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I just helped a 13 year-old relative set up a new Windows 7 desktop, making it as secure as I can remember knowing how to.

I has been an hour, and he just came to me saying "I seem to have a virus.". It was a website scam showing the big "You have a virus! ====== scan 100% complete.", with clever pop-ups and javascript, with the standard "clicking to close the window tries to install software" situation. Very good facsimile of a virus alert that has probably caught many adults.

I explained a little, and searched for some resources for explaining phishing and/or good software install policies, but didn't find much useful (other than a single corporately-bland youtube video).

So, anyone aware of any useful resources out there for conveying this tricky security issue?

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sounds like someone needs to make a "Don't Copy That Floppy" video for internet security basics – Xantec Apr 18 '11 at 22:51
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3 Answers

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Alison Gianotto (@snipeyhead on Twitter) has a good basic presentation meant for small companies available on one of her sites. http://www.snipe.net/2011/01/security-keynote/

It's a good overview at a non-technical level of all the "bad things" that can happen on the internet.

Alison is mildly-NSFW, however if your relative is old enough to surf the web unaccompanied, they're old enough for this document.

Hope this helps.

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Nice. Maybe he'll be receptive to that. – Tchalvak Apr 19 '11 at 3:32
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up vote 8 down vote

This is a video explaining phishing scams in a clear, simple way with drawings and audio. It's mostly targeted at banking customers, and talks a lot about credit cards and banking details, but the lessons explained in it apply to other forms of online activities.

screenshot from video

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Could you please add some more details about what this is and how it might be helpful? – nhinkle♦ Apr 18 '11 at 22:34
Plaintext video of phishing, somewhat specifically email and bank phishing, unfortunately, doesn't get into the idea of website phishing at all. Teen's not really going to deal with banking much. – Tchalvak Apr 18 '11 at 22:42
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@Tchalvak I know what's in it; I watched it. I'm hoping that @aimar will edit his answer to be a bit more useful. We discourage bare links without explanation. If you'd like, you could suggest an edit to the answer yourself, but I am trying to encourage the new user to write better answers. – nhinkle♦ Apr 18 '11 at 23:32
@nhinkle: I've tried to "enhance" my answer , hope you like it this way :) – lisa17 Apr 21 '11 at 20:24
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thanks for updating your post! Your update was a definite imporvement. I went ahead and made a few more changes, as an example of the sorts of explanation, formatting, and content we look for in great posts. – nhinkle♦ Apr 21 '11 at 21:10
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up vote 1 down vote

try also not to run as administrator?

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While useful, it doesn't answer the question. If you are taken in by a phishing scam you can still end up in a bad place even if you've not installed any software. – ChrisF Apr 21 '11 at 20:25
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