Advanced Plus Security Kongo's Computer Security Config 2026

Last updated
Apr 29, 2026
How it's used?
For home and private use
Operating system
Windows 11
On-device encryption
BitLocker Device Encryption for Windows
Log-in security
    • Hardware security key
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
AiProtection Pro by TrendMicro (ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000)
Real-time security
Deep Instinct Endpoint Protection
CyberLock (Autopilot)
Firewall security
Microsoft Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
About custom security
Hardening tools:
- Cyberlock with Intelligent Firewall set to "Aggressive"
- Cyberlock with Security Posture set to "Aggressive"
- Run by SmartScreen (forces SmartScreen to scan files of choice)

- O&O ShutUp10 (recommended settings)
- O&O AppBuster (removed unecessary Windows 11 apps)
- Windows Sandbox



System settings:
- Reputation Based Protections (all modules enabled)
- Smart App Control enabled

- Data Execution Prevention set to AlwaysOn
- Core Isolation: Memory Integrity enabled
- Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection enabled
- Local Security Authority Protection enabled
- Microsoft Vulnerable Driver Blocklist enabled
- Memory Access Protection enabled
- Secure Boot enabled
- Drives encrypted via TPM (BitLocker)
- Windows Update Delivery Optimization disabled
- AutoPlay disabled
- Network Discovery disabled (Public Firewall profile)
- PowerShell --> Constrained Language Mode
- Hide extensions for known file types --> disabled
- Show hidden files --> enabled
- Virtualization enabled

‎‎‎ㅤ‎ ‎
Periodic malware scanners
ESET Online Scanner, X-Sec
Malware sample testing
I do participate in malware testing. See details about my testing environment below.
Environment for malware testing
‎‎‎ㅤㅤㅤ
VMware Workstation Player + Mozilla VPN on host machine while connected to the guest network.

Online Malware Analysis Platforms that I use:


- FileScan.iO
- Intenzer Analyze
- Hybrid Analysis
- VirusTotal
- Sophos Intelix
- ANY.RUN
-
Triage
- Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal
- UnpacMe
- Qianxin Online Sandbox


--> Currently I am barely testing
Browser(s) and extensions

Mozilla Firefox

Extensions:
- APIVoid Browser Protection

- JShelter

- Ghostery
- Bitwarden

Browser privacy and security settings:
- Tracking protection: Strict (enables Total Cookie Protection)
- Enable secure DNS using: Max Protection
- HTTPS-only-mode enabled
- DuckDuckGo set as search engine
- Clearing browsing data on exit
- Search suggestions disabled
- Websites overview disabled
- Blocking incoming location, camera and microphone requests
- AutoPlay for audio and video disabled
- Firefox telemetry disabled
- Blocking pop-ups and third-party redirects
- Warn when websites try to install addons enabled
- Protection against fraudulent content and dangerous software enabled
- AI features are blocked





ㅤㅤ
Secure DNS

- ControlD with balanced native-blocklists + OISD-big (Network-Wide)
- ControlD with strict native-blocklists + Ai Malware Filter (Aggressive) + Hagezi Ultimate + Hagezi TIFs + Automatic IP redirect over Proxy (Only browser)



Desktop VPN
/
Password manager
Bitwarden Premium
Maintenance tools
PatchMyPC, UniGetUI, GeekUninstaller, Process Lasso and Windows built in tools for cleaning and optimization
File and Photo backup
backup to external drive when necessary
Subscriptions
    • Google One Standard 200GB
System recovery
Aomei Backupper
Risk factors
    • Browsing to popular websites
    • Browsing to unknown / untrusted / shady sites
    • Opening email attachments
    • Buying from online stores, entering banks card details
    • Downloading software and files from reputable sites
    • Gaming
    • Streaming audio/video content from shady sites
    • Downloading malware samples
Computer specs
GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060 TI
CPU: Intel I5 12600K
RAM: 16 GB DDR4-3200 Crucial
Hard disks: 500 GB Samsung 970 EVO Plus + 1 TB Western Digital Blue
Notable changes
- Updated for year 2026
What I'm looking for?

Looking for maximum feedback.

