Advanced Security Divine Barakah's PC Security Config 2024

Last updated
Sep 5, 2024
How it's used?
For home and private use
Operating system
macOS 15 Sequoia
On-device encryption
BitLocker Device Encryption for Windows
Log-in security
    • Biometrics (Windows Hello PIN, TouchID, Face, Iris, Fingerprint)
Security updates
Allow security updates and latest features
Update channels
Allow stable updates only
User Access Control
Always notify
Smart App Control
On
Network firewall
Enabled
About WiFi router
I am using ISP-provided router. I connected a TP-Link Access Point.
Real-time security
Webroot Internet Security Plus
Firewall security
Microsoft Defender Firewall
About custom security
DefenderUI Pro Recommended with WDAC enabled
Periodic malware scanners
EEK
Malware sample testing
I do not participate in malware testing
Environment for malware testing
I do not participate in malware testing
Browser(s) and extensions
Vivaldi with multiple profiles

Dashlane, Webroot and Floccus
Secure DNS
NextDNS using Windows 11 DNS over HTTPS manual template
NextDNS with Private DNS setting in Vivaldi
Desktop VPN
BulletVPN is not working in Egypt
I have changed to Windscribe. It works flawlessly using Stealth option.
Password manager
Dashlane
Sticky Password (as backup) and Enpass (synced to Koofr)

NEVER PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET
Maintenance tools
Kerish Doctor
Smarty Uninstaller
File and Photo backup
Ente Photos
Koofr
External HDD
Subscriptions
    • None
System recovery
AOMEI BAckupper Pro
Risk factors
    • Browsing to popular websites
    • Working from home
    • 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
Computer specs
Lenovo Legion 5

-AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 16 GB Ram
- WD Blue SN500 500GB
-1TB WD Black
- Nividia GTX 1650 TI
What I'm looking for?

Looking for maximum feedback.

Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
That's what I thought. I like MBAM for the same reasons as you, except for the bloatware they've added to the new version. And it's made in the U.S.
Yes I do prefer older versions tbh. I do not need my security product to add a VPN and Identity Protection and a bunch of bloatware. I also hate the new GUI.

Windows is made in the US, so?
 
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Digmor Crusher

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Jan 27, 2018
1,424
Yes I do prefer older versions tbh. I do not need my security product to add a VPN and Identity Protection and a bunch of bloatware. I also hate the new GUI.

Windows is made in the US, so?
Yup, it's getting out of hand, more and more items being added that many users don't want or need, and instead of each one being a seperate program that you can choose to install they are going to include everything in one program in the future with no way to opt out. Unless they change their mind but I doubt it.
 

lokamoka820

Level 23
Mar 1, 2024
1,258
Yup, it's getting out of hand, more and more items being added that many users don't want or need, and instead of each one being a seperate program that you can choose to install they are going to include everything in one program in the future with no way to opt out. Unless they change their mind but I doubt it.
I think this is because Microsoft Defender now is sufficient for most users, AV vendors try to add features to show that they offer more, and this can trick some users.
 

Jonny Quest

Level 22
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 2, 2023
1,132
Yes I do prefer older versions tbh. I do not need my security product to add a VPN and Identity Protection and a bunch of bloatware. I also hate the new GUI.

Windows is made in the US, so?

Yup, it's getting out of hand, more and more items being added that many users don't want or need, and instead of each one being a seperate program that you can choose to install they are going to include everything in one program in the future with no way to opt out. Unless they change their mind but I doubt it.

Which is what make F-Secure IS so "refreshing" to use.
Screenshot 2024-08-04 193339.png Screenshot 2024-08-04 193305.png
 

Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
Yup, it's getting out of hand, more and more items being added that many users don't want or need, and instead of each one being a seperate program that you can choose to install they are going to include everything in one program in the future with no way to opt out. Unless they change their mind but I doubt it.
Well, if they start to be pushy anytime soon, I'll ditch it.
 
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Jonny Quest

Level 22
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 2, 2023
1,132
I like F-Secure. It offers great protection and is light on system resources. But honestly it has one of the worst GUIs. Very unorganised and not visually appealing.
I'm not real hip on the cartoon characters, but I tend to think it has a clean look :) Maybe it's an in the eye of the beholder, type of thing? :) But when it's a set it and forget it AV, where you're not constantly opening it up to click and tick settings, isn't so bad :)
 
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Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
I'm not real hip on the cartoon characters, but I tend to think it has a clean look :) Maybe it's an in the eye of the beholder, type of thing? :) But when it's a set it and forget it AV, where you're not constantly opening it up to click and tick settings, isn't so bad :)
Yea it is subjective.
 
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Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
Do Malwabytes Premium run with Microsoft Defender side by side as in the past, or it takes its place like any other AV these days?
I have the option to register MB in Security Centre enabled. I do not, under any circumstances, run more than one security solution. I need the least system impact. For me I either run MD or MB never both.

Edit

I believe If you disable that option in MB, it would enable MD. Frankly I have not tested how the two would play together.
 
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Digmor Crusher

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Jan 27, 2018
1,424
Is this setting responsible for that every time I want to install a new antivirus, it asks me to remove Malwabytes first?
That setting is in malwarebytes and by turning it off you can run MB and Defender together in real time. It is only for Defender and not any other AV you choose to use with MB.
 

Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
That setting is in malwarebytes and by turning it off you can run MB and Defender together in real time. It is only for Defender and not any other AV you choose to use with MB.
But I beleieve if u want to use MB with any other security solution, u need to untick this option.
 

Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
Made some changes to NextDNS

added OSID, Adguard Mobile Ads, Adguard Tracking Protection filter lists in Privacy Tab
added Windows, Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei in Native Tracking Protection.

Edit
I am not using NextDNS apps. I manually added nextdns config in each of my devices' settings. I have experienced issues using NextDNS windows clients which is not updated frequently. I believe the last update was in last March.
 
Last edited:

SeriousHoax

Level 49
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 16, 2019
3,863
Made some changes to NextDNS

added OSID, Adguard Mobile Ads, Adguard Tracking Protection filter lists in Privacy Tab
added Windows, Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei in Native Tracking Protection.

Edit
I am not using NextDNS apps. I manually added nextdns config in each of my devices' settings. I have experienced issues using NextDNS windows clients which is not updated frequently. I believe the last update was in last March.
You can just add AdGuard DNS in NextDNS instead of AdGuard Mobile and Tracking separately.
I would also suggest to add at least Hagezi Multi Pro in NextDNS since IMO overall it's the best DNS list. I'm using Hagezi Multi Pro++ but for testing you can start with the regular Pro version.
For using NextDNS natively on Windows, start terminal as admin and paste this. Then you can manually configure Windows to use NextDNS with DoH. I used the example of AdGuard Free DNS. So, replace the values with your NextDNS profile.
netsh dns add encryption server=94.140.14.14 dohtemplate=https://dns.adguard.com/dns-query autoupgrade=yes udpfallback=no
You would probably still need to set your DNS manually on your Chromium browser because it has an issue of not recognizing Windows's native DoH. Different yet similar issue was present in Firefox also until their latest version, 129.
 

7Oz-64

Level 1
Jan 16, 2023
45
Made some changes to NextDNS

added OSID, Adguard Mobile Ads, Adguard Tracking Protection filter lists in Privacy Tab
added Windows, Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei in Native Tracking Protection.

Edit
I am not using NextDNS apps. I manually added nextdns config in each of my devices' settings. I have experienced issues using NextDNS windows clients which is not updated frequently. I believe the last update was in last March.
Or you can also use le CLI version which is updated more frequently
 

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