Computer Security Software

Alter his e-mail security settings so ANY email address not specifically set up as a known associate that may be e-mailing him is automatically flagged and moved to the spam folder (or blocked and/or deleted entirely).

Won't stop everything (eg- if a known associate has an infected computer and is automatically emailing out spam, etc) but should greatly help.

Gmail does this automatically.....

https://support.google.com/mail/answer/25760?hl=en

Our Security/IT consultant says Web Root is the best.

I have it on my personal PCs.

I'm not saying it is the best, but it runs in the background all the time, and seems to do a good job.

(Not an endorsement)

If he only does web browsing and email then a Linux OS computer might be acceptable and safer.

What is it about Linux and even Mac that allows for safer browsing?

I had two Windows laptops with what I thought was good but expensive security that are trashed and went to an I Pad. three years and no problems.

Because Linux and even Mac are not owned by Bill Gates?

One good thing is your father works his computer, I wish I could get my mother into it but she has no interest in it at all, except to ask me for crossword answers. I feel she is missing a lot, but to each, his or her own.

Another choice could be Mailwasher.

I run Mailwasher which learns the senders of emails and can identify those in a blacklist and those of friends in a white list. Only the first 20 lines are displayed and each email that is suspect or not wanted can be marked for deletion. Delete those emails and use the link to open up the email program and only those emails which are "safe" will be opened.

It is a purchasable item but well worth it

Antivirus software works about as well as washing your hands prevents you from being sick. If you do it conscientiously, you won't get hacked as much as others. But you're going to get sick.

Assume you are both hacked, and that your personal data (financial and medical) is available for cheap on underground web sites.

Also assume that some commercial entities, mostly in the United States, know things about you that you don't know yourself. If you are rich enough and willing to act like a business, you can buy this information.

And, domestic and foreign governments know most of what there is to know about you.

Act accordingly, because it's all probably true. I don't lump all my money in one place, for one thing. I also keep 98% of my life off social media, don't use the same password for everything and use strong passwords for things I really hope to protect.

Other things you can do:

Keep a system restore CDROM handy, and reload the computer periodically.

Have a spare computer that you don't EVER connect to the Internet. Scan everything you EVER connect to it or insert into it (each time). That will keep all the hackers out of your data for at least a while.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and inputs. My 86 year old father will be benefiting from them.

To keep it relatively simply for him, my sister (who lives near him) will be looking into the Web Root and WOT software.

Thanks again.

The system wouldn't let me reply before! With a laptop you may do this anyway in order to conserve the battery; I turn my desktop completely off with a surge protector strip every night. Usually it's back on after breakfast, but sometimes not until late afternoon.

I'm running AVG for antivirus; I understand that both Norton and McAfee are frowned upon by users.

Also make sure you log off of any websites you visit since some will keep you logged in. Unfortunately I'm not doing well at this!