Advanced Security ColonelMal's Security Config 2022

Last updated
Jul 3, 2022
How it's used?
For home and private use
Operating system
Windows 11
On-device encryption
Log-in security
    • Biometrics (Windows Hello PIN, TouchID, Face, Iris, Fingerprint)
Security updates
Check for updates and Notify
User Access Control
Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer
Smart App Control
Network firewall
Real-time security
Microsoft Defender
DefenderUI (Free)
Voodooshield
Sandboxie-Plus
Firewall security
Microsoft Defender Firewall
About custom security
DefenderUI (Interactive setting)
Periodic malware scanners
As decided by Microsoft?
By Voodooshield as may be necessary
Malware sample testing
I do not participate in malware testing
Browser(s) and extensions
Chrome (uBlock Origin, Cookie Auto-Delete, DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials)
Firefox (AdBlock Plus, Cookie Auto-Delete, DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials)
Edge
Secure DNS
None
Desktop VPN
NordVpn
Password manager
Keepass
Web and some email passwords also saved in Chrome and Firefox
Maintenance tools
None
File and Photo backup
Macrium Reflect Home Edition
FreeFileSync
Crashplan (Business Edition)
System recovery
Macrium Reflect Home Edition - image backups taken daily
Crashplan (continuous backup)
Risk factors
    • Working from home
    • Browsing to popular websites
    • Browsing to unknown / untrusted / shady sites
    • Opening email attachments
    • 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
    • Streaming audio/video content from shady sites
Computer specs
Dell Inspiron 5482 2-in-1
8GB RAM
Intel i& 8565U
256GB SSD (plus backup data kept on 5 external disks all connected to the laptop)
Notable changes
Added DefenderUI
2022 05 24 Updated DefenderUI to v.1.02
2022 06 17 Added Sandboxie-Plus
2022 06 27 Replaced GoodSync with FreeFileSync
2022 07 03 Replaced Adblock Plus by uBlock Origin in Chrome and updated DefenderUi to v.1.03
What I'm looking for?

Looking for medium feedback.

ColonelMal

Level 3
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
Jul 5, 2017
109
I hope that this is within the rules of the Forum: My current configuration includes a subscription to Comodo Internet Security which will expire in about three months' time. I'm being proactive and I'm considering the configuration described below, in case I decide not to renew my CIS subscription.
 

Gandalf_The_Grey

Level 76
Verified
Honorary Member
Top Poster
Content Creator
Well-known
Apr 24, 2016
6,506
Nice config (y)
I have some suggestions:

I would set UAC to always notify to prevent bypasses:
Gebert's straightforward mitigation advice to prevent UAC bypass attacks is setting UAC to "Always Notify." Doing so will always show the user UAC prompts before high-risk applications are executed.
Since you are using VoodooShield and Microsoft Defender you could try DefenderUI from @danb (or ConfigureDefender from @Andy Ful ) for more protection.
For Google Chrome there is a Microsoft Defender Browser Protection extension:
Personally, I would replace AdBlock Plus with uBlock Origin:
 
Last edited:

L0ckJaw

Level 19
Verified
Content Creator
Well-known
Feb 17, 2018
870
@ColonelMal I would like to know why you are using AdblockPlus, any user advantage for you personally?
As already mentioned by @Gandalf_The_Grey you may consider either uBlock Origin or even Adguard Browser Extension.
Also use Adblock plus ,
Ublock too hyped and too bloated.
Adguard has Russian ties so a no go for me.

Adblock plus is really great and a good YouTube Adblocker too. And it’s from Germany , GDPR compliant.
 

silversurfer

Level 85
Verified
Honorary Member
Top Poster
Content Creator
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Aug 17, 2014
10,057
Also use Adblock plus ,
Ublock too hyped and too bloated.
Adguard has Russian ties so a no go for me.

Adblock plus is really great and a good YouTube Adblocker too. And it’s from Germany , GDPR compliant.
As I am from Germany, I know very well about the history of ABP. My question was more related to features of Adblock Plus and why @ColonelMal prefers using it?
You told us it's good for blocking ads on YT, so that's a valid advantage👍

But I believe we should avoid any political debate about software from Russia, otherwise you know what happens ;)
 

L0ckJaw

Level 19
Verified
Content Creator
Well-known
Feb 17, 2018
870
As I am from Germany, I know very well about the history of ABP. My question was more related to features of Adblock Plus and why @ColonelMal prefers using it?
You told us it's good for blocking ads on YT, so that's a valid advantage👍

But I believe we should avoid any political debate about software from Russia, otherwise you know what happens ;)
I’m not starting anything ,
Should I have said I don’t use adguard because I don’t like the logo ? I’m honest and direct I hate turning and twisting.
 
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SeriousHoax

Level 47
Well-known
Mar 16, 2019
3,630
Adblock Plus is much worse in all types of resource consumption from initial CPU usage, background CPU usage, memory usage, web page loading delay, etc. compared to uBlock Origin which additionally is also more effective at blocking ads and trackers.
 

ColonelMal

Level 3
Thread author
Verified
Well-known
Jul 5, 2017
109
@ColonelMal I would like to know why you are using AdblockPlus, any user advantage for you personally?
As already mentioned by @Gandalf_The_Grey you may consider either uBlock Origin or even Adguard Browser Extension.
A few months ago I switched from Firefox to Google Chrome after many years' use of Firefox as my main browser. In setting up Chrome I added AdblockPlus as one of the extensions that I use. This was in contrast to Firefox with which I used uBlock Origin. The decision to change was not based on any in-depth investigation, but was taken based on which user reviews appeared to me to be more convincing!
 

L0ckJaw

Level 19
Verified
Content Creator
Well-known
Feb 17, 2018
870
Adblock Plus is much worse in all types of resource consumption from initial CPU usage, background CPU usage, memory usage, web page loading delay, etc. compared to uBlock Origin which additionally is also more effective at blocking ads and trackers.
Dont agree with you, its very light, more than Adguard and Ublock.
 

SeriousHoax

Level 47
Well-known
Mar 16, 2019
3,630
Dont agree with you, its very light, more than Adguard and Ublock.
It's not really a thing about agreeing or disagreeing. It's a test carefully done which tried to show all the details. In a real world scenario, most users won't notice the difference in page loading speed impact since it's only a few milliseconds and the CPU and ram usage won't be noticed by anybody unless someone checks it by him/herself.

For example, now I don't notice any difference in page loading speed between uBlock Origin and Adguard. But if I open browser task manager then I can see that uBlock Origin uses less CPU and ram.

Anyway, I mentioned the article for everyone to see. uBlock Origin and Adguard are factually the best adblockers out there. In some cases, Adguard works better because they also create and maintain their own filter lists.

BTW, Adguard is not based in Russia anymore. They moved their headquarters to Cyprus in 2017 and fall under EU law.

This is a quote from 2017:

Yep, we've moved the HQ to Cyprus a couple of months ago.

There're quite a few reasons for doing it.

1. Cyprus is in EU and EU privacy laws make us (as an ad blocker) feel much more comfortable than any other place.
2. Currencies conversion. AG is a global product and selling it from Russia leads to losing a lot.
3. Tons of small but annoying limitations and restrictions. For instance, Russian PayPal automatically blocks accounts with more than $10k, you should keep an eye on the balance and withdraw funds to not allow this situation.
4. Relatively (comparing to other EU countries) low taxes for IT companies and IP Box regime.
5. Fewer "KGB" accusations :)
 

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