So, most of us know very well that we're either the "computer guy", we know a "computer guy" who is our "computer guy", or we fit somewhere right in between.
For the last bunch of years, I've been the guy to clean computers, which quickly evolved to backing up their data and wiping them, then reinstalling the OS and locking it down, because while side-job security is a good thing, the same thing with the same client not only gets painstaking, but you can look pretty bad doing the same thing for them every nine months.
Similar to the "fix-it-guy" persona is the "help-me-buy-a-new-computer-guy" persona. Sure, every geek has their own idea of what is the best PC to buy, but let's face it, it's easiest to get used to one vendor, one ordering scheme (mine is Dell, as I'm sure most are, but regardless...), and one sort of deal to hunt for, because these calls usually come along with "I'm ready to buy now" or "I'll be ready soon". I'll answer to both, give me 10-14 days and be ready to buy when I call you.
We all configure our own PCs in one manner, but do you do the same for a client? Obviously each is different, and some deserve more information than the next, but I will always install the easiest-to-work-with apps on each machine, like Zone Alarm, AVG, and Windows Defender with scheduled scans and auto-updates. I'll include AdAware and Spybot, and show them how to run those scans every so often, and they're pretty open to that to assure this machine doesn't get as jacked up as their old one. I'll even throw HiJackThis on there, but I don't tell them how to use it, and only say that it's there for an emergency, when I need to dig deep into an issue.
Things like Process Guard and some other intensive apps that I know are very helpful, I won't even include, because I know the alerts will make their PC usage much more of a headache than they deserve.
How do you guys walk that line between making someone's PC attack-proof, yet also assuring that you won't get a call every week?
For the last bunch of years, I've been the guy to clean computers, which quickly evolved to backing up their data and wiping them, then reinstalling the OS and locking it down, because while side-job security is a good thing, the same thing with the same client not only gets painstaking, but you can look pretty bad doing the same thing for them every nine months.
Similar to the "fix-it-guy" persona is the "help-me-buy-a-new-computer-guy" persona. Sure, every geek has their own idea of what is the best PC to buy, but let's face it, it's easiest to get used to one vendor, one ordering scheme (mine is Dell, as I'm sure most are, but regardless...), and one sort of deal to hunt for, because these calls usually come along with "I'm ready to buy now" or "I'll be ready soon". I'll answer to both, give me 10-14 days and be ready to buy when I call you.
We all configure our own PCs in one manner, but do you do the same for a client? Obviously each is different, and some deserve more information than the next, but I will always install the easiest-to-work-with apps on each machine, like Zone Alarm, AVG, and Windows Defender with scheduled scans and auto-updates. I'll include AdAware and Spybot, and show them how to run those scans every so often, and they're pretty open to that to assure this machine doesn't get as jacked up as their old one. I'll even throw HiJackThis on there, but I don't tell them how to use it, and only say that it's there for an emergency, when I need to dig deep into an issue.
Things like Process Guard and some other intensive apps that I know are very helpful, I won't even include, because I know the alerts will make their PC usage much more of a headache than they deserve.
How do you guys walk that line between making someone's PC attack-proof, yet also assuring that you won't get a call every week?