Danger borkduck Security Config 2024

Last updated
Nov 11, 2024
How it's used?
For home and private use
Operating system
Windows 11
On-device encryption
N/A
Log-in security
    • Basic account password (insecure)
Security updates
Allow security updates
Update channels
Allow stable updates only
User Access Control
Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer
Smart App Control
Evaluation mode
Network firewall
Enabled
About WiFi router
Spectrum
Real-time security
AVG (Free)
Firewall security
Microsoft Defender Firewall
About custom security
none
Periodic malware scanners
AVG, Windows Security
Malware sample testing
I do not participate in malware testing
Environment for malware testing
n/a
Browser(s) and extensions
Firefox, Edge (occasionally; really slows things down!)
Secure DNS
Firefox, Win 11
Desktop VPN
none
Password manager
none
Maintenance tools
AVG Free, Win11 security (scans)
File and Photo backup
none
Subscriptions
    • None
System recovery
Win11 Image
Risk factors
    • Browsing to popular websites
    • Browsing the Internet without an ad-blocker
    • Working from home
    • Buying from online stores, entering banks card details
    • Logging into my bank account
    • Downloading software and files from reputable sites
    • Streaming audio/video content from trusted sites or paid subscriptions
Computer specs
Intel Cor i7-12600KF

MSI Z790-P Pro WiFi DDR4

16GB DDR4-3200

1TB SSD (Samsung)

2TN HD
Notable changes
n/a
What I'm looking for?

Looking for maximum feedback.

borkduck

Level 1
Thread author
Oct 16, 2024
10
I'm shopping around for an AV suite that doesn't take 4+hrs to complete a scan. Have AVGFree on my new box right now (using Windows 11 firewall) and it takes 4hr+ to complete a deepscan on 826GB; on my old box (Win7/KIS) I was able to complete a scan on 1.7 tB in 1-1 1/2 Hrs max.

Am a pretty complete techno moron (took me 10 min to complete form before posting), so catching up on a decade+ of change is daunting. Win7/Kaspersky was a gem for over 10 years for me(sure miss it)! Right now I'm looking at BitDefender, Eset and Checkpoint Harmony. Am pretty careful about what neighborhoods I wander into, but still want good protection if I inadvertantly find myself in an unsafe one.

Thanks in advance for any guidance,

bd
 

Vitali Ortzi

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Dec 12, 2016
1,499
Last edited:

harlan4096

Super Moderator
Verified
Staff Member
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Apr 28, 2015
8,922
User Access Control -> set to Always Notify.

Browser(s) and extensions: Firefox, Edge (occasionally; really slows things down!) -> please specify which add-ons do You use, for example Ublock Origin / Ublock Origin Lite, to block ads.

Secure DNS -> for example: Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)

Desktop VPN -> maybe You don't need this service, if a desktop and don't connect to public Wi-Fis

Password manager -> use a 3rd party tool, don't use integrated manager in browsers.

File and Photo backup -> any cloud service to back up data?

System recovery -> full system back up image solution, such as Macrium Reflect or Hasleo.
 
Last edited:

Vitali Ortzi

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Dec 12, 2016
1,499
If you do a initial scan then have a AV running in the background there is no need to keep doing full scans, its unneeded & pointless.
You should do a full scan once for the antivirus to know which files are trusted and improve performance but you wouldn't need to scan again as every non trusted file is scanned on access, execution, modification



But id you think you currently have malware you can try
Symantec diagnostic Wich is more aggressive then power eraser (Broadcom Managed File Transfer)

Kaspersky virus removal tool Free Virus Removal Tool - Online Virus Scan | Kaspersky

Hitmanpro HitmanPro and HitmanPro.Alert. Advanced Malware Scanning, Detection and Removal Tools.




About DNS if you don't care about piracy being blocked and live in the eu (to have close servers ) then DNS EU is the best one
Else I would go for quad9 wich is one of the most piracy, privacy friendly and have near the same amount of detection in recent tests
(Far above google , cloud flare etc)


But if you want to block ads too them control D, next have similar top detection of malicious sites and have adblocking , categories as well
 
Last edited:
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borkduck

Level 1
Thread author
Oct 16, 2024
10
I rarely scan , Kaspersky is continuously scanning in real time …
Yep. I miss 'em mucho...

bd
User Access Control -> set to Always Notify.

Browser(s) and extensions: Firefox, Edge (occasionally; really slows things down!) -> please specify which add-ons do You use, for example Ublock Origin / Ublock Origin Lite, to block ads.

