Update Hard_Configurator - Windows Hardening Configurator

[Andy Ful]

Hard_Configurator was created after discussion on the below treads:

Secure Windows - Software restriction Policies to Windows Home
Windows Pro owner? Use Software Restriction Policies!
Poll - Do you use security reg tweaks?
Run by Smartscreen utility

I have got an idea to make the GUI for managing Software Restriction Policies, Registry hardening tweaks, and forced SmartScreen check. Hard_Configurator was compiled in AutoIt and can be downloaded from GitHub:
GitHub - AndyFul/Hard_Configurator: GUI to Manage Software Restriction Policies and harden Windows Home OS

What it can do?

Hard_Configurator makes changes in Windows Registry to accomplish tasks enumerated below:

1. Enabling/Disabling Software Restriction Policies (as anti-exe) in Windows Home.
2. Changing SRP Security Levels, Enforcement options, and protected extensions.
3. Whitelisting files by hash in SRP.
4. Enabling/Disabling Windows Defender PUA protection (Windows 8+).
5. Disabling/Enabling Untrusted Fonts (Windows 10).
6. Disabling/Enabling file execution from removable disks (Windows 7+).
7. Disabling/Enabling PowerShell script execution (Windows 7+).
8. Restricting shortcut execution to some folders only.
9. Disabling/Enabling Windows Script Host.
10.Hiding/Unhiding "Run As Administrator" option in Explorer context menu (Windows Vista+).
11.Forcing SmartScreen check for files without 'Mark Of The Web' (Windows 8+).
12.Disabling/Enabling Remote Assistance (Windows Vista+).
13.Turning ON/OFF all above restrictions.
14.Saving the chosen restrictions as defaults.
15.Loading defaults.
16.Choosing GUI skin.

All the above tasks (except forcing Smartscreen check) can be made by hand using Windows regedit. Anyway, with Hard_Configurator, it can be done more quickly and safely.
This program was created for advanced users to secure inexperienced users.

 

[Andy Ful]

Here are some screenshots.

 

[Av Gurus]

Beautiful...thank you...

UPDATE:
Win. Defender don't like it...


Will try with Exclude Options...

 

[Andy Ful]

Beautiful...thank you...

UPDATE:
Win. Defender don't like it...
View attachment 126364

Will try with Exclude Options...
View attachment 126365

Thanks. I had the same problem with RunBySmartscreen_1.0.3. After testing some malware samples, Windows Defender Heuristics flagged it as a trojan. Thankfully, after submitting it as a false positive, Microsoft qualified RunBySmartscreen_1.0.3 as clean.
Submission History Details
Yet, the new version RunBySmartscreen_2.0.1 is now flagged as a trojan.
Today, I will submit Hard_Configurator_1.0.0 and RunBySmartscreen_2.0.1 as false positives.
I hope, that Microsoft will be generous, and accept that Hard_Configurator can activate some Windows Pro capabilities in Windows Home.

 

[Andy Ful]

Files submitted. Now, we will wait.

 

[Av Gurus]

Can a hole folder be added to exception or can you add that?

 

[Andy Ful]

If someone installed Hard_Configurator in the real system, please add the quarantined files: RunBySmartscreen_2.0.1.zip, Hard_Configurator(x64).exe and RunAsSmartScreen(x64).exe (or in 32Bit system Hard_Configurator(x86).exe and RunAsSmartScreen(x86).exe ) to Windows Defender exclusions .
If the detection happened after installing Hard_Configurator, it is recommended also to install it again to have control over applied restrictions.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

Edited.
I think that there is a simpler method. If the executables are recovered from quarantine, then Windows Defender will ignore them.

 

[Andy Ful]

Can a hole folder be added to exception or can you add that?

What do you mean?

 

[Andy Ful]

The simplest method is to recover quarantined executables. Windows Defender will ignore them.

 

[Av Gurus]

What do you mean?

I mean in Hard_Configurator.
There is only Whitelist by Hash.

I have a folder with 20 portable apps and would like to add that folder to Whitelist, not one by one.

 

[Andy Ful]

I understand. Now, there's no such option. It can be added in the next version (whitelist by path). Do not you afraid to whitelist the folder in the User Space, and make the loophole in the security?
Whitelisting by hash will take you about 5 minutes.

 

[Andy Ful]

But on the other side, there is such option in Windows Pro SRP, so I think it can be useful for advanced users?

 

[Av Gurus]

I have like that in my SRP settings.

 

[Andy Ful]

You have three folders whitelisted by path in SRP (the paths: C:\Users\... and D:\...). The first path I think, is for Google Chrome and others for portable applications. All those folders are vulnerable to drive by attacks - you can run any program from those folders and bypass SRP. You are advanced user, so you know what you are doing. For inexperienced users, whitelisting by hash is much safer.
By the way, I did not see a malware file in the wild, that could exploit the above loopholes.

 

[Andy Ful]

Hard_Configurator is suited to advanced users who want to configure computers of inexperienced users. Inexperienced users first try to open/run/install files by mouse click or pressing ENTER key. This is protected by Software Restriction Policies and script blocking. So, media files, documents, photos, and already installed applications can be opened without any problem, but scripts and executables are blocked (in the User Space). Next, they try to use 'Run As Administrator' from Explorer context menu to bypass SRP blocking. This is protected by script blocking, and replacing 'Run As Administrator' by 'Run As SmartScreen'.
'Run As SmartScreen' performs SmartScreen check, and if the file is considered as safe, then allows to execute it. For inexperienced users SRP without 'Run As Smartscreen' is in many cases vulnerable to the 0-day malware attacks, if run with Administrative Rights. This can be more destructive than running files without SRP, because execution by mouse click (or pressing ENTER) does not automatically elevate integrity level. There is no such danger to experienced users, if they know why some files cannot be flagged with "Mark of the Web", and then must be ignored by SmartScreen App on the Run.
Yet, such security is not good for children, because they mostly do not respect SmartScreen alerts.

Hard_Configurator can be a good solution for inexperienced users if they:
* can respect SmartScreen check (always) and can get help from experienced user (from time to time);
* do not install many programs/games/utilities, especially when installed software is not popular;
* accept replacing the program that has problem with Hard_Configurator restrictions (rarely);

If so, the Hard_Configurator restrictions do not cause problems with always changing Windows OS, and provide very good security. This is especially important with Windows 10, where many antimalware programs can still have serious issues after system updates.

 

[Av Gurus]

Try to run on Win 7 x64 in VM, but got this pop-up:

 

[askmark]

@Andy Ful Thanks for sharing your program. I like your idea of protecting the computers of inexperienced users by utilising system tweaks. My parent's laptop is currently protected by KIS 2016. Would the changes made by your program be compatible with KIS?

 

[Andy Ful]

@Andy Ful Thanks for sharing your program. I like your idea of protecting the computers of inexperienced users by utilising system tweaks. My parent's laptop is currently protected by KIS 2016. Would the changes made by your program be compatible with KIS?

I think so. But, with KIS they do not need additional protection.

 

[Andy Ful]

Try to run on Win 7 x64 in VM, but got this pop-up:
View attachment 126387

Thanks. Confirmed on Windows 7 64Bit. I will work on this. It seems to be connected with not supporting 'SmartScreen on the Run' by Windows 7.

 

[Andy Ful]

@Andy Ful Thanks for sharing your program. I like your idea of protecting the computers of inexperienced users by utilising system tweaks. My parent's laptop is currently protected by KIS 2016. Would the changes made by your program be compatible with KIS?

But anyway, script blocking or Untrusted Fonts protection may not be the bad idea. I do not know how effective is KIS with malicious scripts.