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
Windows 11
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
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Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
Now reverted back to MD with DefenderUI Pro with recommended profile with WDAC enabled.
Started using Adguard Desktop with NextDNS DNS over HTTPS systemwide.
Installed MD Browser Protection
Removed all browsers and kept Vivaldi (multiple profiles for different purposes).
 

Divine_Barakah

Level 33
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May 10, 2019
2,289
Does this detection indicate that F-Secure is connected to cloud without any issues?
Screenshot (1).png
 

Divine_Barakah

Level 33
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Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
I'm not sure, but from the same webpage you're on when I launch the test, I get the full screen window of you should not surf here. In Chrome and Brave.
View attachment 285012 View attachment 285013

And from one of the other tests.
View attachment 285014
I intentionally disabled F-Secure extension on Vivaldi to let the CloudCar file download successfully. I wanted to test F-Secure cloud protection.

Judging from the detection name, it seems the test malware was detected by Avira's cloud?
 
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Divine_Barakah

Level 33
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Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
What you don't like about Microsoft Defender?
Personally, I have nothing against MD, but I hate the fact that Microsoft has decided to force it onto every single Windows machine. I prefer if Microsoft had given us the option t install it or not, or at least allowed us to fully disable it without the need to use a 3rd-party tool. I also hate the fact that one needs to use a 3rd-party tool or use GPO to configure MD for optimal protection.
 
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lokamoka820

Level 20
Mar 1, 2024
951
Personally, I have nothing against MD, but I hate the fact that Microsoft has decided to force it onto every single Windows machine. I prefer if Microsoft had given us the option t install it or not, or at least allowed us to fully disable it without the need to use a 3rd-party tool. I also hate the fact that one needs to use a 3rd-party tool or use GPO to configure MD for optimal protection.
So it is not that you think it is weak on its default settings?
 
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Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
A lot of changes for today

- MD default settings as DefenderUI Pro recommended profile caused a noticeable system slowdown especially when installing new software.
- Adguard Desktop with "Comfortable Protection" settings with DNS over HTTPS systemwide connected to Adguard Public DNS.
- Currently testing Avira Browser Safety
- Ditched Vivaldi and currently using Sidekick browser.
- Installed XYplorer. It is much faster that Windows Explorer.
- Installed Winrar only because it s digitally signed.
- Installed Swifdoo Pdf Editor
- OnlyOffice and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019
- Using Smarty Uninstaller.
-- Kerish Doctor on manual mode
-- Windscribe VPN with Stealth.

Regarding Sidekick browser, I am on the free plan, but if invite 20 people using my link I will get the Pro version for free, so I appreciate it if anyone is interested to use it.
Please use this link to try it.
 

Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
So it is not that you think it is weak on its default settings?
I do not think it is necessarily "weak" on default settings. With the use of a good browser extension such as BDTL, MBBG, or Avira Browser Safety and the use of Quad9 DNS, I believe one would be OK with the default settings.
 
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Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
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Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
I do not think it is necessarily "weak" on default settings. With the use of a good browser extension such as BDTL, MBBG, or Avira Browser Safety and the use of Quad9 DNS, I believe one would be OK with the default settings.
I also have backups of my important files. The most important files are synced to the cloud in Realtime. So no matter what goes wrong, if it ever happens, all I have to do is restore the system.
 
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Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
I replaced the Samsung NVMe with WD Blue Sn500 and performance is so much better even though the new SSD is much older, but it seems that the Samsung one has some sort of problem.

Reinstalled Webroot Internet Security Plus
Removed Adguard Desktop
Updated Wondershare PDFelement 11
Reinstalled Joplin (sync via WebDav to my Koofr)
Updated Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 to latest version
Kept only Vivaldi with multiple profiles
 

jamey910111

Level 2
Jun 7, 2024
87
I replaced the Samsung NVMe with WD Blue Sn500 and performance is so much better even though the new SSD is much older, but it seems that the Samsung one has some sort of problem.

Reinstalled Webroot Internet Security Plus
Removed Adguard Desktop
Updated Wondershare PDFelement 11
Reinstalled Joplin (sync via WebDav to my Koofr)
Updated Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 to latest version
Kept only Vivaldi with multiple profiles
Although i cant really back it up with any data i find office 2021 to be an improvement performance wise over office 2019 so i suggest installing that..although right now office 2024 is coming out

i am not even sure if office 2019 is getting security updates…

Also i ise script to remove ai from office each time, and block office and clicktooffice from internet until a security update is necessary..i dont update otherwise just for sake of updates, and just re-run the script each tome to get rid of ai which o believe has also led to performance improvements
 
Last edited:
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Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
Although i cant really back it up with any data i find office 2021 to be an improvement performance wise over office 2019 so i suggest installing that..although right now office 2024 is coming out

i am not even sure if office 2019 is getting security updates…

Also i ise script to remove ai from office each time, and block office and clicktooffice from internet until a security update is necessary..i dont update otherwise just for sake of updates, and just re-run the script each tome to get rid of ai which o believe has also led to performance improvements
What features am I missing? Office is costly and I do not upgrade unless I find a really good deal.

As for security updates, Office 2019 was updated on Aug 13
 
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jamey910111

Level 2
Jun 7, 2024
87
What features am I missing? Office is costly and I do not upgrade unless I find a really good deal.

As for security updates, Office 2019 was updated on Aug 13
Not features i guess but i believe performance/speed is better in general..not that office 2021 is issue free performance wise though..i found this the case working with heavier docs specially unless its placebo
 
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Divine_Barakah

Level 33
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 10, 2019
2,289
Not features i guess but i believe performance/speed is better in general..not that office 2021 is issue free performance wise though..i found this the case working with heavier docs specially unless its placebo
It is not sth worth upgrading for. BTW I still find Windows 10 faster than Windows 11, so the latest is not always the greatest.

And honestly I'd use OnlyOffice or Softmaker Office rather than M Office, but I am only uaing it to write my diasertation for now and ill ditch it soon.
 

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