Secure DNS -> for example: Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)

Desktop VPN -> maybe You don't need this service, if a desktop and don't connect to public Wi-Fis

Password manager -> use a 3rd party tool, don't use integrated manager in browsers.

File and Photo backup -> any cloud service to back up data?

System recovery -> full system back up image solution, such as Macrium Reflect or Hasleo.


User Access Control -> set to Always Notify.
Currently set at Level 3

Browser(s) and extensions: Firefox, Edge (occasionally; really slows things down!) -> please specify which add-ons do You use, for example Ublock Origin / Ublock Origin Lite, to block ads.
None; formerly (on old box) KIS, Video DL Helper on FFox. No add blockers (tho sites frequently tell me that I need to 'turn off my ad blocker'. Another thing I don't get about the interwebs...

Secure DNS -> for example: Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)
Don't have any at the moment that I'm aware of. Is this included in some/most full version stand-alone AV suites?

Desktop VPN -> maybe You don't need this service, if a desktop and don't connect to public Wi-Fis
Desktop ethernet-only connection; public unless I need to access the printer, then switch to private

Password manager -> use a 3rd party tool, don't use integrated manager in browsers.
Don't have, have never used; keep all PW's in a secure location separate from the box

File and Photo backup -> any cloud service to back up data?
No cloud service of any kind

System recovery -> full system back up image solution, such as Macrium Reflect or Hasleo.
Win11 system image; why a 3rd party app?

* * *

Looks like the start of a good shopping list for AV offerings. I want something that has a secure browser connection (like KIS's 'Safe Money'). AVG Free has nothing like that. Currently using browser incognito windows for my 'secure' browser', which is no solution at all.

Thanks for the response, harlan4096. Much appreciated.

bd
 

borkduck

Level 1
Thread author
Oct 16, 2024
10
some options for checkpoint


zone alarm extreme Renewal 18$ 5 devices

harmony advanced CheckPoint License WebProtection Harmony Endpoint Advanced CP-HAR-EP-ADVANCED-1Y - 25$ 1 device
harmony basic CheckPoint License Software Harmony Endpoint Basic Protection CP-HAR-EP-BASIC-1Y 14$ 1 device


harmony extension Serious Discussion - [Extension]Checkpoint harmony web protection free unlimited and works with any av since its an extension



zonealarm beta is free too Download ZoneAlarm Software
Thanks for the steer. Much appreciated.

bd
 

Vitali Ortzi

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Dec 12, 2016
1,499
Yep. I miss 'em mucho...

bd



User Access Control -> set to Always Notify.
Currently set at Level 3

Browser(s) and extensions: Firefox, Edge (occasionally; really slows things down!) -> please specify which add-ons do You use, for example Ublock Origin / Ublock Origin Lite, to block ads.
None; formerly (on old box) KIS, Video DL Helper on FFox. No add blockers (tho sites frequently tell me that I need to 'turn off my ad blocker'. Another thing I don't get about the interwebs...

Secure DNS -> for example: Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)
Don't have any at the moment that I'm aware of. Is this included in some/most full version stand-alone AV suites?

Desktop VPN -> maybe You don't need this service, if a desktop and don't connect to public Wi-Fis
Desktop ethernet-only connection; public unless I need to access the printer, then switch to private

Password manager -> use a 3rd party tool, don't use integrated manager in browsers.
Don't have, have never used; keep all PW's in a secure location separate from the box

File and Photo backup -> any cloud service to back up data?
No cloud service of any kind

System recovery -> full system back up image solution, such as Macrium Reflect or Hasleo.
Win11 system image; why a 3rd party app?

* * *

Looks like the start of a good shopping list for AV offerings. I want something that has a secure browser connection (like KIS's 'Safe Money'). AVG Free has nothing like that. Currently using browser incognito windows for my 'secure' browser', which is no solution at all.

Thanks for the response, harlan4096. Much appreciated.

bd
Symantec and checkpoint extensions are better then majority of other av extensions and chrome , edge etc is already sandbox , secure by default so I wouldn't really look specifically for a secure browser (btw some of the "secure browsers" are just chrome outdated versions of chrome Wich actually reduces security)
 
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Vitali Ortzi

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Dec 12, 2016
1,499


Btw if you want an API key for checkpoint threat emulation and extraction I can dm you with an API key

Another tip turn on enhanced safe browsing in the browser it helps a little as well



Btw if you use chromium (chrome based browser) add this as well Microsoft Defender Browser Protection - Chrome Web Store


Because you have a high end pc you shouldn't feel much of a slowdown in browsing even with these three extensions although I would still recommend putting checkpoint into background scanning so it doesn't reduce page loading

