Re: Daughter's computer

[Dan Renner <dan () losangelescomputerhelp com>]

funsec-request () linuxbox org wrote:

> Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 10:08:24 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Jeff Rosowski <rosowskij () ie ymp gov>
> Subject: Re: [funsec] Daughter's computer
> To: funsec () linuxbox org
> Message-ID: <20060427100255.A55132 () infeng ymp gov>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
>  
>
> > In my experince of a driveby, cleaners didn't and I had to reinstall. And
> > Microsoft says the same. I rather like the idea of following the Microsoft
> > recommendation and reinstall Windows, even though in this case, it means
> > I'll be installing Linux (if I can talk her into it).
> >    
>
> If she's just using office applications, web browsing, and IM.  It's a 
> viable solution.  You might start her out with one of the many live CD 
> distributions, which will save you some time, and let her find something 
> she likes.  My boss's wife swears by damn small linux, but there are a lot 
> of choices out there.  In any case you want to as a minumum if you go 
> with windows or linux, get her using Firefox.  Also once you have the 
> machine setup, it'd be a good idea to create an image of it, so if it gets 
> corrupted again, you have a quick way to go back to a known point.
>  
I offer a couple of tips:

1) In the efforts of a cleanup - DON'T cleanup such systems by booting 
up from the infrected system. Pull the drive and attach to a clean 
machine running a known GOOD AV and anti-spy/adware proggies and scan 
from that first - THEN return drive and re-scan. (I highly suggest NOT 
using Norton or McAfee as they both use IE code, thus are themselves 
vulnerable.)

2) In the areas of a Linux Live CD, the following are known to be very 
good for end users:
Ubuntu/Kubuntu - http://ubuntu.com (very good)
Kanotix - http://kanotix.org (very good, tightly based on Knopppix - 
scroll down, on left 'choose language')
Mepis - http://mepis.org (very good for desktop use, but a bit proprietary)
Linspire - http://linspire.com (very easy for newbies - coming out with 
a free version soon at http://freespire.org)

----------------------------------

Sincerely,

Dan Renner
President
Los Angeles Computerhelp
http://losangelescomputerhelp.com
818.352.8700

_______________________________________________
Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts.
https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec
Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.