Explaining Online Virus Safety to Parents? 20
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."
explaining to the unwashed masses (Score:3, Insightful)
Anti-virus technolgy runs the same way. You can limit your risk of exposure to infections vectors (don't download anything from someone you don't know, "I are sending you for your input"), proper use of updated anti-virus tools, and using antibiotics when you are infected.
While I admit that this is a vast over simplification for adults (and I sure as hell wouldn't want in insult the intelligence of all those parents in Needham, the lawsuits would be ridiculous) you can use the parallels to reduce the distrust and sense of the 'unknown' that most normal (non-geek) folk endure when dealing with these sneaky little buggers.
good luck
Re:explaining to the unwashed masses (Score:3, Insightful)
I agree it helps to explain things people don't know using things they DO know. The challenge is often in determining just what they do know, AND the environment in which they are going to try and apply what you are teaching. Thus, it is helpful to establish a baseline, and then go into specifics.
Most users, I suspect, would like a "recipe" of steps they can take to protect themselves... in other words they'll quickly fade out with the technical mumbo jumbo, and just want a step-by-step approach for what they need to do.
The problem is, the steps differ depending on each user's:
It's good you reached out for the experiences of others here on /. but I'd suggest extending your search more widely. So very often, I find it helpful to ask myself "Am I the very first person to have this problem?" if not, then the next obvious question becomes: "Where can I look to find the answers that others have already found?"
Also, it may be a good idea to expect this to be more information than can be covered in a single session. People are receptive up to a point and then reach overload. The benefit of 4 sessions of 15-minutes each can be MUCH greater than a single 1-hour session.
Lastly, think about giving back what you've found. What about the folks who move into town next month or next year? Rather than make periodic presentations to accomodate a growing/changing audience, have the info you've collected put on a web page for later reference (and feedback to keep it up to date!)
Good luck!
A couple of suggestions (Score:3, Insightful)
First, mention that the use of a quality prophylactic (an anti-virus program) can prevent a lot of harm. However, someone can still walk in on you and your attachment, and then you'll have a lot of explaining to do. Plus, no prophylactic, aside from abstention, is 100% reliable. (For an extra laugh, mention that abstention has only one known case where it didn't work, and that happened to this nice lady named Mary about 2,000 years ago. It may take several people a long time to get the joke.)
Second, whenever you're at a party, and there's food you've never seen before, you always ask, "What's in it?" If someone hands you an email attachment, email back, and ask what it is, just as you would if they handed you mystery food. If they're the type of person to spike the punch, or bring hash-brownies, don't open it, and delete the message. But even then, make sure you've got a good anti-virus program.
Re:A couple of suggestions (Score:2, Funny)
bob: oh, look, i got an emailed attachment from bill. hmm, i wonder what it is, but i'm not gonna open it. instead, i'll send it back to him and ask him what it is...
bob's email to bill: what is this attachment?
bill: oh hey, look, bob sent me an attachment..asking what it is, i wonder..(double-click)..ahhh!!! virus!!! ahhh!!! that b@stard bob, he sent me a virus!!
Mom, Dad, it's time we had a little talk.... (Score:3, Insightful)
But seriously, KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Forget any extensive dissertations on the differences between a worm vs. a trojan, help them set everything up, and WRITE IT DOWN or at least print it out for them to keep in a very safe place - that document on the computer does them no good when it won't boot.
A good anti-virus program helps a lot, and again, WRITE DOWN configuration information, or instructions. Make sure they know that email (candy) from friends can still have razor blades in it. Also, if it's Windows, turn on the file extensions for viewing, and make sure they scan any executables, and really debate about whether they REALLY want to run it.
Explicit menu list somewhere? (Score:1)
Re:Explicit menu list somewhere? (Score:1)
Make sure you deal with the outlook VB script stuff (see above) as again, they may become infected without running anything and even from people they know.
The Outlook Express guide (Score:2, Informative)
Also, tell the Windows users to use Windows Update, especially on critical updates.
Re:The Outlook Express guide (Score:2, Funny)
Her: "Can't open it, it's a virus."
Me: "???"...walked over, looked at her computer, the high-security dialog box stating file must be saved to disk had come up... "It's not a virus, this is just a warning you have to save the file to disk before you open it so the computer can scan it for viruses."
Her: "But I don't HAVE a disk!"
Must be something with that cube... (Score:1)
The gal mentioned above (we'll call her Kathy) has moved downstairs to a different cubicle. A former employee (we'll call her Felice) has returned to the company and taken Kathy's old cube. I just sent Felice some files and had the SAME conversation with her, right down to the "But I don't HAVE a disk!" comment...
Re:Must be something with that cube... (Score:1)
A good rule of thumb (Score:1)
"Dr Solomon" quote? Or was it Norton? (Score:2, Funny)
"Clicking on an executable attachment is a bit like taking a drink from an open bottle you found by the side of the road"
(I've probably messed that quote up, but you get the idea).
Matt
Re:"Dr Solomon" quote? Or was it Norton? (Score:1)
A "what the hell is this?" might be appropriate first though, particularly if (s)he doesn't drink from it first.
What I tell my Dad (Score:1)
A few things... (Score:2)
1. Explain to them that while viruses (trojans, worms, blah) are something that isn't inherently tied to any one platform, that they are _most_ common on the Windows platform, mainly due to Windows Scripting and Outlook. Tell them there are alternatives to these things, and how to remove/uninstall/disable Windows Scripting. Let them know about Netscape/Opera/Eudora. Most of all let them know how "on-the-ball" Microsoft has been with these problems.
2. Tell them about Linux/OSX/BSD/etc - don't preach about it, but let them know there are alternatives - put a bug in their ear, so to speak. Tell them that by running Linux/etc - they won't have to worry about viruses, because they simply won't run there. Tell them if they want to know more (and you know more - I am making a large assumption here, I know), to ask you.
3. Make sure they realize that viruses are the result of a homogenous system - that is, one large area of "sameness" - and that if everyone switched over to Linux tommorow, there could still be problems, though they would likely be much smaller, simply due to the way *nix has evolved security wise. Let them know that they don't have to be like their neighbor, that there are alternatives. Hand out "free" (and Free) copies of Linux...
4. If they still look brainwashed (and they probably will, or they will be asleep, or angry at you daring to insult Bill Gates - who knows?), tell them about ZoneAlarm for firewall protection and about some of the free virus protection software available. Hold a raffle for a (legit) copy of Norton AV (or whatever the favorite Win virus detector system is).
Also, in addition to this, educate them on who generally releases the majority of the viruses - their own school age children. Teach them to recognise budding computer geeks who really want to learn more, and have them get active in their son's or daughter's interests in such things. I know that not all virus-writers and script-kiddies are literal kids, but many are. I also don't know why they create such destructive things (when if they, whoever "they" are, gave it some thought, they would realize that viruses could do good things as well). But let them know that the next virus could come from their kid, and that if Ashcroft gets his way, their kid could be put away for the rest of his life.
If that doesn't wake them up, distribute BO instead, disguised as a cute greeting card or a nudie picture - at least then you could use all those machines owned by dolts for something "good", maybe.
Mod away...
As a Microsoft supporter... (Score:1)
Some suggestions (Score:2, Informative)
- 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.