I specifically wrote my book, Digital Survival Guide, to help address this knowledge gap in digital security and safety that our society has. However, education may not be enough for everyone and you may need to take a sandbox approach. Have them use a VM and expect to refresh it from a snapshot often. Check out my book, you and your parents will find many useful tips.
Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
21–30 of 221 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
#22In my experience, don't. Offer them your best solution for a novice user, which for me is usually an up-to-date machine with an ad blocker, and make sure that you're open for
Ultimately, they're adults, and the last thing your father will want is to be treated like a child on his own machine. If he fucks something up, fix it, and tell him what he can do to not have that issue come up again.
Re: Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
#23If you are stuck on Windows or Mac you can try a program that restores the computer to a safe state on reboot, like Deep Freeze.
Not a bad idea.
What are your thoughts on file-syncing using DropBox? Solutions have to be easier than breathing - I used to take a regular image of the PC for backup purposes but then my dad would complain he couldn't actually view the files.
Re: Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
#24After my mom got scammed online, I had "the talk" with my parents and we agreed that they would just use iPads and iPhones.
I've had no tech support calls for a couple of years now.
I think a chromebook is a good option if a keyboard is required.
It's a losing battle at this point. Your time is better spent educating them against social engineering attacks (I'm still afraid my mom is going to return a call to the voicemail the "IRS" left)
Re: Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
#25There are already good solutions below. The one thing I would add is that this may not be a "silver bullet" kind of problem. I'd throw everything I can into the mix to create layers of protection. Educate them but also add software solutions to the mix. A small addition, how often do they need to install new software after initial setup? Maybe take away admin privileges?
Should hardly ever need to - but I am rarely at home so would prefer not to be in a position where any time they need to do something I need to be present.
The only real software he would need at the moment is for photoediting
Re: Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
#26I am the opposite of most comments here. Don't stupid her away to a mobile device.
We got our mom a computer, a cheap one, and told her to play with it. Break it. Click everywhere.
Soon enough she was playing with windows settings. Soon enough nothing worked. She now knew you can brick computer, she is more careful.
We fixed the computer and she explored the internet. She asked how she could download wallpapers, we introduced her to torrents and file sharing. She got viruses. She learned that you can get virus online and they will delete your hard worked wallpaper collection. She is aware of the dangers of the internet now.
For a while you would download all the free adblockers, anti-virus, etc., she could find and put them on CDs. She learned to clean her own computer.
Right now she is very comfortable with computers and it allows her to have more freedom. She will easily connect with people online, like we do here. I'm certain it has helped her keeping smart.
She even feel out pain now. Whenever one of her neighbours lady has issues with computers they call her.
Re: Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
#27Install them Ubuntu, KDE Neon or Mint. Works for my parents since... I dropped Windows XP.
Idem for me. I have installed Ubuntu-gnome. sshd, wine and powerpoint viewer are the main customization. When the computer is started, I receive a SMS so that I can perform updates or backups.
Re: Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
#28Not the answer you want but an ipad might limit the damage that can be done. It would remove the need for education.
Is it still true? I would have thought that by gaining popularity Apple devices would become the target of malwares as well.
It's not that easy to break into the walled garden. There are fundamental differences between a iPad and a PC (or a Mac, if the distinction still makes sense).
Re: Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
#29I am the opposite of most comments here. Don't stupid her away to a mobile device. We got our mom a computer, a cheap one, and told her to play with it. Break it. Click everywhere. Soon enough she was playing with windows settings. Soon enough nothing worked. She now knew you can brick computer, she is more careful. We fixed the computer and she explored the internet. She asked how she could download wallpapers, we i…
It is after all how the rest of us learned. Windows 95 (alpha) was so unreliable you had to reinstall it monthly as it ripped itself apart so you got to know how to reinstall windows and get it setup again. I spent time in the control panel after that because I knew how to start over.
20 years later after countless errors my computer gets reinstalled when Microsoft pushes out a garbage patch or I get new hardware.
Re: Ask HN: How do I protect my parents from the internet?
#30I am the opposite of most comments here. Don't stupid her away to a mobile device. We got our mom a computer, a cheap one, and told her to play with it. Break it. Click everywhere. Soon enough she was playing with windows settings. Soon enough nothing worked. She now knew you can brick computer, she is more careful. We fixed the computer and she explored the internet. She asked how she could download wallpapers, we i…
I like this approach. But how did you mitigate the risk of a more serious data compromise like identity theft? Did you wait until she understood the dangers before allowing her to use sensitive logins like banking and email?