"blah" <stfuhellworld@yah00.c0m.4u> wrote in message
news:45266551$0$8376$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> Hello people. It seems these days that there is just more crap (in a home
> environment) infecting peoples computers. Whether it be spyware, adware,
> Trojans or/and viruses its a pain in the arse to disinfect. Traditionally
> you go about patching systems , real time scanning, host editing and user
> education as a first line of defence. I have found that if you give a home
> customer a limited user account they will ring you every time they want to
> install something new. If you tell them to only log in as admin to install
> stuff they just end up using the admin account all the time. Then comes
> removing the infection. As every body know this can be time-consuming
> often taking longer than it would take to backup then format the system.
>
> What I was thinking (which is nothing new), is having two partitions on
> one hdd. Part 1 = windows Part 2= hidden. You have all the settings and
> individual data (psts, ie6 favourites, my documents) stored and accessed
> from part 2 . When the customer uses the computer it seems like a normal
> windows xp installation. When there is an infection you just re-image
> partition 1 ( in 1 step?) with the pre configured image. None of the
> settings will be lost because the xp installation will still look for
> settings and psts, ie6 favourites, my document on part 2 ? Does anyone
> know of any software that can help me do this???
>
You are looking for a technology solution to a human failing.
If a customer refuses to educate themselves, and decides on
convenience rather than security there is nothing you can do about it.
Perhaps just enjoy the extra work and income which the stupidity will
generate for you.

If they choose the convenience of web surfing with an admin account,
you can not protect them from their own stupidity. Same as leaving
a wallet or computer on the front seat of an unlocked car.

It's also about our warped notion of a bargain - we shop for cars by
'glitz' and low cost. It would only cost about $100 per car to make it
totally
theft proof, but the public does not place value on that.

The whole computer security problem will go away as soon as those
responsible for computer purchases insist on having security built in, and
the expense of 'neat features', instead of added on by extra costs programs
and patches.

Stuart