Basic Security Malware Maniac's Custom Gaming PC Configuration

[Malware Maniac]

Being a college student, most of my activity on this desktop will be for class work and gaming. Studying computer science, I would be creating and running my own programs and scripts from time to time. I also experiment quite a bit, such as using virtual machines to get a feel for an operating system.

I had built this PC, being my first build, to be able to handle games such as GTA V and Life Is Strange at their highest possible quality without sacrificing frame rates. I do have mods installed for GTA V for Single Player just to add some "flare" to the game.

Answering some of these questions has made me realize that there were some extensions and settings I should have added changed, however, I neglected to do so but have enforced these changes now. If any further details are needed, I may provide them.

 

[Wraith]

I wouldn't recommend Malwarebytes as the primary antivirus. It's okay as a backup scanner. Other than that it's okay, although it's advisable to have a backup to protect your back.

 

[bribon77]

Good, it doesn't look bad since you have WD. What I suggest is a backup program. I use Macrium Reflect, and it has taken me many times out of many problems.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Wraith]

Good, it doesn't look bad since you have WD. What I suggest is a backup program. I use Macrium Reflect, and it has taken me many times out of many problems.
Thanks for sharing.

WD real time is disabled since op mentioned periodic scan is on. I wouldn't advise mbam as an antivirus. It doesn't stop viruses like sality which can easily infect the PC via USB.

 

[bribon77]

I was wrong, I thought WD in real time and Malwarebytes would be fine.

 

[Wraith]

I was wrong, I thought WD in real time and Malwarebytes would be fine.

WD and MBAM together in real time is good protection.

 

[oldschool]

I believe you may run both at the same time as long as you select in MBAM something like “Do not show in Windows Security Center.” Then WD will be you primary and both can run in real time. MBAM paid is simply wasted money IMO. You could use MB Anti-Exploit Beta and its always free, and stable. MBAM free = 2nd opinion scanner only. My two cents.

 

[oldschool]

I was wrong, I thought WD in real time and Malwarebytes would be fine.

You were not wrong, but rather not specific as above post.

 

[Malware Maniac]

Uhh... I might have mis-categorized some stuff.

WesternDigital, the WD Portable HDD, is a device that I occasionally save files to however it's not always saved to that. Generally, when I have a file that I think will be important to me, I will save that sort of information to my University OneDrive or to my Personal OneDrive account (both premium accounts). I do not have any anti-virus protection from WD. (Post publishing, just realized WD in your guy's comments stood for Windows Defender *feels like fool*).

As for my primary use of MalwareBytes, it's a great program which gets rid of files that normally anti-virus vendors will miss. Windows Defender has heavily adapted over the years and has performed better than some of the vendors, on a plus side it is free.

I will not be using Avast or AVG as they have become more of adware/bloatware in my opinion. They've done things such as saying "hey, your IP is public" and offering their $24.99/yr VPN or "keep your passwords in one place" offering $19.99/yr password manager, exaggerating and estimating a bit here. It would be an ad about every two days. This was my experience with Avast, however, I will not bat an eye to AVG as they were bought out by Avast leaving AVG as pretty much the shell to Avast.

Comodo relies heavily on its HIPS engine and will trigger whenever I run my own code. This just slows me down at a programming standpoint. It's also not the best when determining if a file is actually malicious or not as it relies almost solely on HIPS. Great for a paranoid user, which I am, not great for a mixed objectives with programming involved user, which I also am.

Those were just a couple vendors I've used and believed I needed to give my opinions on before suggestions were made.

Additionally, I have considered BitDefender free, primary idea for an antivirus at this point is I want to go a free route if I already have a premium protection product running on my system.

I am open to suggestions for different products. If there needs to be any clarification to the original post, please let me know or ask.

 

[LDogg]

Not a massive fan of this setup, Web of Trust is not an extension I would ever run in my life time of commenting on security configs and would remove straight away, Ghostery isn't needed as it catches most of the same ad/trackers uBlock Origin does, HTTPS Everywhere is redundant on the HTTPS roleout for sites on the web only and I personally would run MBAM/WD as your primary protection.

The above can be debated and is firmly my opinion only, please do not be offended by the critique of your system.

~LDogg