In the Enterprise version of Windows 8 and Windows 10 there is a function called Applocker that prevents the execution of an unknown program, thus preventing any possible activity of a malware or a virus. However, you can cleverly use the child protection utility integrated in Windows 8 and Windows 10 and also installable in Windows 7 to use a computer without having to worry about viruses, which would inevitably be blocked.
In practice, you go to configure Family Safety for yourself, using the computer with a child account without however limiting and with the possibility, when needed, to put the administrator password in case of installation of a new program.
In the past, I had already talked about Windows Family Safety of how effective it is in controlling the computer use of children or other family members, to prevent them from messing up and configuring what they can do.
In this case, we will use Family Safety in a different way, to protect ourselves completely with a protected account, activating the password request for each new installation .
On Windows 8 and Windows 10 the configuration is very easy and fast while for Windows 7 you need to download the Family Safety program from Windows Essentials .
In Windows 7, therefore, you must first create a new account from the control panel, without giving it administrator permissions, as a local account.
Only then can Family Safety be opened and that account added to monitoring.
In Windows 8 and 10 instead you have to open the PC Settings .
Move the mouse to the right or press the Windows-C keys, click on Settings in the sidebar and then, at the bottom, click on Change PC settings .
Then go to the Account tab and click on Other Accounts where you can add a new account.
In the account creation screen, click on the link below " add a child account ".
On the next screen, without entering an email address, click on the bottom line " Add a child account without email ".
At the end, leave the access password blank which, in this case, is not needed and conclude the procedure.
In Windows 10, a child account is automatically managed through Family Safety.
The child account is not a limited account until specific rules are imposed and can therefore be used freely as the primary computer account .
At this point, log out of the administrator account or restart the PC and log into Windows with the child account to load the initial settings.
To use Family Safety, the administrator must use a Microsoft account on Windows 10 and 8.
In Windows 7, however, you will need to log in to the Family Safety program using a Microsoft account.
Log out of the child account, go back to the administrator account and open the Family safety website where you will see a list of users.
Then click on the name of the child account and, in the menu on the left, click on App Restrictions .
Activate the protection, but allow all the programs in the list (or exclude the ones whose password you want to protect).
Note here the activity report section which is a complete summary of the use of the computer, interesting for making statistics and seeing what is done over time, which can be deactivated.
The job is now finished so you can log in with the child account and work without any fear of catching viruses or downloading dangerous programs that will be blocked, even before the antivirus, by Family Safety.
All new applications not included in the list of allowed programs will be blocked and will require the authorization of the administrator who, in this case, is the same person.
Then log on to the computer using the child account, try to install a new program or run an .exe file to see Windows request the intervention of the parent, that is the administrator.
This will help prevent infections from malware, spyware and all types of malicious software .
The approval of a new program is very fast and just click on the " a parent is here " button to enter the administrator password.
Family Safety, in the end, is a simple utility not only for parental controls, but also for general computer security, which on Windows 8 and also on Windows 7 can be used for themselves.
