Advanced Security oldschool's surfing laptop configuration

Last updated
Oct 16, 2024
How it's used?
For home and private use
Operating system
macOS 15 Sequoia
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
Exploit Protection settings
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
Edge | Privacy Badger | Brave Search | Surf profile & secure profile
Chrome | Privacy Badger | Brave Search
Firefox I Privacy Badger | Brave Search
Brave | Brave Search | My settings
Secure DNS
Quad9 DNS
Desktop VPN
None
Password manager
Maintenance tools
Windows built-in
File and Photo backup
Copy/Paste
Subscriptions
    • None
System recovery
Wiindows built-in | Aomei Backupper Pro Lifetime
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 8.00 GB RAM 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 84
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 29, 2018
7,577

brambedkar59

Level 31
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
2,087
Oh, and I've paused Windows Update for 4 weeks. I'll switch it off for Cumulative updates and then on again after install.

@brambedkar59 @SeriousHoax can you tell me if I'm able to upgrade my laptop HDD to SSD? My machine is
Code:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-8145U CPU @ 2.10GHz   2.30 GHz
I can't quite decipher whether it's possible from the full spec sheet. https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/IdeaPad/ideapad_L340_15IWL/ideapad_L340_15IWL_Spec.pdf TIA! (y)(y)
Datasheet says SATA 2.5 inch HDD, so that should be pretty easy. Get a SATA 2.5 inch SSD and it should take like 5 min to do.

Edit: make sure SSD thickness is 7mm when buying
 
Last edited:

brambedkar59

Level 31
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
2,087
In the storage section it says, Up to 2 drives (one HDD, one M.2 SSD). Doesn't it mean it's possible to even add a M.2 NVMe while also keeping the HDD?
I am guessing @oldschool is already using the M.2 slot 🤔

NVM.
1728589936981.png


Edit: Forget what I said about SATA SSD @oldschool , get a PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, since you have an empty slot.
 
Last edited:

brambedkar59

Level 31
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 16, 2017
2,087
Thank you @brambedkar59 and @SeriousHoax! Any tips for installation and setup, in terms of Bios settings, etc.? 🤔 Clean install or clone disk?
BIOS shouldn't need any change and for installation you can watch a ssd installation video for your laptop model on YT.
Personally I would go for clean install but cloning should be fine as well.
 

oldschool

Level 84
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 29, 2018
7,577
After a couple of hiccups that led to a clean install, my laptop now boots from an SSD instead of my HDD. Cloning with Aomei Backupper Pro was extremely easy, once I figured it out, and it even changed the boot order automatically. My laptop, OTOH, does not have 2 memory slots, so I'll have to exchange the 8GB one I bought for a 16GB.
 
Last edited:

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