Cats-4_Owners-2 Security Config

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Nice choies of Distro's, 3 of which are among my top favorites. I think you shall find pleasure in touring those.

Thanks illumination! Your words shine brightly. These linux distros have saved me on those occasions (sometimes after Windows updates) when my host OS takes a powder. I'd blame the rain (..but more so Windows!) as it rarely rains in Southern California ...except right now!
Korora is the newest, and yet since it was among the original iso(s) I'd first wanted to try at a time I'd become discouraged after it's more muscular brother, Korora Cinnamon, which hadn't even gotten off the ground nearly as well as Wilbur & Orville Wright's ocean view flight, ended up sitting in our downloads file for so long I'd actually forgotten it was there!
I shall now change my intro reply of "battle of the systems" to linux!

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Windows 8.1

added:

• Opera Browser 26 (latest stable version)

..with only 4 extension add-ons. 1) LastPass 2) uBlock 3) ZENMATE, and 4) HTTPS Everywhere.
I'm surprised with how quickly it responds, and like how simply the user interface is laid out.

added:

• LastPass program installed.

allows IE to use LastPass and also added the LastPass ext. for Opera (perhaps a binary?).

Edit:
added: AdGuard ext. to Opera due to uBlock not updating subscriptions.

Update edit: Happily, uBlock seems to be working! ..and now there are six extensions.

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Removed:

1. Google Chrome portable 32 bit version browser from external USB flash drive because of non-functionality.
2. Cyberfox portable version x64 bit browser. Two tabs would open & redirect to Window.54com (or some such) and a soft porn site. (Those girls were still wearing Santa Hats!)

Added:

• Reinstalled Cyberfox to upgraded version 34.1

I'd noticed after deleting the file where I'd kept the Chrome shortcut, this malady was alleviated (so far!).

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Windows 8.1

Added:

unchecky.

@donetao, an appreciative thank you. See? People 'do' listen! ...sometimes.

Yes, I know. I could easily 'uncheck' the boxes as most expert level members & staff have always done, and continue to do; but let's just pretend for a moment that unchecky is UAC.

OK, don't we look (& feel) a bit smarter now?

Windows 7 SP 1

Added:

User account meant for my wife to encourage her to use a non-administrative account for everything. No such luck..
She showed her much noticed appreciation most convincingly (to me) when she did not have any of her "can't live without them" bookmarks on Firefox. We are well past this, although my pleasant throwback 'reward' to the proverbial "Dog House" is that I now find myself using this non-administrator's account on our (her) lap top which now occupies the space directly in front of the screen to my lubuntu desktop. Oh well.

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Windows 7 SP 1 / 8.1 settings:

changed: UAC from Max (Always notify) to Default setting
...because it now "notifies me only when apps try to make changes to computer...(and) .. does not when I make changes to system! ".

 

[donetao]

I have mine turned off. @Cats-4_Owners-2 I ain't scarred. I get sick of that pop -up. If a bad dude gets me, I'll just restore with Macrium.

 

[donetao]

Hi Special friend! I just finished creating a thread untitled "How would you never have to worry about Malware again"
I think it's pretty good. I'm waiting on moderator to see if it get's published. Hope you're doing well!
Thank you for all the likes you have checked on my replies and threads. I'm now a Super Star
Gary!

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

I have mine turned off. @Cats-4_Owners-2 I ain't scarred. I get sick of that pop -up. If a bad dude gets me, I'll just restore with Macrium.

Even as we could hold a philosophical debate over UAC, I can also see (and respect) your point of view, mathematically speaking:

• Subtracting annoyance (as UAC) = Readiness with the recovery (in case of change!)

My personal decision to use UAC is very similar to my choice to use unchecky. Regardless of what we think or say, I hope they shall continue to work at protecting myself and Windows from unwanted changes.

Hi Special friend! I just finished creating a thread untitled "How would you never have to worry about Malware again"
I think it's pretty good. I'm waiting on moderator to see if it get's published. Hope you're doing well!
Thank you for all the likes you have checked on my replies and threads. I'm now a Super Star
Gary!

Thanks for your comments, my friend, donetao; and congratulations, Mr. SuperStar!!

PS I'll keep my eyes peeled for that thread!
***
Config Edit:

Windows 8.1

Added to Opera browser:

DotVPN extension. So far so good, and it's encrypted connections appear quick and feel responsive.

 

[donetao]

Hi Friend ! It just posted. Tell me what you think and don't be afraid to offend me. I take advise very well!
Well most of the time I do!!

 

[jamescv7]

Well I'm not against on UAC because even in myself I've already leave at default because it shows only with pretty basic notifications upon execution applications only and does not disturb for my continuously workloads.

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Added to Windows 7 SP 1 & 8.1:

HitmanPro.Alert 2.6.5

• http://www.surfright.nl/en/alert

 

[starchild76]

why the late adding of hitman pro cats??

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

why the late adding of hitman pro cats??

After having used HitmanPro's secondary Anti-Malware scanner since first becoming a member here, I saw that HitmanPro.Alert 2.6 had (somehow) been overlooked by me until fairly recently. It's compatible with ESET.
Plus, it seemed adding protection against banking trojans and cryto ransomeware would be a very good thing to do.

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Added:
SlimJet x86 32 bit (portable version)

Removed from Windows 8.1:
Firefox

 

[nissimezra]

Added to Windows 7 SP 1 & 8.1:

HitmanPro.Alert 2.6.5

• http://www.surfright.nl/en/alert

seems to be good the question is how effective it is
testing it
edit
well it seems to be a joke not doing anything, another useless resource huger
another 6mb of ram.

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

seems to be good the question is how effective it is
testing it
edit
well it seems to be a joke not doing anything, another useless resource huger
another 6mb of ram.

@nissimezra did your own testing indicate HMP.Alert lacked functional warnings or protection? My hope is that it does not seem to be working until there is a reason to.

 

[nissimezra]

@nissimezra did your own testing indicate HMP.Alert lacked functional warnings or protection? My hope is that it does not seem to be working until there is a reason to.

I've tested it yesterday on 2 fishing urls, I loged in gave fake details and it did nothing, so I just shared it with you.
you can see as well britec09 tested it with a ransomware and it did nothig

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

I've tested it yesterday on 2 fishing urls, I loged in gave fake details and it did nothing, so I just shared it with you.
you can see as well britec09 tested it with a ransomware and it did nothig

Thanks for sharing, nissimezra. After you brought this to my attention, I was more more open &

updated Windows 8.1: HitmanPro.Alert 3.0.25 Build 143
Source http://malwaretips.com/threads/hitm...29-release-candidate.39282/page-4#post-343961

 

[nissimezra]

Thanks for sharing, nissimezra. After you brought this to my attention, I was more more open &

updated: HitmanPro.Alert 3.0.25 Build 143
Source http://malwaretips.com/threads/hitm...29-release-candidate.39282/page-4#post-343961

welcome bro

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Removed: HitmanPro.Alert 3.0.25 Rc (from Windows 8.1 only)

Loss of keyboard functionality placed me in a conundrum. The actual keyboard could not be used for password pop up windows. Unable to allow an exception for HitmanPro.Alert in Avast! hardened mode (touch screen keyboard did not work in Avast!'s pop up hardened password window). After using screen keyboard all day (it's actually quite good!) I was eventually able to devise <copying> the password from notepad in order to <paste> thus allowing access. Alert trial period was listed as expired, although I'd applied update to free version. After removal with CCleaner, hardware keyboard works again!

PS @nissimezra, you did try to warn me.