Setting up new HP / XP-sp2 for relatives

Traveling to Florida for Xmas to visits the relatives. They will have a HP Pavilion 735w-b PC sitting in the box waiting for me to set up. They are computer illiterate and choose to stay that way. Connection is AOL dialup (I know, but they won't budge). They want to install AOL version 9 for browsing. Looking for the simplest layered protection scheme possible. My thoughts so far ....

Firewall
Use XP/sp2 built in firewall. Have no experience using it.
How much user interference does it cause per surfing / installing programs?
Also will set MS updates to auto download / auto install.
Concerned with dial-up connection .. MS is not shy about fat updates.

Anti-Virus
Will probable choose AVG free .. I use it and am familiar with it for support.
My concern, they mention the computer came with 60 day free Symantec AV and Firewall (2004). Can I assume this is loaded on the computer? Nasty to remove?

SCUM protection
I know I should install AdaWare and Spybot-S&D, but they will never use it.
Can I hope for enough protection from SpywareBlaster or an equivalent? Your thoughts please.

Remote Access Software
Will use built in XP software. Have never used it. What settings do I have to turn on for there computer to allow me to connect in? Both ends will be XP/Home, dialup/sp2 firewall, AVG-av on Florida end, and cable/router/firewall/av on my end.

Thanks for any and all input.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

 

Hello Dennis,

One note on XP's firewall. As Christer mentioned it is one way with the exception of the following "Programs and Services" by default - user has to unblock them at need:

These are in the Exceptions tab.
File and Printer Sharing
Msn Messenger
Remote Assistance
Remote Desktop
UPnP Framework

In the advanced tab, a list of options concerning what kind of ICMP to allow, both incoming and out going and to configure reporting the size and type of connections the FW blocked or allowed.

Regards - Charles

 

Thank you very for your input. Much appreciated.
Enjoy the holidays.

 

Hi Dennis,

I use AVG 7 and ZoneAlarm 5.5 (both free). ZA is easy to configure, and does a good job, so far as I can tell.

By all means, install SpywareBlaster, and I would suggest installing SpywareGuard (also by JavaCool), as well. Since I began using them, there's been very little for Spybot S&D and Ad-aware to find.

 

Thank you - Thank you for the SpywareBlaster / SpywareGuard tag team. Have the former installed, the latter have not, but will be installing today .. on both of mine and then relatives. Currently busy filling a folder full of setups / install programs. Will burn them to a DVD disk for the trip to Florida. Will be a "memory lane eye opener" going back to a "dialup" system ... and AOL to boot.
Will be installing AVG Free. I use Kerio firewall and yes it is easy to use ... but for
"I only need to know where the power switch is" user(s) (my relatives), I'm still leaning to XP/sp2 built-in firewall. The logic being, they will not know WHEN to say NO to an install / request prompt when asked by Kerio ... and the core problem is .. they do not want to learn.
Here's wishing you and your family a happy holiday season.

 

He Dennis,

Actually, IMO the bigger problem with installs is the "involuntary" sort done thru ActiveX.

Have much the same atitude problems with my Brother. Set up a new Dell system for them. I solved this particular problem by disabling ActiveX entirely and placing MS in the Trusted Zone so that the Updates would pass thru.

Regards - Charles

 

Dennis ...

It's not a bad idea to install software that you know that they will never use, but that you can use for tweaking, maintenance, diagnostics, etc. I'm thinking of programs like the two TweakUIs, Everest and/or Belarc, etc. And, don't forget Acrobat Reader.

But why AOHell? There are lots of other dial-up ISPs that also provide portals and are just as good, if not better, and are a lot less expensive. PeoplePC, for one. Owned by Earthlink, but half the cost, and a lot more local phone numbers. Just a suggestion.

Where in "Central WI ", BTW? Summer before last I drove from the U.P. down to Green Bay, explored Door County, then headed SW to Oshkosh and the E.A.A. museum, then on down to the Dells before heading home.

Enjoy your holidays in sunny FL. I won't get there until the last week in April.

 

Thanks Charles - Thanks Jim

Do have a couple of questions pertaining to "spyware protection" programs.
They will be running AOL version 9.0. Do all / any / some do there thing in this browser?? I will be installing all of them .. unless they only protect IE and or Mozilla browsers.

Charles
I'm "think" I can shut down Active X / Script down tight on IE. Will use "Enough-is-Enough (?). There is another little companion / alternate program that can be used ... anyone remember the name??
CONCERN ... MS will be set to "trusted site" for updates. How much is AOL ver. 9.0 "core" comes from IE?? How cozy is their relationship per controlling active X / script? Will have to ask relatives primary browsing sites / habits. Hopefully sites they use do not require trusted status, or can be trusted.

Jim
I'm taking a boat load of programs down with me. All of the wBBS favorites ... starting with Agent Ransack, including the Tweak gang and ending up with WinUpdatesList.
Where in Central WI
When you were in Oshkosh and the Dells, you were about 2.5 hours away. Easiest find on the map ..
find Green Bay - find Minneapolis, I'm in the middle of both, 3 minutes off of the freeway / State Hiway 29.

Hey guys and to all of our wBBS friends - Thanks again, and remember ..
the holidays are for family, not computers.
Hey, no snickering, Santa is listening

 

Hi Dennis,

CONCERN ... MS will be set to "trusted site" for updates. How much is AOL ver. 9.0 "core" comes from IE?? How cozy is their relationship per controlling active X / script?
IE's security settings affect AOL - my Brother is using AOL v9.0 and my IE settings do work.

Aside from your other concerns about what sites will work is the AV updates. My Brother's system is running McAfee - both AV and Firewall - and does need ActiveX to update.

Hey guys and to all of our wBBS friends - Thanks again, and remember ..
the holidays are for family, not computers

You're going to need a big chunk of that week for this Most of your time will be spent in observing and tweaking the aftermath of your settings.

Regards - Charles

 

Very interesting thread as I am currently trying to work out the best installs for my neighbours who have just purchased a new computer. It is a dilemma when they are total novices in trying to work out what they will be able to cope with so many things are necessary in my mind but how much is too much for new users?

Norman AV came pre-installed (not so good that they had to go online to get the code to activate for the updates ) Interesting to read about the firewalls as I am unsure which one to install for them. I know how to setup Sygate and Outpost but will need to be there to answer as many prompts as they throw at a new setup! Norman has his firewall but I know very little about it.

Like you I will install SpywareGuard and Blaster as these will work silently for them. I agree that Ad-aware and Spybot do not find much if anything after these are installed.

Have you thought about a Trojan watch such as BOClean which works in the backgorund or one with a scanner and watch included.
It really is necessary to teach new users about security as they are totally unaware about the many layers now needed. I was most interested to read someone is in the same situation as me. They really had no idea how vulnerable a computer is just out of the box.