Mom's New Computer, Episode #4938
January 17, 2018 1:20 PM Subscribe
Mom has a new Windows 10 laptop, which she'll use primarily for email (Gmail), photos, and occasional browsing. She's asked me to transfer over some files and 'set it up' for her. I'm no IT-talkin' guy & find Win 10 fairly straightforward, but I was wondering if you had some program recs (Security, browsers & extensions) for less-savvy user. Bonus points if they're on Ninite & offer painfree updates that won't freak mom out with "Your security is about to expire! Upgrade to Premium NOW!" messages. Also, recs for free non-fussy remote viewing/desktop sharing would be appreciated and save a lot of "Do you see a red button with an X?" phone conversations for my sister and I.
Best answer: I recently took Kaspersky antivirus off our Win 10 computer (because reasons) and put our trust in Windows Defender. I think we've seen an increase in false threats and warnings since including just the sort of thing you mentioned. And worse.
OTOH, Kaspersky had started dunning us for a new year's fee about 6 months in advance...
posted by SemiSalt at 3:43 PM on January 17, 2018
OTOH, Kaspersky had started dunning us for a new year's fee about 6 months in advance...
posted by SemiSalt at 3:43 PM on January 17, 2018
Best answer: I have used TeamViewer for years as my go-to for remote desktop. The free version works fine and it has never asked me to do more than update it periodically. It works fine if you don't update it, though.
Consider installing AdBlock Plus. Ads are one of the easiest ways for a computer to pick up malware.
The security that's built-in to Windows 10 is probably good enough. I'm using only that.
posted by irisclara at 4:19 PM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
Consider installing AdBlock Plus. Ads are one of the easiest ways for a computer to pick up malware.
The security that's built-in to Windows 10 is probably good enough. I'm using only that.
posted by irisclara at 4:19 PM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
The built in Windows defender is fine for virus fighting, couple that with Malwarebytes busted back to free mode and you've got what you need.
Chrome and Firefox both update themselves, so that should take care of itself.
TeamViewer is the recommendation for remote access, and if you set up a permanent connection with it, it will be just fine.
The rest of the built in viewers and players for images and video in Win10 will be good for those tasks.
posted by deezil at 4:22 PM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
Chrome and Firefox both update themselves, so that should take care of itself.
TeamViewer is the recommendation for remote access, and if you set up a permanent connection with it, it will be just fine.
The rest of the built in viewers and players for images and video in Win10 will be good for those tasks.
posted by deezil at 4:22 PM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
If you need a bulletproof way for a non-technical user to do gmail, photos and web browsing, get a Chromebook. That's what they're for and are good at.
If you have to stick with Windows 10:
1) Get any browser that isn't Edge/IE. Install an ad blocker and disable Flash and Java (if they aren't already disabled).
2) Thirding Windows Defender. Kaspersky is part of the threat matrix. Norton... I have to use at work and I spend several minutes a day wanting to see the authors' blood outside their bodies.
3) Get some tool to shut off the Windows 10 spyware. I like O&O Shut Up 10. Run it after every Windows update and apply the recommended settings.
4) For oogling pictures and light photo editing, I like Irfan View. For doing anything more complicated with photos, I use GIMP, but that has a hell of a learning curve.
posted by sourcequench at 4:28 PM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
If you have to stick with Windows 10:
1) Get any browser that isn't Edge/IE. Install an ad blocker and disable Flash and Java (if they aren't already disabled).
2) Thirding Windows Defender. Kaspersky is part of the threat matrix. Norton... I have to use at work and I spend several minutes a day wanting to see the authors' blood outside their bodies.
3) Get some tool to shut off the Windows 10 spyware. I like O&O Shut Up 10. Run it after every Windows update and apply the recommended settings.
4) For oogling pictures and light photo editing, I like Irfan View. For doing anything more complicated with photos, I use GIMP, but that has a hell of a learning curve.
posted by sourcequench at 4:28 PM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
For remote support, nth-ing TeamViewer. However, two things to watch out for:
1. Put a Teamviewer icon on her desktop, show her where it is, and tell her never to delete it. Heck, you could rename it "Teamviewer -- do not move or delete!". When doing remote support with my elderly Dad, half the challenge is just talking him through finding and running the damn Teamviewer program. (The "permanent connection" mentioned above might solve this, I need to look into that.)
2. Don't ever upgrade the TeamViewwer installation on that computer. TeamViewer Inc makes new software INCOMPATIBLE with older software. Yay, thanks guys, you know how much of my weekend you screwed, right?
posted by intermod at 7:57 PM on January 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
1. Put a Teamviewer icon on her desktop, show her where it is, and tell her never to delete it. Heck, you could rename it "Teamviewer -- do not move or delete!". When doing remote support with my elderly Dad, half the challenge is just talking him through finding and running the damn Teamviewer program. (The "permanent connection" mentioned above might solve this, I need to look into that.)
2. Don't ever upgrade the TeamViewwer installation on that computer. TeamViewer Inc makes new software INCOMPATIBLE with older software. Yay, thanks guys, you know how much of my weekend you screwed, right?
posted by intermod at 7:57 PM on January 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! Windows Defender has done alright by me the past so I figured it & Malwarebytes would get the job done, but again, I'm not a tech person, so the second opinions/confirmations are truly appreciated!
We originally thought about getting a Chromebook because of price and her no-frills usage, but the internet can be pretty weak and spotty where my folks live & it is much easier to set up a Photos folder on her desktop that she can save pictures to when connected and then review off-line than set her up with cloud nonsense (Yeah Gmail is cloud nonsense, but she is used to it) and make usage totally dependent on being connected. I realize cloud storage is in many ways superior to trusting physical media, but due to privacy and ease of use concerns, it's not something she's comfortable with.
Thanks for the TeamViewer suggestions! intermod: My mom hates clutter and rarely/unused icons on her desktop, so I threw the shortcut into a "This is stuff for me, please don't delete it" folder on her desktop so that if need be I can guide her to it over the phone :)
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:43 PM on January 17, 2018
We originally thought about getting a Chromebook because of price and her no-frills usage, but the internet can be pretty weak and spotty where my folks live & it is much easier to set up a Photos folder on her desktop that she can save pictures to when connected and then review off-line than set her up with cloud nonsense (Yeah Gmail is cloud nonsense, but she is used to it) and make usage totally dependent on being connected. I realize cloud storage is in many ways superior to trusting physical media, but due to privacy and ease of use concerns, it's not something she's comfortable with.
Thanks for the TeamViewer suggestions! intermod: My mom hates clutter and rarely/unused icons on her desktop, so I threw the shortcut into a "This is stuff for me, please don't delete it" folder on her desktop so that if need be I can guide her to it over the phone :)
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:43 PM on January 17, 2018
I have Flash and Java disabled in Firefox and AdBlock+ and UBlock Origin addons. It makes facebook usable. On the rare occasions I want to watch a video, I use Chrome.
posted by theora55 at 8:51 AM on January 18, 2018
posted by theora55 at 8:51 AM on January 18, 2018
Malwarebytes has a free Pro trial for web protection that expires after a week or two and nags you to buy Pro. Watch out for that.
posted by irisclara at 9:03 AM on January 18, 2018
posted by irisclara at 9:03 AM on January 18, 2018
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posted by Alvy Ampersand at 1:31 PM on January 17, 2018