how to stop others using my PC being able to download files?

[phatbird]

my brothers use my lap top for the internet and ive noticed that they have been saving and downloading various files, i was wondering if there was a way of stopping this, ive added a guest account so they can use but this doesnt stop them being able to download stuff only not being able to access my files.

can i put a stop on files being downloaded other than by myself by putting a password or block or something?

my fire wall only stops certain things being downloaded like mp3s, torrents etc

[The-Prophet]

i don't think so, not easily.

[Alan P]

Well, you can, but if they're in anyway computer savvy it's very easy to turn it back on again. I wouldn't worry too much, make sure your firewall is working properly and your antivirus is up to date. A word in his ear probably wouldn't go amiss either!

You could, of course, password the actual machine itself!

[tictac]

Make sure he has not got administrator's rights. Then from your profile, block accross the board the sites he goes to download stuff from. Block the site for all users, then he cannot change it back so easy. Add it to your spyware blocker list if you want to be sneaky.

[Serberus]

Assuming your using internet explorer you can turn off downloading, this is a system wide setting so it will effect you as well. You would need to turn it on and off as and when you lent your laptop out.

Click Start > Run
Type gpedit.msc
Click OK
Expand the:
User Configuration
+Administrative Templates
+Windows Components
+Internet Explorer
+Internet Control Panel

Double click "Disable the security page" and click Disable.

Continue expanding through to:
+Security Page
+Internet Zone

Double click "Allow file downloads" and click Enable and choose Disable from the drop down menu.

This will stop the computer from being able to download files in Internet Explorer.

You'll need to reverse those changes when you want to save files yourself.

If you're using any browser other than IE this won't work. Also, if you have websites put into zones, such as the intranet zone and trusted zone then this won't block those. You would need to go through and change the "Allow file downloads" option in every "Zone" in the security page section.

This is the simplest way to turn off file downloads.