Advanced Plus Security Brambedkar59's Security Config 2024

Last updated
Jan 6, 2024
How it's used?
For home and private use
Operating system
Windows 11
Other operating system
2 older laptops running Win 10 (one with F-secure and other Kaspersky Free)
On-device encryption
N/A
Log-in security
    • Biometrics (Windows Hello PIN, TouchID, Face, Iris, Fingerprint)
    • Basic account password (insecure)
Security updates
Check for updates and Notify
Update channels
Allow stable updates only
User Access Control
Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer
Smart App Control
Off
Network firewall
Enabled
Real-time security
Kaspersky Free 2023
Firewall security
Microsoft Defender Firewall
About custom security
Idle scanning, inject script and https scanning disabled
Periodic malware scanners
Norton Power Eraser
EEK
Malware sample testing
I do not participate in malware testing
Environment for malware testing
N/A
Browser(s) and extensions
Common extension/Search in all browsers: Bitwarden, Google Search
Edge (Default): Adguard, BD TrafficLight, Lyrics Here, Shazam
Firefox (Secondary): Adguard
Chrome (Just in case above 2 doesn't work): Adguard
Secure DNS
NextDNS
Desktop VPN
Windscribe VPN
Password manager
Bitwarden
Maintenance tools
Biweekly run: Windows Built-in, CCleaner, WiseCare 365 (Rarely used), Driver Store Explorer [RAPR] (for deleting old drivers not needed)
For finding program updates: PatchMyPC, UCheck & RuckZuck
HiBit Uninstaller
File and Photo backup
Google Drive, OneDrive
System recovery
Hasleo Backup Suite
Risk factors
    • Browsing to popular websites
    • Working from home
    • Making audio/video calls
    • Opening email attachments
    • Buying from online stores, entering banks card details
    • Logging into my bank account
    • Downloading software and files from reputable sites
    • Sharing and receiving files and torrents
    • Gaming
    • Gaming with third-party mods
    • Streaming audio/video content from trusted sites or paid subscriptions
Computer specs
11400H (UV via ThrottleStop), 3050Ti (UV via G-Helper), 16 GB, 0.5TB + 1 TB NVMe, 1 TB & 4 TB HDD (for image backup and downloads)
Notable changes
Kaspersky Security Cloud Free -> Avira Prime
Avira Prime -> Kaspersky Security Cloud Free
Kaspersky Security Cloud Free -> MalwareBytes
MalwareBytes- > Emsisoft AM
Emsisoft AM -> Bitdefender TS
Bitdefender TS -> Kaspersky Free
Kaspersky Free -> MS Defender
MS Defender -> Kaspersky Free
What I'm looking for?

Looking for medium feedback.

Notes by Staff Team
  1. This setup configuration may put you and your device at risk!
    We do not recommend that other members use this setup. We cannot be held responsible for problems that may occur to your device by using this security setup.

brambedkar59

Level 29
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
1,869
I am in love with Bitdefender, I used to hate it for slowing down system. But this time it's light, lighter than Emsisoft (I am not talking about memory usage here but snappiness of system UI and apps). I wasn't thinking of changing AV, I only switched because of my BSOD issue I was having (fixed now), trying to troubleshoot when I switched to Bitdefender.

Replaced:
Emsisoft AM -> Bitdefender TS

Updated to Win 11 build 22621.1265
 

brambedkar59

Level 29
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
1,869
Is it just me or text appears thinner in Chrome . Fonts are sharper in Edge.
Left is Chrome, Right is Edge
1677778256298.png


Edit: I was not going crazy, MS really improved the font rendering in Edge (starting v92) compared to vanilla Chromium/Chrome.

Edit 2: I am really noticing reading text on Chrome is harder.
 
Last edited:

oldschool

Level 81
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 29, 2018
7,044
Is it just me or text appears thinner in Chrome . Fonts are sharper in Edge.
Left is Chrome, Right is Edge
1677778256298.png


Edit: I was not going crazy, MS really improved the font rendering in Edge (starting v92) compared to vanilla Chromium/Chrome.
I have Edge "Enhance text ..." enabled and I'm not really seeing a difference.
 