Hi,
any updates regarding the use of NoScript?
:)
Still running it in auto-mode. Need to temporary whitelist some sites tho.

Pretty strong setup, you have got tripple protection against exe's, have you ever tried to increase protection against scripts?

WHHL can also be used as old SWH only.
Thanks. I have tweaked Deep Instinct to the max, so malicious scripts shouldn't be a problem. (y)

Screenshot 2026-03-29 215103.png
 
Firefox:

- removed all about:config tweaks
+ added Mullvad Extension to Firefox (New "Random Mode" enabled)

When enabled, a random proxy is assigned per domain. On browser restart, proxies are rotated.
This will override any other proxy.

With all the privacy concerns that are popping up in our digital world right now, mainly caused by various gouvernments, I am now trying to focus more on privacy again. So if you guys have any recommendations for my setup, please don't hesitate to share. Security-wise I am pretty confident right now, that I am well-positioned. ;)
 
If you want to improve your privacy,and you’re already effectively protected against fingerprinting I think you should switch from Ghostery to uBlock Origin, which offers better privacy protection even in Easy Mode.
I’ll just mention the ability to block “Uncloak Canonical Names” extremely effectively.

Another important feature is the blocking of URL tracking parameters, which complements the built-in functionality in Firefox,which, in my opinion, is rather limited compared to the AdGuard/uBO filter list:

  • URL Tracking Protection available in uBlock Origin.
You can verify this with this test:

Test cases for brave/brave-browser#4239

Think about it.;)

You can also use an AI to help you determine whether the enhanced privacy you're looking for works better with uBo or Ghostery.
Good choice, and good luck.
 
If you want to improve your privacy,and you’re already effectively protected against fingerprinting I think you should switch from Ghostery to uBlock Origin, which offers better privacy protection even in Easy Mode.
I’ll just mention the ability to block “Uncloak Canonical Names” extremely effectively.

Another important feature is the blocking of URL tracking parameters, which complements the built-in functionality in Firefox,which, in my opinion, is rather limited compared to the AdGuard/uBO filter list:

  • URL Tracking Protection available in uBlock Origin.
You can verify this with this test:

Test cases for brave/brave-browser#4239

Think about it.;)

You can also use an AI to help you determine whether the enhanced privacy you're looking for works better with uBo or Ghostery.
Good choice, and good luck.
So you think there is a big advantage in replacing Ghostery with uBlock Origin, considering that my DNS and Firefox in Strict mode is also blocking trackers? I kind of feel like that it would be overkill?
 
So you think there is a big advantage in replacing Ghostery with uBlock Origin, considering that my DNS and Firefox in Strict mode is also blocking trackers? I kind of feel like that it would be overkill?

It’s not a big advantage, and I can’t quantify it because it depends heavily on the websites you visit.
If you run a simulation with the AI and enter precise data, you’ll likely get a more accurate comparison.

Take a look at this table generated by ChatGPT:
Trackers.png

Keep in mind that it’s specific to Chrome and uBo.
If you use Firefox, you have the advantage of CNAME, as I mentioned in my previous post.:)
 
If you want to improve your privacy,and you’re already effectively protected against fingerprinting I think you should switch from Ghostery to uBlock Origin, which offers better privacy protection even in Easy Mode.
I’ll just mention the ability to block “Uncloak Canonical Names” extremely effectively.

Another important feature is the blocking of URL tracking parameters, which complements the built-in functionality in Firefox,which, in my opinion, is rather limited compared to the AdGuard/uBO filter list:

  • URL Tracking Protection available in uBlock Origin.
You can verify this with this test:

Test cases for brave/brave-browser#4239

Think about it.;)

You can also use an AI to help you determine whether the enhanced privacy you're looking for works better with uBo or Ghostery.
Good choice, and good luck.
Besides, Ghostery uses EasyList and uBO filter lists. So @Kongo unless there's any Ghostery specific feature that you really like, I don't see any reason to use Ghostery over uBO.
 
Besides, Ghostery uses EasyList and uBO filter lists. So @Kongo unless there's any Ghostery specific feature that you really like, I don't see any reason to use Ghostery over uBO.
I am not using Ghostery for their ad-blocking capabilities. I know that uBlock Origin and Adguard do better at it. I use it for the tracking protection:

What is Anti-Tracking?


