Protecting all users/accounts on PC

[wojo629]

This may seem like a basic question but I have to ask.

As a single user of my own PC and laptop I've never had reason to ask this.

When a PC is set up with multiple accounts, one being admin and the others limited, when you use/install a program such as SpyBot or AdAware will it work on all accounts?

The scenario is this: My friend has five kids, they have one PC. Mom is admin, the kids all have limited accounts. When Kasperskys AV, AdAware, SpyBot, CCleaner and Spyware Blaster are installed, do the programs have to be installed in ALL accounts? I believe KAV covers all accounts-the entire PC. The others I just don't know!

When my question is answered, I may have part two!

Thanks, and sorry if this a dumb question.

[SuperSparks]

Just install those apps using the admin account, and they will be abailable to all users

[HAN]

Good question!

I agree with Nick that all should be available. But under Limited User accounts, functionality make not be what it should be. In my mind you will just have to check things out and see if there are any issues.

One example comes to mind for my setup. I run SUPERAntiSpyware. When initially loaded, it installed fine for both of my accounts. But after that, each account must update daily definitions separately or they won't be fully up to date. On top of that, full program upgrades must be ran from the Admin account. They won't install at all through the Limited account...

[wojo629]

SuperSparks and HAN, thank you for the reply......

Now comes part 2 of my question,

Should each account be checked for malware and viruses individually? I ask because I noticed that when I use CCleaner it has to be run from each account to clean up and fix errors. Should SpyBot and others be run the same way?

[HAN]

I don't think there is one blanket answer to your question. It depends on the program. Some will be like CCleaner and others will look at the entire machine. I'm thinking you'll need to scope things out for each app.

[SuperSparks]

Kaspersky will cover all accounts. Otherwise, as HAN says, you'll need to check the particular app. I don't use any of them, so I can't say.

[wojo629]

This is a definite learn as you go exercise. So far:

SpyWare Blaster has to be set up in each account and enabled, but cannot update in limited accounts,

Spybot has to be set up in each account and run/scan on an individual basis, with the same limitation on updates,

Kaspersky AV is universal as it covers/scans all.

Quickly coming to the conclusion that when a PC is set up like aforementioned in first post that way to go would be with combo pack, something like Kaspersky Internet Suite. Than you can scan/update from admin account and be done with, hopefully. It seems when you have problem(virus/malware) with multiple accounts it can take forevever to clean and fix.

Thoughts or comments?

Thanks.