Fake alert viruses - Warning to users

Solution 1:

You really can't. Users don't care enough to delve into the topic of viruses, trojans, malware, etc...

The best you can do is have them run an up-to-date AV (AVG, MSE, etc.) along with a couple tools (with updates applied frequently) of anti-malware programs like Spybot Search and Destroy and AdAware.

Warn them also that multiple AV installed don't play nicely.

Last, be careful how far you go in playing sysadmin to home user system. You may end up taking responsibility for their home computer issues, and if you're not making it clear that this isn't pro-bono work you may be held responsible for fixes and updates (and BROKEN SOFTWARE PROBLEMS) that you and your advice may have had absolutely no connection to, but to the users...it's all "computer stuff", they did what you said to do, so it's your fault.

Trying to be the nice guy has backfired on people I know more than once...so be careful to qualify your advice with disclaimers.

I'd otherwise just tell them to keep scanning their system and keep anti-malware up to day, and whenever something pops up (or do it once a week) run the manual checks with spybot/adaware in addition to the on-access antivirus. NO ANTIVIRUS WORKS 100%. They need to know that.

Solution 2:

Harsh answer possibly but I would stay well clear of making any recommendations to your professional users about what they do with their computers or IT at home.

The reason is that people often don't care about work systems but care a hell of a lot about things they've spent their own money on - if they perceive you've somehow given them 'bad information' it will affect their professional opinion of you - yet they won't appreciate it when you do give them good advice.

It's an easy thing to dodge too, just state that the company uses pro-quality software that you wouldn't recommend for home use and that they're better speaking to someone at a consumer IT store for advice.

Like I say, harsh answer but why risk all your good work to give someone free advice they could get elsewhere.