Basic Security NihonSwede's Security Configuration 2020

Last updated
Dec 20, 2020
How it's used?
For home and private use
Operating system
Windows 10
Log-in security
Security updates
Allow security updates and latest features
User Access Control
Always notify
Real-time security
Kaspersky Internet Security
Firewall security
About custom security
Some minor changes.
Periodic malware scanners
HitmanPro + Malwarebytes AdwCleaner + Norton PowerEraser + Windows Defender(Auto-Periodically(Quick Scan))
Malware sample testing
I do not participate in malware testing
Browser(s) and extensions
Firefox(Ublock Origin, ClearURL, Emsisoft Browser Security, Kaspersky Protection)
Maintenance tools
Geforce Experience(GPU Drivers)
File and Photo backup
Google Drive for important files/documents
System recovery
Important stuff is manually backed up to Google Drive.
Risk factors
    • Browsing to popular websites
    • Opening email attachments
    • Buying from online stores, entering banks card details
    • Logging into my bank account
    • Gaming
    • Streaming audio/video content from shady sites
    • Coding and development
Computer specs
No brand/Custom built:
CPU: Intel Core i5 3570k
GPU: Asus GTX 1050 2gb
RAM: 16gb DDR3
OS: 1TB SSD Samsung
Games: 500GB HDD WD
Notable changes
Raised UAC to 'Always Notify'.
2020-05-11: Uninstalled Malwarebytes Premium(caused BSOD), removed Malwarebytes Browser Guard(Firefox Addon)
2020-05-26: Installed HitmanPro.Alert(30-day trial)
2020-06-07: Firefox: Removed Privacy Badger, installed ClearURL.
2020-06-14: Uninstalled HitmanPro.Alert(30-day trial)
2020-08-17: Removed NoCoin(Firefox Addon)
2020-12-09: Replaced Emsisoft Anti-Malware with ESET Internet Security
2020-12-20: Replaced ESET IS with Kaspersky IS + Added Kaspersky Protection addon to Firefox

harlan4096

Super Moderator
Verified
Staff Member
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Apr 28, 2015
8,922
@NihonSwede:

You may set UAC to Always Notify.

In System Backup, You may add Macrium Reflect Free or AOEMI Backupper, both are free and reliable.

Please kindly reflect Your changes editing Your config, and announcing them here, thanks for sharing :)
 

ZeroStrawberries

Level 2
Thread author
Mar 7, 2020
84
Also You don't need MalwareBytes Premium (with resident protection enabled) alongside EmsiSoft...
Alright. I have a lifetime license for Malwarebytes Premium, and thought that I might as well use it, even though it's not the best out there. :) And MBAM is apparently still able to work alongside an antivirus product(e.g Emsisoft). I also haven't noticed any major resource hogging having them both in the background.
 

LDogg

Level 33
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 4, 2018
2,261
Windows Firewall:
- can use Tinywall in conjunction, less than 2MB to install

Extension(s):
- Emsisoft Browser Security, Malwarebytes Browser Guard, either one of the other or replace both with Bitdefender Trafficlight

Backup:
- Please use some sort of backup solution whether it's cloud (MEGA) or a dedicated program such as Macrium Reflect

Rest is fine, two are optional, the backup should be mandatory.

~LDogg
 

SeriousHoax

Level 49
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 16, 2019
3,863
2020-06-07: Replaced Privacy Badger with ClearURL in Firefox. Felt unnecessary to have both Ublock Origin and Privacy Badger at the same time.
Since you installed ClearURLs, it's better if you delete browser cache. ClearURLs can prevent Etag headers but those which are already on your cache can't be removed by it. Also you may disable the domain blocking feature on ClearURLs as you already have uBlock Origin.
 

ZeroStrawberries

Level 2
Thread author
Mar 7, 2020
84
2020-12-20: Replaced ESET Internet Security with Kaspersky Internet Security. Even though ESET is great, it blocked access to some websites for me. Even when I added exceptions, or disabled the AV all together, it still blocked the websites. I therefore chose to try out Kaspersky instead, which allows me to visit the sites that ESET blocked.
 