SeriousHoax

Level 47
Well-known
Mar 16, 2019
3,630
Is it just me or text appears thinner in Chrome . Fonts are sharper in Edge.
Left is Chrome, Right is Edge
View attachment 273299

Edit: I was not going crazy, MS really improved the font rendering in Edge (starting v92) compared to vanilla Chromium/Chrome.

Edit 2: I am really noticing reading text on Chrome is harder.
Just checked after turning off the dark mode flag and yeah you're right. Fonts look better in Edge than Chrome.
But with the dark flag, texts are white, and it looks the same in both browsers. Both looks fine.
But for white themes, Firefox still has the best font rendering IMO. Even after Edge's improvement, Firefox looks better in my eyes. They are even sharper and bolder.
Edit: Added screenshot. Harder to notice on screenshot.
1.png
 
Last edited:

brambedkar59

Level 29
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
1,869
I have Edge "Enhance text ..." enabled and I'm not really seeing a difference.
I am seeing huge difference in fonts b/w Edge & Chrome (worse). Also no need to change flag it's enabled by default.
after a rollout period we plan to have this behavior enabled by default in the Edge 92 stable channel.


Just checked after turning off the dark mode flag and yeah you're right. Fonts look better in Edge than Chrome.
But with the dark flag, texts are white, and it looks the same in both browsers. Both looks fine.
But for white themes, Firefox still has the best font rendering IMO. Even after Edge's improvement, Firefox looks better in my eyes. They are even sharper and bolder.
Edit: Added screenshot. Harder to notice on screenshot.
View attachment 273300
You are right, Firefox wins with Edge coming close second and Chrome is last in terms of best font rendering.


while these changes are specific to Edge, we hope to be able to contribute them back to Chromium so that all Chromium-based browsers on Windows enjoy a consistent font rendering experience.
Wonder if they ever did that.
 

brambedkar59

Level 29
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
1,869
When Edge moved to Chromium, at the beginning there was a friendly vibe between them, with the Chrome team happily welcomed their move. But things have changed since then. So I won't surprise if they had never done that.
Yeah, in the start I remember Chrome/Edge team being buddy-2, but I guess honeymoon period does get over after a while. I really hoped MS would chose Firefox Gecko for their Browser base.
 

brambedkar59

Level 29
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
1,869
Remember the BSOD issue I had few months ago? Turns out it wasn't solved completely. Now instead of BSOD, system sometimes crashes at shutdown (not always but sometimes system would take 5-6 minutes just to shutdown) without any actual blue screen for me to see. I only found out about it by looking at "Reliability History" and then Event viewer.

So back to MS Defender for troubleshooting purposes.

Edit: Win 11 build 22621.1928
 
Last edited:

brambedkar59

Level 29
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
1,869
System is rock solid for more than a month or so. No issues with BSOD or sleep crashes anymore. 🥳🎉
  • So switched to Kaspersky Free again.
  • Added MB Windows Firewall Control (Medium Filtering)
  • Removed Malwarebytes (was just using VPN)
  • Added Windscribe VPN pro
  • Win 11 22H2 build 22621.2134
I was this close to clean installing Win 10 this time, I guess we will see next time.

PS I made changes last week but didn't update the config here.
Also, I tried Emsisoft AM last month for couple of weeks, felt no difference in performance. I only tried it because their changelog said they made some optimizations to make it better lighter. I guess it didn't work on my system. Still have issue with FPs. Not recommended anymore.
 
Last edited:

Vasudev

Level 33
Verified
Nov 8, 2014
2,224
Trying out UCheck as a SUMo alternative (in finding updates it was the best among PatchMyPC, RuckZuck, WingetUI), don't like the UI so far, maybe it will grow on me.
I just use winget to recursively update all apps except MS Edge which uses enterprise .msi links.
Just use the cmd:
Bash:
winget upgrade -r // upgrade all apps one by one
winget upgrade -r -u // upgrade all and detect unknown/unlisted apps example:Megasync
winget upgrade -h -r // silent updates without progress
 

brambedkar59

Level 29
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
1,869
Changes:
inject script and https scanning disabled in Kaspersky (really slows down browsing)

Replaced Ublock with Adguard (Chrome Webstore version)
Replaced Kaspersky extension with Bitdefender TrafficLight.

Updated Windows build 22621.2283
 

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