The Anti-Tracking feature is a heuristic approach to real-time, algorithmic tracking protection. Like Ghostery's Ad-blocking, it monitors all third-party requests. However, instead of simply blocking those requests, it analyzes them for personally identifiable information and then strips out that information before the request is sent. Anti-Tracking supplements Ghostery's block-list approach by catching anything that might have been missed. Therefore, even if trackers are allowed to execute, you can feel safe knowing that all personal information has been anonymized in the request.

What is Tracker Cloaking Protection?


Tracker Cloaking Protection is an advanced privacy setting offered in Ghostery Private Browser. Some trackers use a technique called CNAME cloaking where they pretend to be first-party code by mimicking legitimate subdomains of the websites they are present on, thereby avoiding detection as a third-party technology. The Ghostery Private Browser has a technology to unmask and block these cloaked trackers.

This technology works in Gecko based browsers only like Firefox and Ghostery Private Browser.
 
I am not using Ghostery for its ad-blocking capabilities. I know that uBlock Origin and Adguard do better at it. I use it for the tracking protection:
I see. The uncloaking part is also covered by uBO in Firefox and your DNS which I think you already know. I wonder how effective Ghostery's heuristic-based info stripping anti-tracking feature. It sounds like a good feature.
 
@Kongo
@SeriousHoax

I can answer your questions because I had ChatGPT analyze exactly what you’re asking about some time ago.
Take a look at the first image, which is specific to my Security setup:

Adblocks.png

I was surprised by the “Fingerprinting Resistance” entry in Ghostery, so I asked for an explanation, which I’ve summarized in the table below:

1.png

I hope this helps.;)(y)
 
@Kongo
@SeriousHoax

I can answer your questions because I had ChatGPT analyze exactly what you’re asking about some time ago.
Take a look at the first image, which is specific to my Security setup:


I was surprised by the “Fingerprinting Resistance” entry in Ghostery, so I asked for an explanation, which I’ve summarized in the table below:


I hope this helps.;)(y)
Can uBO, in such comparison, be replaced by Brave adblocker, considering uBO is going to stop working later?
 
Can uBO, in such comparison, be replaced by Brave adblocker, considering uBO is going to stop working later?

If you're wondering whether you can replace Brave Adblock in the first table with the usual uBo performance, I'm certain you can't, because my uBo configuration is too specific.
ChatGPT also rated AG as having lower performance than uBo, so I'm sure Brave Adblock will suffer the same fate.

An uBo in Easy Mode almost certainly would.
But I’ve never made that comparison.
So ultimately, I can only speculate; to be precise, I don’t know.
 
Big DNS changes:

- removed NextDNS on all devices
- removed Mullvad extension
- removed SafeToOpen extension
+ added ControlD with two profiles (one network-wide and one only for desktop browser)


I used NextDNS for many years and barely had any problems with it. In the last 2 years however it felt like nothing new was coming and that they just neglected the service. So now I am using ControlD as an alternative. So far I am really happy with my setup.
 
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@Kongo I have used Geek (free) -- can you elaborate on why Geek Uninstaller Pro... ie, better? How?
Well it has some few advanced features like installation tracking but to be honest the free version seems to be just fine. I wouldn't buy the pro version again. But as it is a lifetime license... :sneaky:
 
Well it has some few advanced features like installation tracking but to be honest the free version seems to be just fine. I wouldn't buy the pro version again. But as it is a lifetime license... :sneaky:
while I was waiting for your comment, I asked chatgpt to compare various uninstallers and Geek Pro ranked very highly, and it's only $24 US for lifetime, so expect I will get it, I have used the free in the past... and never had an issue with it.
 
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while I was waiting for your comment, I asked chatgpt to compare various uninstallers and Geek Pro ranked very highly, and it's only $24 US for lifetime, so expect I will get it, I have used the free in the past... and never had an issue with it.
Again, I don't really see a big value in the pro version so I personally wouldn't recommend it. But it is up to you of course. The free version is just so simple and that's what I like. No bloat, just the features that you expect.