Basically with Symantec intelligence (tons of feeds ) , quad9(lots of feeds , google /Microsoft (intelligence from a ton of users , checkpoint that has a ton of feeds , ai like plus zero pishing that work really well in detecting pishing pages that feeds can't detect

Should make any secure browser much worse in detection and the only feature missing would be a anti keylogger (scrambling of keys ) but there are free programs that offer that feature
 
Last edited:

harlan4096

Super Moderator
Verified
Staff Member
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Apr 28, 2015
8,922
Yep. I miss 'em mucho...

bd



User Access Control -> set to Always Notify.
Currently set at Level 3

Browser(s) and extensions: Firefox, Edge (occasionally; really slows things down!) -> please specify which add-ons do You use, for example Ublock Origin / Ublock Origin Lite, to block ads.
None; formerly (on old box) KIS, Video DL Helper on FFox. No add blockers (tho sites frequently tell me that I need to 'turn off my ad blocker'. Another thing I don't get about the interwebs...

Secure DNS -> for example: Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)
Don't have any at the moment that I'm aware of. Is this included in some/most full version stand-alone AV suites?

Desktop VPN -> maybe You don't need this service, if a desktop and don't connect to public Wi-Fis
Desktop ethernet-only connection; public unless I need to access the printer, then switch to private

Password manager -> use a 3rd party tool, don't use integrated manager in browsers.
Don't have, have never used; keep all PW's in a secure location separate from the box

File and Photo backup -> any cloud service to back up data?
No cloud service of any kind

System recovery -> full system back up image solution, such as Macrium Reflect or Hasleo.
Win11 system image; why a 3rd party app?

* * *

Looks like the start of a good shopping list for AV offerings. I want something that has a secure browser connection (like KIS's 'Safe Money'). AVG Free has nothing like that. Currently using browser incognito windows for my 'secure' browser', which is no solution at all.

Thanks for the response, harlan4096. Much appreciated.

bd
About Secure DNS, You can change / add it in Your W11 network settings: A List of Free and Public DNS Servers for 2024

Also, FireFox has its own Secure DNS that allows to enabled Cloudflare.

Ok, then please edit Your 1st post and add all the changes and missing data in Your config, thanks.
 

borkduck

Level 1
Thread author
Oct 16, 2024
10
About Secure DNS, You can change / add it in Your W11 network settings: A List of Free and Public DNS Servers for 2024

Also, FireFox has its own Secure DNS that allows to enabled Cloudflare.

Ok, then please edit Your 1st post and add all the changes and missing data in Your config, thanks.
FFox already had Default DNS protection enabled. Ditto Win11(DNS Server: Automatic (DHCP).

I have a feeling I'm building a mountain out of a molehill. Need to just find a reliable internet security suite a la KIS and fuggedaboutit. Pretty sure AVG isn't gonna be it, though.

Thanks,

bd
 

Vitali Ortzi

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Dec 12, 2016
1,499
FFox already had Default DNS protection enabled. Ditto Win11(DNS Server: Automatic (DHCP).

I have a feeling I'm building a mountain out of a molehill. Need to just find a reliable internet security suite a la KIS and fuggedaboutit. Pretty sure AVG isn't gonna be it, though.

Thanks,

bd
I'm using ESET instead on one of my machines and it's pretty good really love that I can check reputation of each file used to have Kaspersky on that system but since ksn is getting a reduction of user base I have decided to move (I still upload suspicious files to their threat intelligence as it accurately marks safe files )

ESET has safe browsing but personally I don't use it and instead use brave browser for everything and hitmanpro alert as my anti keylogger lately but there are a ton of free anti keyloggers that work well too
 
Last edited:

RoboMan

Level 35
Verified
Top Poster
Content Creator
Well-known
Jun 24, 2016
2,487
My two cents: you mentiomed you use no ad-blocker because you usually need to disable it. I'd specially recommend using an adblocker, like uBlock, at least with just a few filter lists enabled to avoid browsing issues. Ad-blocking will reduce significantly malvertising and drive-by downloads, which is a potential threat in 2024.
 

Vitali Ortzi

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Dec 12, 2016
1,499
My two cents: you mentiomed you use no ad-blocker because you usually need to disable it. I'd specially recommend using an adblocker, like uBlock, at least with just a few filter lists enabled to avoid browsing issues. Ad-blocking will reduce significantly malvertising and drive-by downloads, which is a potential threat in 2024.
he can use optimzed lists and brave adblocker GitHub - yokoffing/filterlists: Collection of blocklists to fill in the gaps then less websites will want him to disable it
 

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