I have this Tech Support USB

[TexasVet]

What a title eh? lol
OK, seriously... I have been reading/using GIZMO's suggestions and tools for years on my PC, including, now, my laptop.
I have started helping others with 'layered security' on their PCs and I am no TechHead at this and they are way less Tech.

What I'm trying to sort out here is two things;
I want to set up portable apps on my USB to install a layered security to other machines w/o any need to go online before it is all in place and protection turned on.
1. Do I need some 'app launcher' also on my USB, as suggested here in the forum, to make the process easier? Or do only some apps need their own launcher?
2. I need 'User Friendly' (not low tech,read NO tech) layered security, that, once installed, is almost transparent to the User. I allow for the regular running of ACS or disk defrag etc. for instance but not anything much more involved.

Does techsupport have any kind of category for the 'lay user layered security' that the rest of us could install for all those that are clueless?

[for info, I cleaned up a lady's VISTA laptop and found 86 pending vista updates (24 were for languages), and her desktop pc had 4 G of crap for CCleaner to remove... I couldn't believe it ! ! ]

Thanks in advance for your collective help. You are the 'pros'.. All I can do is 'link and steal' and that makes me a 'con'. pun intended, so groan and get past it. :lol:

[TexasVet]

Ok, It's another day and I have no responses yet so be advised I'm off trying to pick the potable apps that will install on my clients machine directly from my USB. Virus and rootkit finders/killers first. I also have to 'fix' windows defender 'fail to initialize' on 2 XPs and I have found various techniques including the full uninstall/reinstall.
I hope I get lucky...

[Sope]

Surely the easiest way is to just carry on your USB stick the latest installers of the various apps you may need to install on the machine you are working on.

If you want to actually install some apps on your USB stick and run them from there, here's one starting point.

Also don't forget the potential risk of carrying an infection back to your own PC if you plug your USB stick into someone else's infected PC.

Regarding question 2. - you may find something contained in this thread of use to get you started.

[Sope]

Some of my suggestions (to get you started) for the non tech PC user would be :-

IMO Avast is a good choice as an install-and-forget AV
MSE appears impressive and is also very simple and user friendly install-and-forget option.

Windows Firewall

No HIPS fit your requirements

Possibly Sandboxie?

O, and make sure automatic updates are on!

[Sope]

I also should have mentioned OpenDNS.

....and maybe set up CCleaner to run as a scheduled task?

(apologies for the multiple posts, my brain must be slower than usual this evening!)

[TexasVet]

Thanks Sope, I'll check, in depth, the two suggestions in your first post. I guess I should have said what I was doing for these other folks when I posted, so I'll give a brief here;
The machines are XP (destop) and Vista(laptop)
They both have AVG, Threatfire, CCleaner and IObit ASC
They both have windows update and defender up and running.

Since reading some posts Saturday, I'm changing to SUPERAntispyware from Threatfire.
Also IObit Advanced System Care is pre ASC360, but I will probably drop it because I don't like what I read about it now. Just not sure what should replace it, if anything.

I'm thinking of installing Microsoft Security Essentials based on the reviews and recommendations here. Run and threat removal times are really not an issue with the users. I may opt for AVAST but the periodic re-registration and high false positives may confuse/annoy the users.

Lastly, I like the sound of OpenDNS, I'm just not sure I even understand what it is enough to use it on a client machine. ( I haven't taken the leap for my own yet. lol) I've never been comfortable 'configuring' something when ''maybe'' my ISP, or my 2 computer network are involved. I dont understand the ins and out of networks and Domains. Maybe I don't need to, but I'm not tekkie enough to know even that.
Appreciate the feedback very much.

Oh! the infection of my USB has happened already (what a surprise ! !) but the user machine with AVG slammed it immediately and when I got back to my laptop, I let ESET NOD32 take another look and 'all is well'.

[Sope]

Originally Posted by TexasVet

Since reading some posts Saturday, I'm changing to SUPERAntispyware from Threatfire.

Are you aware these two fulfill different roles, i.e. Threatfire is a HIPS.
Most people seem to use SUPERAntispyware simply as a free on-demand scanner in addition to their other real time security software.

Originally Posted by TexasVet

Also IObit Advanced System Care is pre ASC360, but I will probably drop it because I don't like what I read about it now. Just not sure what should replace it, if anything.

Yup, I would just remove it.

Originally Posted by TexasVet

I'm thinking of installing Microsoft Security Essentials based on the reviews and recommendations here. Run and threat removal times are really not an issue with the users. I may opt for AVAST but the periodic re-registration and high false positives may confuse/annoy the users.

MSE would be a good choice for your purposes IMHO. It's extremely easy to install and understand.
Having said that, I find Avast very user friendly, FP's not a significant problem, and registration lasts for 14 months at a time!

Originally Posted by TexasVet

Lastly, I like the sound of OpenDNS, I'm just not sure I even understand what it is enough to use it on a client machine. ( I haven't taken the leap for my own yet. lol) I've never been comfortable 'configuring' something when ''maybe'' my ISP, or my 2 computer network are involved. I dont understand the ins and out of networks and Domains. Maybe I don't need to, but I'm not tekkie enough to know even that.

OpenDNS is pretty simple to set up, is very reliable, and appears to provide a significant degree of protection. You don't need to have any advanced knowledge to be able to make use of it, the website gives simple step by step instructions on how to configure your PC or router. The only thing you need to be aware of is that if you choose to register an account to make use of the advanced features, it may add complications with dynamic IP addresses.

Originally Posted by TexasVet

Oh! the infection of my USB has happened already (what a surprise ! !) but the user machine with AVG slammed it immediately and when I got back to my laptop, I let ESET NOD32 take another look and 'all is well'.

Panda USB vaccine or similar may help with this problem!

Good luck.

[J.L.]

You can replace Advanced System Care with Glary Utilities.

Avast doesn't have it's high false positives anymore according to the latest reports from av-comparatives.org

OpenDNS may be slower than your ISP's DNS, test it with this tool. Commodo Secure DNS and DNS Advantage are good alternatives (if you're only worried about security).

[TexasVet]

Thanks again Sope, for the extra info about OpenDNS etc. I may stick my toe in the waters.

And Also J.L. for the gary utilities recommendation, it's always good to know when there is another option to something that works but maybe can't be trusted.

Lastly, Sope, I understand about the HIPS (threatfire) vs Superantispyware, but was going to DriveSentry for the HIPS. During install, it recognized my ESET NOD32 AV and said it should be removed first. Cancelling the install, I was taken to their website to explain my self and said I was NOT uninstalling my paid ESET product.
They haven't called me back lol.

[J.L.]

DriveSentry can be installed without removing your AV, I've done it before (but don't remember how). Right now, its sites and authors are inactive for some reason.

If you're still willing to install it, prepare for the prompts.