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Vista : included backup and security software

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Armando:
This is a simple question for those currently running Vista. My parents just bought a laptop. I'd like to help them a bit but I'm no Vista expert/user. Therefore, before I uselessly send them looking for extra stuff, I'd like to know what Vista is already capable of, in terms of :

- backup (imaging, incremental...)
- Security (firewall, antivirus)

As it is, is it enough for someone who's NOT very computer litterate to safely browse the net, and backup files efficiently?

Thanks!

PS : any other tangential recommendations will also be appreciated!

Lashiec:
Well, in terms of security, Vista includes Internet Explorer 7 with a protected mode, which means the entire browser runs in a sandbox, and it has no access to the rest of the system unless you specify it (by means of a dialog), here it's the friendly explanation, and here the technical details. Of course, you're better with a properly configured browser like Opera or Firefox, with ad blocking and everything, but you can add SpyBot's download blocker, which also serves as an ad blocker (yeah, it's strange, but I prefer doing that than adding 80,000 URLs to the registry <_<)

What else? The firewall now has outbound protection, together with some improvements outlined here, to me it looks quite better than the one included with XP, and, as we discussed in other threads, it complements the protection of a properly configured router.

It also includes the lovely UAC. Remember that by using TweakUAC, you can rid of the pesky dialogs, while retaining the rest of the security advantages (IE protected mode, etc.)

Finally, it has Windows Defender, while not being SpySweeper or AVG Anti-Spyware, it's a good product, and monitors the usual hijacking locations, while protecting from spyware. A bad point of it is its lack of updates, which are not even daily, sometimes weekly, and mostly you have to rely on its heuristics from new threats protection. It's also lightweight, which I like, but personally I would choose another app if you can AND if you feel like your parents have enough expertise for handling a more advanced app. Otherwise it's adequate, I've been testing it for a month or now, and no infection problems, even after navigating to some questionable sites, but I think I'll settle for another free alternative, maybe ThreatFire.

I don't know about backups :P

Armando:
Thank you very much Lashiec. That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

So, all (well, most) things considered, security wise I believe they should be ok from what you said. They're really not heavy users.

I just checked Vista's backup utility and it's pretty *pathetic* -- I'm not even trying to compare it to Leopard's Time Machine, for instance... I'll have to think of an easy way for them to get into the habit of backing up. Something very simple, but still efficient and robust.

Jammo the OrganizedFellow:
Immediately upon receipt of my new Gateway Vista laptop, I installed AVG anti-virus.
It runs better than the preinstalled McCrapAfee.

Armando:
Immediately upon receipt of my new Gateway Vista laptop, I installed AVG anti-virus.
It runs better than the preinstalled McCrapAfee.
-jammo (January 20, 2008, 07:29 PM)
--- End quote ---

Thanks for the feedback.
For now, I installed the free Avast on my parent's laptop. I still haven't made up my mind about the backup solution...

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