Advice Request Are these too many add-ons?

[Chigwells]

Phew, what a change. Following all your suggestions, I'm now down to these three (security) add-ons.

Only use one adblocker, either µBO or Adguard and disable ad blocking in MB as it's best used just for security, e.g. phishing, etc.

Check! Disabled the ad-blocking component of MB

I studied this tutorial to learn about better protection and playing around with the options:

How to use uBlock Origin to protect your online privacy and security | uBlock Origin tutorial 2018


I've learnt so much, thanks All.

 

[Chigwells]

Finally I wanted to add, I use these other add-ons as well:

Raindrop for bookmarking
Bitwarden password manager
Copy as Markdown for note-taking
Startpage search

Seven add-ons in total

 

[n8chavez]

Finally I wanted to add, I use these other add-ons as well:

Raindrop for bookmarking
Bitwarden password manager
Copy as Markdown for note-taking
Startpage search

Seven add-ons in total

Why are you adding extensions for search and bookmarking? Those aren't needed. Just add startpage as a custom search engine. Also, do you really need malwarebytes? I mean, come on, it sucks!

 

[oldschool]

@n8chavez makes valid points. And once you learn about medium mode in µBO you'll keep adding to it with experience, trial & error, etc. It would help if you started a PC security conifuration thread as I already forgot which browser you use.

 

[n8chavez]

Judging by the screenshots @Chigwells uses Firefox, or some Firefox fork. That being the case, if I were you I would absolutely learn and lean in to uBo. You'd be surprised at what it can do to help you stay clean from adware/malware is you effective use medium mode. My suggestions:

1. Keepass with the database and keyfile stored different locations (database in the cloud keyfile local or vice versa) + password. That'll be better than bitwarden because you'll be in control of the data.
2. Custom DDG search - https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%s&kp=-2&kav=1&kn=1&k1=-1&kk=-1&kaj=u&kay=b&kak=-1&kax=-1&kaq=-1&kap=-1&kao=-1&kau=-1&kw=w
3. uBo in medium mode (happy to share "My Rules" if requested)
4. Enable privacy.resistFingerprinting

That'll negate the needs for most of your extensions, and you'll be more secure. Here less is more.

 

[Pixel_]

uBo in medium mode (happy to share "My Rules" if requested)

I'm interested in this.

 

[Kongo]

Phew, what a change. Following all your suggestions, I'm now down to these three (security) add-ons.

View attachment 268947

Check! Disabled the ad-blocking component of MB

I studied this tutorial to learn about better protection and playing around with the options:

How to use uBlock Origin to protect your online privacy and security | uBlock Origin tutorial 2018


I've learnt so much, thanks All.

And now remove Firefox Multi-Account Containers and Malwarebytes Browser Guard too and then you are good to go. Multi-Account Containers doesn't add much to your privacy as Firefox has Total Cookie Protection enabled by default which has a similar effect on dealing with cookies. It's also mentioned in the link I mentioned in my first post:



Malwarebytes is a good extension which is updated regularly but it's not really necessary if you harden your uBlock Origin like in the video of The Hated One. Otherwise if you still don't really feel safe, you can use secure DNS like Quad9 or NextDNS that can block malicious sites, ads and trackers system-wide without the need for another extension.
I'd also really be interested in your complete computer security config. How about you add your own security config thread here: Computer Security Configuration

When you entered all the details, a moderator will rate your config and how secure it is. In addition, people can give recommendations and other useful tips to further improve your config.

Here is mine for example: Advanced Plus Security - SecureKongo's Computer Security Config 2022

 

[Mystic]

a password manager

This is just more convenient, but less secure. Now the majority of Password managers offer web-first Web apps.

I am considering migrating from Dashlane to KeePassXC and without the browser extension.

 

[eonline]

But total cookie protection only works with the strict mode of firefox which can cause many sites to go wrong, especially if you use a vpn, because the native firefox canvas fingerprint is the same as tor.

 

[Pixel_]

I am considering migrating from Dashlane to KeePassXC and without the browser extension.

I use KeePassXC. Used Bitwarden, but I find it more reassuring when my data is stored locally and encrypted.
I think you will like it, it's also easy to use.

 

[Kongo]

But total cookie protection only works with the strict mode of firefox which can cause many sites to go wrong, especially if you use a vpn, because the native firefox canvas fingerprint is the same as tor.

Nope, not anymore: Firefox Rolls Out Total Cookie Protection By Default To All Users | The Mozilla Blog

 

[Mystic]

I use KeePassXC. Used Bitwarden, but I find it more reassuring when my data is stored locally and encrypted.
I think you will like it, it's also easy to use.

Even if you upload your vault to your personal drive, it would be much safer than Bitwarden's cloud. Hackers would rather target servers that host the data of millions of users than target you specifically.

 

[eonline]

Nope, not anymore: Firefox Rolls Out Total Cookie Protection By Default To All Users | The Mozilla Blog

/*** [SECTION 2700]: ETP (ENHANCED TRACKING PROTECTION) ***/ user_pref("_user.js.parrot", "2700 syntax error: the parrot's joined the bleedin' choir invisible!"); /* 2701: enable ETP Strict Mode [FF86+] [B]* ETP Strict Mode enables Total Cookie Protection (TCP)[/B] * [NOTE] Adding site exceptions disables all ETP protections for that site and increases the risk of * cross-site state tracking e.g. exceptions for SiteA and SiteB means PartyC on both sites is shared * [1] [URL='https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/02/23/total-cookie-protection/']Firefox 86 Introduces Total Cookie Protection – Mozilla Security Blog[/URL] * [SETTING] to add site exceptions: Urlbar>ETP Shield * [SETTING] to manage site exceptions: Options>Privacy & Security>Enhanced Tracking Protection>Manage Exceptions ***/ user_pref("browser.contentblocking.category", "strict");

Release arkenfox user.js v103 · arkenfox/user.js

🟦 links: FF103 release notes | FF103 for developers | FF103 security advisories 🟪 issues: diffs FF102-FF103 | changelog v103 🟩 changelog summary new user_pref("geo.provider.use_geoclue", false); ...

github.com

So arkenfox is wrong? Thank you very much.

 

[n8chavez]

Please delete this post.

 

[n8chavez]

I'm interested in this.

Here you go

 

[Pixel_]

Here you go

Interesting list, will go through it.

 

[n8chavez]

Interesting list, will go through it.

No list is going to be one size fits all. You're going to have to customize it to your needs.

 

[oldschool]

So arkenfox is wrong?

No, and with TCP you don't have to use Strict mode. Even with it enabled I haven't found it to break websites, but of course YMMV depending on browsing habits.