Software to protect users from themselves?

M

magik20

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jun 10, 2002
Messages
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Whats the best software you've seen that prevents users from going to bad websites / porn etc?

I see that as the number 1 reason my customers infect there PC's with crap
 
Dunno about "best"...but...it's excellent, and "free".

www.untangle.com

You need more than just NAT routers on your networks these days...UTM appliances are becoming more and more necessary.

Antivirus scanning, and anti-spy/adware scanning, content filtering...done at the gateway.

Combine this with having OpenDNS dns servers as your DNS forwarders..for an additional layer of malware site filtering.
 
What gives you the right to block your customers from visiting porn sites? They are your customers and not employees. MVPSHosts file will block a lot of malicious sites and so does Spywareblaster and Spybot S&D. Use all 3 and you would have pretty good protection against most known bad sites.
 
As much as I've disagreed with him in the past, I have to go with Klob on this one (did I just say that???). I'd be furious if any repair shop made changes to a computer of mine or a family members like this...without their permission. As an I.T. Manager, I have this right on my company owned PCs, but not for a customer's computer, if I had that type of job.

Besides, why block their habits? Sounds like you'd be cutting back on your repeat business.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
He has to waste his time cleaning up/rebuilding his computers after they get with trojans?
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Yea, but he gets paid for it so that means more money for him. :) Maybe he meant if his customers request he sets up their computers so they can't accidentally infect their PC.

Netveda Safety.Net is a pretty powerful free prog that has advanced firewall and net minding options but it can get a bit complex to use too if you don't pay attention to the advanced options it has.

http://www.netveda.com/index.htm
 
Best solution: fix it one time, edjumicate the user/customer about what not to do in the future, put some tools on there to "protect" them as best you can, etc. Heaven forbid you encounter some VERY QUESTIONABLE MATERIAL in the process of fixing it over and over, which is, sad to say, a very common thing nowadays.

Once that's done, if they call you again for the same issues, tell 'em "Sorry, I appreciate your business but, you're an idiot and I can't be bothered with your ignorance anymore..." and move on.

There's a never ending supply of stupid people doing stupid things and remaining ignorant consistently, you can get paid working on other machines and keep a fresh outlook on the situation instead of having to constantly go back to helping the same DFUs.

Harsh? To some people, sure, but I could care less (and yes, that is precisely what I mean to say, so don't go semantic shit on me). I do care, up to a point, but I can always care much less, and I often do.
 
magik20 said:
Whats the best software you've seen that prevents users from going to bad websites / porn etc?

I see that as the number 1 reason my customers infect there PC's with crap
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Most routers should have a feature to block certain websites.

Personally, I think this is the best solution as it doesn't require installing extra software.

--
However, if you're in a computer store, just ghost the box of recurring customers, put the ghost back and feel happy you can cash in, once again :rolleyes:
 
eeyrjmr said:
install linux.
They won't get infected then
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Apart from the vast superiority of the architecture of linux,

it's the fact that people like his customers don't use linux that makes it secure :rolleyes:

so, quit suggesting that! :D
 
fragalot said:
Apart from the vast superiority of the architecture of linux,

it's the fact that people like his customers don't use linux that makes it secure :rolleyes:

so, quit suggesting that! :D
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What do you know! wernt you part of the group that was bashing Vista when it came out?
 
eeyrjmr said:
What do you know! wernt you part of the group that was bashing Vista when it came out?
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I'm part of the group that had it pre-installed on the laptop they bought, unable to upgrade to XP due to a lack of drivers.

Beeing stuck with all of the little imperfections the original Premium release had :rolleyes:

I think I have earned my right to rant about it.
 
eeyrjmr said:
install linux.
They won't get infected then
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No, but they won't be able to do anything either except keep calling you/me/whoever for support since it's so ridiculously complicated for the average Joe (not me, I assure you). You'd be going from the frying pan into a fire laced with Napalm by that solution... it is simply not valid.
 
complicated? how is linux complicated for the avg joe?

They'll be able to surf their porn just like they could in windows, except they won't be getting any firewall or virus scanner warnings...
 
Pull off the "p", "o", "r", and "n" keys from thier keyboards.:D

Oh wait, that's hardware.

Create a firewall rule to block all internet access.;)
 
fragalot said:
complicated? how is linux complicated for the avg joe?

They'll be able to surf their porn just like they could in windows, except they won't be getting any firewall or virus scanner warnings...
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Only if they have the right hardware. I've installed a few Linux distors that had no driver for my NIC so couldn't even get on the net, not to mention no proper video driver and requires a Linux lobotomy to get running correctly, no soundcard driver if you happen to have a soundcard more exotic than a basic soundcard. Back in the days of dial-up you were SOL unless you had a hardware modem, preferably a USR external serial modem. Sure, thngs have gotten a lot better but lets not pretend that Linux has better hardware support than Windows because it doesn't. Linux zealots are like Don Quixote, IMO.
 
Linux zealots would Zerg swarm you for saying that, Klob. First rule of being a Linux Zealot is to preach the fact that you can install Linux on nearly anything with any kind of CPU and storage... so, the fact that you can run Linux on a digital watch or something gives it a huge advantage over Windows, as well as the bazillion other gadgets that will run Linux but not Windows... that's their basis for reality. :D
 
Or the fact that your X server can go FUBAR just by trying to get your mouse buttons configured correctly... Don't get me wrong, i love Linux, but I'd hesitate to put it on most people's computers.
 
If only there were software that would instill common sense in a user it would be wonderful.

Me jaded? No.
 
Klob said:
Only if they have the right hardware. I've installed a few Linux distors that had no driver for my NIC so couldn't even get on the net, not to mention no proper video driver and requires a Linux lobotomy to get running correctly, no soundcard driver if you happen to have a soundcard more exotic than a basic soundcard. Back in the days of dial-up you were SOL unless you had a hardware modem, preferably a USR external serial modem. Sure, thngs have gotten a lot better but lets not pretend that Linux has better hardware support than Windows because it doesn't. Linux zealots are like Don Quixote, IMO.
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That only confirms it's more secure.

if they can't get on the net, how on earth will they get onto pron sites?:D
 
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