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Explaining Online Virus Safety to Parents?

Posted by Cliff on from the explaining-what-their-kids-already-know dept.

DrRobin asks: "For the past couple of years, some of the techie parents in my town (Needham, MA) have been giving talks for parents of local elementary schools about online kid/family safety. I know there are a lot of weighty issues here in general but I want to ask if people here have any specific thoughts about the sub-topic I am supposed to cover: viruses (and worms, trojans, etc.). The parents are pretty sharp in general but not necessarily clued in to the net world. I have been on the net since '83 but my principal expertise is the little bitty wetware viruses that make you ill, rather than the software kind that infect computers. Any pointers people think would be helpful to parents would be appreciated."

2 of 20 comments (clear)

  1. The Outlook Express guide by inquisitor · · Score: 2, Informative

    Apart from the usual options (never run an unscanned attachment, never use a double-extension file, check everything), there's the usual Outlook Express security guide - go to Tools/Options, Security tab, then set to "Restricted Zone". Knocks all JavaScript nasties into a puddle. Also, make sure they send as plain text and not HTML - not virus related, but aesthetically.

    Also, tell the Windows users to use Windows Update, especially on critical updates.

  2. Some suggestions by DamienMcKenna · · Score: 2, Informative

    Here's some suggestions for your speach:

    - Buy a virus checker.

    - Run it all the time.

    - Keep it up-to-date. This can be a problem as some of them (ie Norton Antivirus) only give you free updates for a limited amount of time, forcing you to buy a new box each year.

    - Do weekly thorough scans of your computer.

    - Do not use Outlook or Outlook Express for email. I've used Eudora for six years without ever being infected by a virus because of it.

    - Do not open up attachments if your virus checker is not running (which should be on all the time anyway).

    - Use a firewall program, eg Zone Alarm. You might want to run a tutorial for non-techies so they can follow how to use it.

    - If you use any instant messaging programs and people send you files through it, do not open them unless your checker is running (see above).

    - If you get a virus, first try cleaning the file, or if that doesn't work, simply delete it.

    This should avert 99% of possible virus attacks.