My parents both use Lenovo T490 laptops equipped with 16GB of RAM, 512GB NVMe hard drives, and Intel Core i5-8365U processors. The laptops have been running flawlessly, but now they can't upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware checks. My biggest worry is that they are not tech-savvy and often click on questionable ads or 'free game' links, which makes them very vulnerable to online scams. With Windows 10 no longer receiving updates, I'm anxious about their safety when doing online banking. Is there any antivirus or malware protection I can install to keep them safe without having to constantly supervise their laptops? I should mention that my parents are 80 years old and have difficulty managing passwords, so I definitely don't want to switch their operating system or spend days transferring files and teaching them how to use it. Linux is not an option here.
4 Answers
I’d recommend checking out Malwarebytes. It’s pretty user-friendly and can work alongside Windows Defender to provide an extra layer of security. Just install it and keep it updated to help prevent malware or adware from sneaking in. Also, remind your parents to avoid clicking on anything suspicious, even though I know it’s tough!
Those laptops should run Windows 11 just fine! If there’s really nothing stopping them, I'd say make a backup and try a clean install of Windows 11. Plus, setting up proper DNS and installing an adblocker on their browsers could help keep them safer online without them going through too much hassle.
I agree that they should be able to upgrade. I’d prefer making sure everything’s backed up first, just in case any issues come up during installation.
With the potential for zero-day vulnerabilities once Windows 10 ends support, it’s smart to be proactive. I think Malwarebytes is a solid choice, and they can stick with Defender too; it should help protect them from common threats. Just keep in mind that the biggest risk might come from phone scams, which are harder to guard against than online threats.
Absolutely, just being cautious about what they download will make a big difference. It's good to know there are options like Malwarebytes available.
I’m surprised they can’t upgrade to Windows 11. Check if a BIOS update might solve the issue—Lenovo actually has Windows 11 drivers for the T490! Make sure everything's set up properly; sometimes it could be a small setting that's stopping the upgrade.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely look into the BIOS settings to see if that helps with the upgrade.
Bloatware is a worry too. It might be a good idea to limit software installations to trusted sources, like the official market, to minimize their chances of downloading scams.