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Thread ID: 110610 2010-06-24 22:51:00 User friendly Firewall dagwood (15837) Press F1
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1113200 2010-06-24 22:51:00 I'm looking at setting up an old PC for my in-laws. They are in their late 70's/80's and we've had to show them how a mouse works!

I've previously used Zonealarm but it does have a lot of pop ups seeking user input regarding a programme change.

Given that we won't be there to help all the time, is there an effective free firewall that is a little more "automatic"?

Also is Avast AV still a viable free AV?
dagwood (15837)
1113201 2010-06-24 23:18:00 Why not avoid all the Windows "open plan" security and install a simple Linux distribution instead. They probably only want email, web browsing and writing/printing the occasional letter, so teaching that on either system is similar and with Linux there is no need to update firewalls/antivirus/OS it just works as is. PPp (9511)
1113202 2010-06-24 23:32:00 Hmm the only issue is the Grandkids who stay like to play games. I'm no nothing about Linux but I'm guessing it won't support too many games without tweaking. dagwood (15837)
1113203 2010-06-24 23:34:00 Keep the Grandkids off the PC and they wont need a firewall period! SolMiester (139)
1113204 2010-06-25 01:26:00 If its an old computer it won't play any newish games anyway, you can get some games for Linux, probably along the lines of older windows versions. Guess it depends on the age of the grandkids. PPp (9511)
1113205 2010-06-25 01:49:00 If the Internet connection is broadband then the firewall protection the router provides plus the Windows firewall will be sufficient.

As for virus protection, I'd say it depends how old the PC is. For example, Microsoft Security Essentials gets good press these days but I have found it noticeably affects performance on older slower machines. I suspect the latest Avast would be the same. I have found that Avira's Antivir is still relatively conservative on resources for older machines.
AvonBill (11358)
1113206 2010-06-25 02:16:00 also, switch their normal day to day user account to a standard one, not an administrator account. utopian201 (6245)
1113207 2010-06-25 02:25:00 I
I've previously used Zonealarm but it does have a lot of pop ups seeking user input regarding a programme change.


Because its the nature of decent firewalls. If it isn't asking it's juyst allowing everything.

Forget the firewall, give them a decent antivirus, decent antispywares, instructions on regular use and updating of them and tell them to ban the grandkids altogether from using it.

If they are visiting then they should be talking to grandpop not being unsocial on the PC. And besides they have their own at home to pollute.
pctek (84)
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