Hard_Configurator - Windows Hardening Configurator

[Andy Ful]

That's not always necessary. I fixed it one time just by removing the user from Microsoft family.

This did not work for me.

 

[shmu26]

I have Brave installed on Windows 10 ver.1903. After installation, Brave creates two shortcuts, one on the Desktop and the second on Start Menu. They are not blocked by H_C.
I also pinned Brave to taskbar - this added another shortcut in:
C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
This location is not blocked by H_C, too.
The Brave shortcut was probably made somehow in the non-standard location that was not whitelisted by default in H_C

I ran into this problem today with Edge Chromium (stable).
If I pin it to the taskbar from the Windows Start menu, it is not blocked by H_C. But when I launch it, I get two icons in the taskbar.
If I don't use Windows Start menu -- rather, I simply launch Edge, and then right click on the icon and choose "pin to taskbar", that's when H _C blocks it. I am not sure how to unblock it. Even this whitelist rule doesn't work:
C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\*

Windows 10 1909

 

[shmu26]

This did not work for me.

Indeed, I tried it and it did not work.

 

[Andy Ful]

I ran into this problem today with Edge Chromium (stable).
If I pin it to the taskbar from the Windows Start menu, it is not blocked by H_C. But when I launch it, I get two icons in the taskbar.
If I don't use Windows Start menu -- rather, I simply launch Edge, and then right click on the icon and choose "pin to taskbar", that's when H _C blocks it. I am not sure how to unblock it. Even this whitelist rule doesn't work:
C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\*

Windows 10 1909

Could you check what was blocked by using <Tools> <Blocked Events / Security Logs>?

 

[Andy Ful]

@shmu26,
I installed the Edge Chromium. It replaced the native Edge and I have 4 icons: 2 icons in Start Menu (small icon in the left narrow panel and large icon in the right panel), one icon pinned to the taskbar, and one icon on the desktop. All are not blocked by H_C.
It is probable that you use Edge with 2 different setting profiles, so one of them can be in the folder:
c:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcuts\
Simply copy the blocked path, and use <Whitelist By Path><Add Path*Wildcards> to whitelist the shortcut.

Edit
The ImplicitAppShortcuts folder will be whitelisted by default for shortcuts in the new H_C version.

 

[shmu26]

@shmu26,
I installed the Edge Chromium. It replaced the native Edge and I have 4 icons: 2 icons in Start Menu (small icon in the left narrow panel and large icon in the right panel), one icon pinned to the taskbar, and one icon on the desktop. All are not blocked by H_C.
It is probable that you use Edge with 2 different setting profiles, so one of them can be in the folder:
c:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcuts\
Simply copy the blocked path, and use <Whitelist By Path><Add Path*Wildcards> to whitelist the shortcut.

Edit
The ImplicitAppShortcuts folder will be whitelisted by default for shortcuts in the new H_C version.

I am talking about shortcuts that I made manually, not the ones created when installing Edge Chromium.
The log says

Access to C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcuts\4ac866364817f10c\Microsoft Edge.lnk has been restricted by your Administrator by the default software restriction policy level.

And adding it to <Whitelist By Path><Add Path*Wildcards> did not help. I tried shortening the path more and more, replacing the latter part of it with *, but to no avail. Even after reboot, it refused to cooperate.

I had the same problem with Brave Browser. But Firefox did not have this issue.

It all depends on how you make the shortcut. The issue arises when you launch the program, and then right-click on icon and pin it. You can have two pinned icons right next to each other on the taskbar, and one works, while the other doesn't.

 

[Andy Ful]

@shmu26,
If you whitelisted the file path (but not "file path" in quotes):

C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcuts\4ac866364817f10c\Microsoft Edge.lnk

via <Whitelist By Path><Add Path*Wildcards>, then after applying changes (or logging off the account), this shortcut will be whitelisted, for sure. Please look at the <Tools> <Blocked Events / Security Logs> to see what is blocked now. It could be that Edge is installed in UserSpace and requires further whitelisting. If so, then simply whitelist the installation folder.

 

[shmu26]

Andy, you're right. I don't know what I did wrong before, but it works now.

 

[Andy Ful]

Andy, you're right. I don't know what I did wrong before, but it works now.

Congrats.

 

[polishpatriot]

I have a question. I was one of the overkill people, using HC and Voodooshield. I removed Voodooshield yesterday. I've got 9 months left on a license for AVAST premium security. Is there any reason to install AVAST Premium and use that firewall and AV, or is that just more overkill?

Why did you remove it ? Please give us full details.

 

[Outpost]

Why did you remove it ? Please give us full details.

What details does it have to give?
With Rehips, WD e H_C, what should still keep active?
It is clear that VS was overkill. There is not much to explain.

 

[polishpatriot]

What details does it have to give?
With Rehips, WD e H_C, what should still keep active?
It is clear that VS was overkill. There is not much to explain.

Why are you speaking for the poster ?
We don't know why until they provide an explanation.

 

[Outpost]

Why are you speaking for the poster ?

Because it is a forum and there is no regulation that forbids it. Do you have anything against it?

 

[polishpatriot]

Because it is a forum and there is no regulation that forbids it. Do you have anything against it?

Not really, but I'd just rather here from the poster because only they know why they uninstalled it.

 

[Outpost]

Not really, but I'd just rather here from the poster because only they know why they uninstalled it.

But he already said it!

...I was one of the overkill people, using HC and Voodooshield. I removed Voodooshield yesterday...

 

[Chuck57]

Why did I remove Voodooshield? It was not needed. Hard Configurator does it all, with ConfigDefender and Firewall Hardening. Voodooshield is very good, but not necessary, so I removed it.

 

[polishpatriot]

Why did I remove Voodooshield? It was not needed. Hard Configurator does it all, with ConfigDefender and Firewall Hardening. Voodooshield is very good, but not necessary, so I removed it.

So Voodooshield was "overkill" and not necessary.

Thank you.

 

[polishpatriot]

But he already said it!

Thanks, but like I said, I'd rather the original poster to explain it. There might be details that they didn't post. It might be more than a simple matter of overkill.

Just wanted a confirmation from the original poster. That's all.

 

[Chuck57]

Nope. No other reasons. I like VS, and if HC was not available, I might be running it.

I'm also a fan of ReHips and have tried it (free) several times but find it just above my skill level. HC is solid protection, less the sandbox, and selecting a configuration in HC is only a couple of mouse clicks.

 

[oldschool]

I love VoodooShield. And anything that @Andy Ful develops! These are some of the best apps! Easy to use too.