Advanced Security oldschool's surfing laptop configuration

Last updated
Nov 20, 2024
How it's used?
For home and private use
Operating system
Windows 11
Other operating system
Windows Pro
On-device encryption
N/A
Log-in security
    • Biometrics (Windows Hello PIN, TouchID, Face, Iris, Fingerprint)
Security updates
Allow security updates
Update channels
Allow stable updates only
User Access Control
Always notify
Smart App Control
Off
Network firewall
Enabled
About WiFi router
Provided by ISP
Real-time security
Windows Security
Firewall security
Microsoft Defender Firewall
About custom security
MS Defender - Default | ASR rules | Platform & Engine Beta channel updates
All system-wide Exploit Protections enabled, plus these for Edge & Chrome.
Firewall Hardening
RunBySmartscreen
Windows Spy Blocker
Periodic malware scanners
NPE
Malware sample testing
I do not participate in malware testing
Environment for malware testing
N/A
Browser(s) and extensions
Chrome | Privacy Badger | Brave Search
Edge | Privacy Badger | Brave Search | Surf profile & secure profile
Chrome flags | Edge flags
Secure DNS
Quad9 DNS
Desktop VPN
None
Password manager
Maintenance tools
Windows built-in
File and Photo backup
Copy/Paste
Subscriptions
    • None
System recovery
Aomei Backupper Pro Lifetime - Primary
Wiindows Backup & Restore- Secondary image backup
Risk factors
    • Browsing to popular websites
    • Opening email attachments
    • Buying from online stores, entering banks card details
    • Downloading software and files from reputable sites
    • Streaming audio/video content from trusted sites or paid subscriptions
Computer specs
Lenovo L340 Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-8145U CPU @ 2.10GHz 2.30 GHz 16GB RAM 500GB SSD 1TB HDD
Notable changes
22-12-5 Reverted to MS Defender.
23-1-21 Refreshed Windows with SAC in evaluation mode.
23-2-2 Clean Windows installation
23-2-18 SAC user-enabled on
27-2-23 Added Chrome for the lack of 'feature' bloat.
28-2-23 Changed default browser to Chrome
24.2.24 Refreshed Windows and re-enabled Smart App Control
5.7.24 Performed a repair installation via Windows Update. Nice & easy!
6.10.24 Updated to 24H2 OS build 26100.1882
10.10.24 Rolled back to 23H2 due to bugs & performance
16.10.24 Added Chrome browser. Privacy Badger listed as main extension, but I also keep µBO, JShelter and Local CDN installed, not enabled.
What I'm looking for?

Looking for minimum feedback.

oldschool

Level 85
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 29, 2018
7,673
Adding to the above post, here are my LibreWolf filter lists.
1693676427284.png1693676486702.png
 

brambedkar59

Level 32
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
2,113
Upgraded to Windows Pro via Ghacks deal $39.95 US. Good for 3 devices. It's worth it to simplify dealing with MS bloatware.
I upgraded to pro last year just so that I can use Gpedit, worth the cheap license key. Tried cmd hack (for using GPedit on home version) earlier but it stopped working for me for some reason.
 

oldschool

Level 85
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 29, 2018
7,673
Replaced Librewolf with Firefox after fixing streaming video issue by adjusting Exploit Protection. The new settings for FF are:
Code:
Block untrusted fonts - ON
Control flow guard (CFG) - ON
Data execution prevention (DEP) - ON + Enable thunk emulation - CHECKED
Disable extension points - ON
Force randomization for images (Mandatory ASLR) - ON + Do not allow stripped images - CHECKED
Randomize memory allocations (Bottom-up ASLR) - ON
Validate exception chains (SEHOP) - ON
Validate handle usage - ON
Validate heap integrity - ON
 
F

ForgottenSeer 103564

Removed SRP as policies don't appear to work properly in 22H2. Nothing was blocked at all. @Andy Ful

Cleaned up some config details. BTW, I really like Mem Reduct. Way better than CleanMem. Works like a charm with my 8GB RAM.
You are correct it appears Windows 11 22H2 put an end to Software Restriction Policies. Still supported in Windows 10 though. Looks as if they redirect windows 11 users to App Locker instead.
 

oldschool

Level 85
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 29, 2018
7,673
Last edited:

oldschool

Level 85
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 29, 2018
7,673
Is SAC worked without problems on your laptop?
Yes except for one unsigned app I need to execute via RunBySmartscreen, otherwise it's blocked periodically without it. Using RBS this way may be useful to SAC users as SS is integrated with ISG in SAC. You can read here New Update - Smart App Control - Windows 11 22H2 feature promises significant protection from malware But please know that I use very few 3rd party apps. Almost none. This is mainly a surfing laptop. Most folks can't operate like I do.

3rd party apps:

Mindfulness at the computer (not signed)
Mem Reduct (signed from Henry++ GitHub)
Nanzip (MS Store)
iTunes (MS Store)
Aomei Backupper
Epson printer softs

Edit: One thing to remember is that when SAC blocks part of an app it may well still be fully functional for all practical purposes. e.g. some Aomei dll's or even some Windows processes, in much the same way as Controlled Folder Access blocks.
 
Last edited:

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