SeriousHoax

Level 49
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 16, 2019
3,863
2020-12-20: Replaced ESET Internet Security with Kaspersky Internet Security. Even though ESET is great, it blocked access to some websites for me. Even when I added exceptions, or disabled the AV all together, it still blocked the websites. I therefore chose to try out Kaspersky instead, which allows me to visit the sites that ESET blocked.
I see what you mean. ESET is quite sensitive to sites that loads third party scripts which are known to associated with malvertisement. Kaspersky and Bitdefender usually blocks that particular script only if it's not blocked by your adblocker and still let you visit the site. Actually, Bitdefender blocks such scripts even before adblocker like uBlock Origin. Bitdefender blocks things very early compared to other products.
On the other hand ESET most of the time blocks you from visiting the sites totally. This is mainly the fault of those sites as they load malvertisement but I can understand your frustration. I often had to disable web protection completely to watch football streams. Even with web protection disabled, ESET's real time protection is able to detect malicious scripts saved into browser cache (I only checked Firefox). ESET is the only AV I have seen so far is able to do this. I mean detecting infected Firefox cache by the real time protection.
 

ZeroStrawberries

Level 2
Thread author
Mar 7, 2020
84
I see what you mean. ESET is quite sensitive to sites that loads third party scripts which are known to associated with malvertisement. Kaspersky and Bitdefender usually blocks that particular script only if it's not blocked by your adblocker and still let you visit the site. Actually, Bitdefender blocks such scripts even before adblocker like uBlock Origin. Bitdefender blocks things very early compared to other products.
On the other hand ESET most of the time blocks you from visiting the sites totally. This is mainly the fault of those sites as they load malvertisement but I can understand your frustration. I often had to disable web protection completely to watch football streams. Even with web protection disabled, ESET's real time protection is able to detect malicious scripts saved into browser cache (I only checked Firefox). ESET is the only AV I have seen so far is able to do this. I mean detecting infected Firefox cache by the real time protection.
Yeah. Once I realized that it blocked one or two sites that I trusted completely, I figured that it would block more important sites in the future. I also find that they don't have a "I trust this website" button on the javascript injection a little weird, instead you have to venture into the settings, and add it manually, which didn't work for me. Even disabling the AV altogether didn't work, considering that it should have let all traffic pass through and block nothing. Contacted customer support regarding this, got a response with a different solution compared to what's said on their website. The solution didn't work, and even after I wrote that it didn't work, they were still sure that it works and that the problem lies on my end, and that they have nothing to do with it. I felt like they gave up and said that the only solution left is to disable SSL/TLS all together, but that would have left me unprotected, and I don't even know if that would have worked in the end anyways.

Otherwise, I was relatively happy with the product, but felt like trying out different alternatives that would cause less of a hindrance.
 

SeriousHoax

Level 49
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 16, 2019
3,863
Yeah. Once I realized that it blocked one or two sites that I trusted completely, I figured that it would block more important sites in the future. I also find that they don't have a "I trust this website" button on the javascript injection a little weird, instead you have to venture into the settings, and add it manually, which didn't work for me. Even disabling the AV altogether didn't work, considering that it should have let all traffic pass through and block nothing. Contacted customer support regarding this, got a response with a different solution compared to what's said on their website. The solution didn't work, and even after I wrote that it didn't work, they were still sure that it works and that the problem lies on my end, and that they have nothing to do with it. I felt like they gave up and said that the only solution left is to disable SSL/TLS all together, but that would have left me unprotected, and I don't even know if that would have worked in the end anyways.

Otherwise, I was relatively happy with the product, but felt like trying out different alternatives that would cause less of a hindrance.
I had a similar problem too with exclusions not working but disabling web protection always worked for me so not sure why it didn't work for you.
Anyway, if Kaspersky isn't bothering you then keep it (y)
 

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