it's a bit extreme, but Linux really does slow them down messing the system up. My dad's computer was constantly riddled with junk, installed Linux for him and the worst someone has managed to do in a whole year is change the theme.

    If it's just simple stuff like web browsing, it's definitely an option.

  15. #14
    root Member DanceswithUnix's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    Setting up UAC is almost certainly what you really want, and I would say to install Adblock Plus in your browser as well. Those ads don't just slow the machine down, they seem to be a good way of delivering social engineering trojans like the old "Your computer is infected, click here to fix it" stuff.

  16. #15
    Not a good person scaryjim's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    As everyone else has said, the obvious option is UAC to prevent them installing stuff, but be prepared to be constantly pestered for the password.

    An alternative, if slightly more extreme, option is to grab some second hand bits, slap together a machine "just for them", and refuse to fix it for them when they mess it up Seriously, the only way to stop people breaking things is to let them know there will be consequences....

  17. #16
    Bah Humbug. Dooms's Avatar
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    Re: Software to stop family mucking up PC...

    UAC & Adblock installed in chrome/FF - That will do most of the work.

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