Advanced Plus Security brod's security configuration (2019)

[brod56]

MAIN GOALS
- Simplicity - I hate to see clutter, I try to keep things as minimalistic as possible.
- Zero cost - Spending money on security suites is not my thing.

ADVISES FOR ADOPTERS
- Check downloaded files in VirusTotal before running them
- Be careful with email links
- Avoid pirated software

 

[bribon77]

Looks good . Thanks for sharing

 

[LDogg]

Great ideology when it comes to your, unique and effective!

~LDogg

 

[harlan4096]

A VPN Service in Web Privacy would be welcome.

Thanks for sharing

 

[Dhruv2193]

Looks good. No major thing to add.

 

[JM Safe]

Good config.

 

[brod56]

A VPN Service in Web Privacy would be welcome.

Thanks for sharing

I'm not testing any sort of malware, neither doing any illegal stuff, so I see little need to hide my identity
Anyway, which free VPN do you recommend? I tested a few of them some time ago and they were quite bad.

 

[harlan4096]

To have/use a VPN does not imply You are going to commit illegal activities...

 

[Dhruv2193]

I'm not testing any sort of malware, neither doing any illegal stuff, so I see little need to hide my identity
Anyway, which free VPN do you recommend? I tested a few of them some time ago and they were quite bad.

Airvpn, expressvpn, Nord vpn, surfshark are some good vpn solutions.

 

[brod56]

Airvpn, expressvpn, Nord vpn, surfshark are some good vpn solutions.

Thanks for the suggestions.
I took a quick look at them and none of them seem to be free. As I stated in the original post I'm not spending any money on this config.

 

[brod56]

To have/use a VPN does not imply You are going to commit illegal activities...

I know, but I still see little benefit of a VPN for a regular home user.
What's your opinion on the matter?

 

[harlan4096]

Of course it depends on Your needs just was a suggestion...

 

[brod56]

UPDATE (01/01/2019)
- Removed Andy Ful's Configure Defender - most important WD tweaks were performed manually via Powershell
- Added Controlled Folder Access - took some time to exclude my favorite programs and add another layer of security
- Switched to Opera's native adblocker - fastest solution, good enough

 

[brod56]

UPDATE (04/01/2019)
- Added device specs, use purposes
- Simplified main post
- Disabled WD Network protection (Neustar+Google Safe Browsing filterings are perfectly enough)
- Disabled WD Controlled Folder Access (a good idea with bad execution, seeing Windows built-in tools like Notepad or System32 processes being blocked is just too much)
- Added VT context menu uploader for convenience

 

[Moonhorse]

MAIN GOALS
- Simplicity - I hate to see clutter, I try to keep things as minimalistic as possible.

I kind of want to adopt this style aswell, i have improved alot......but youre superman since you can keep rocking opera with built in adblocker

ADVISES FOR ADOPTERS
- Check downloaded files in VirusTotal before running them
- Be careful with email links
- Avoid pirated software

Simple and effective

 

[bribon77]

Good config. Thanks for sharing

 

[brod56]

I kind of want to adopt this style aswell, i have improved alot......but youre superman since you can keep rocking opera with built in adblocker

Yeah, I was only using uBlock Origin, and while it's objectively a better blocker, it's not as fast as the built-in one.
With Opera, I reached my goal of running no extensions, while having a enjoyable web experience and fine security.

 

[Alexandre Ravelli]

Thanks for sharing