Yeah I know, the Mac will be awesome since it's not a PC, but I'm setting up the Mac Mini for some friends and feel like I should go a little further on theirs, than I did on mine, because of their unusual computer-bricking powers.
The kids do a lot of YouTube and have a few sites with games. Mom watches a lot of Korean soap operas and other TV online from Asia. I am not being xenophobic, just describing the phenomenon: She's from Asia-Pacific Islands and naturally likes to watch TV shows she's used to and I've noticed the websites tend to look like the websites that are malware havens.
When I had a look at some of their PCs after something went wrong, there were often browser bars and browser extensions and whatnot. There also seemed to be malware. I don't know a great deal about these things, just enough to restore their system to an earlier date.
I did keep installing virus protection with malware protection on their computers; I'm not sure if that failed to protect or if they never updated it. There were quite a few stern "if something pops up saying there's a problem with your computer, don't click on it" conversations, but ultimately the family keeps buying a new computer every year.
Naturally I talked them into getting a Mac this time. But there's a lot I don't know about exactly what they've kept doing, and about Macs & malware.
I'm updating to Mavericks now, and then will install Flash.
I've set up individual user IDs, both adults have admin permission. This was mostly since they all have separate apple IDs for iTunes and want to keep content separate. I'm wondering if I should make "her" account one that doesn't have admin privileges, I don't know if this helps avoid malware or if it just hinders her ability to use the computer (she will use it most).
There will be a lot of YouTube use, and as I understand Java use because one child plays MineCraft. The bit of reading I've done suggests Flash & Java are primary concerns.
I'm considering:
-- Antivirus software because even though it'll slow it down, it may help guard against malware downloads.
-- Another attempt at educating Mom & teenager about downloading stuff.
I'm thinking #2 is better, but is there a very plain English explanation out there somewhere about not unwittingly downloading malware? And what are the dangers inherent in Java & Flash on Mavericks?
The kids do a lot of YouTube and have a few sites with games. Mom watches a lot of Korean soap operas and other TV online from Asia. I am not being xenophobic, just describing the phenomenon: She's from Asia-Pacific Islands and naturally likes to watch TV shows she's used to and I've noticed the websites tend to look like the websites that are malware havens.
When I had a look at some of their PCs after something went wrong, there were often browser bars and browser extensions and whatnot. There also seemed to be malware. I don't know a great deal about these things, just enough to restore their system to an earlier date.
I did keep installing virus protection with malware protection on their computers; I'm not sure if that failed to protect or if they never updated it. There were quite a few stern "if something pops up saying there's a problem with your computer, don't click on it" conversations, but ultimately the family keeps buying a new computer every year.
Naturally I talked them into getting a Mac this time. But there's a lot I don't know about exactly what they've kept doing, and about Macs & malware.
I'm updating to Mavericks now, and then will install Flash.
I've set up individual user IDs, both adults have admin permission. This was mostly since they all have separate apple IDs for iTunes and want to keep content separate. I'm wondering if I should make "her" account one that doesn't have admin privileges, I don't know if this helps avoid malware or if it just hinders her ability to use the computer (she will use it most).
There will be a lot of YouTube use, and as I understand Java use because one child plays MineCraft. The bit of reading I've done suggests Flash & Java are primary concerns.
I'm considering:
-- Antivirus software because even though it'll slow it down, it may help guard against malware downloads.
-- Another attempt at educating Mom & teenager about downloading stuff.
I'm thinking #2 is better, but is there a very plain English explanation out there somewhere about not unwittingly downloading malware? And what are the dangers inherent in Java & Flash on Mavericks?
