[geeks] any thoughts for hardening w7?

[Nicolai]

On Thu, Dec 20, 2012 at 10:30:38PM -0500, Lionel Peterson wrote:
> The Microsoft Security Essentials product is free, and is actually worth every
> penny! ;^)

General:
* Replace Adobe stuff with alternatives (e.g. Foxit Reader)
* Uninstall Java
* Verify ALSR is enabled
* Get Malware Bytes and run it regularly
* Run Windows Update regularly
* Make sure she understands that most antivirus software is
fake/malicious.

For web browsing, use:
* NoScript or similar, with an appropriate whitelist
* AdBlock Plus may block an occasional malicious ad
* Malware Hash Registry (for downloads in Firefox)

Or if she's open minded and doesn't need some precise piece of
Windows-only software, you could install Ubuntu.  I recently picked up a
"new" surplus machine pre-loaded with Ubuntu, and before installing
OpenBSD, played around a bit.  I was amazed at how appropriate it is for
a general audience.

Nicolai