Advanced Security oldschool's surfing laptop configuration

Last updated
Nov 1, 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
Evaluation mode
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
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
Edge flags | Chrome 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.

Kongo

Level 36
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Feb 25, 2017
2,585
I'd love to have an alternative to SRP until everything is fixed by Microsoft again. Do you have any idea what I could use instead in order to decrease my attack surface? I mean using OSArmor together with Cylance would be an option, but I'd rather use only one software with real-time protection. And I think you were right... the new Cylance version only has the same interface as the endpoint version, but doesn't offer the same protection. It's only effective against PE files. So another reason why I should find something like SRP, that can for example block powershell and wscript on my system. :unsure:
 

blackice

Level 39
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 1, 2019
2,868
I'd love to have an alternative to SRP until everything is fixed by Microsoft again. Do you have any idea what I could use instead in order to decrease my attack surface? I mean using OSArmor together with Cylance would be an option, but I'd rather use only one software with real-time protection. And I think you were right... the new Cylance version only has the same interface as the endpoint version, but doesn't offer the same protection. It's only effective against PE files. So another reason why I should find something like SRP, that can for example block powershell and wscript on my system. :unsure:
I’ve been using OSArmor for years in combo with many AVs. I’ve seen no perceptible impact.
 

blackice

Level 39
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Apr 1, 2019
2,868
Well, as the broken SRP is most likely a temporary issue I don't really want to purchase a subscription for a software that I will probably remove after a few weeks (depending on how fast Microsoft is gonna fix it)
That makes sense. I just don’t have time to dig into Window’s constantly changing esoteric options anymore. OSArmor is simple, effective, and elegant. Much easier for the quick fix I need these days.
 

Kongo

Level 36
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Feb 25, 2017
2,585
That makes sense. I just don’t have time to dig into Window’s constantly changing esoteric options anymore. OSArmor is simple, effective, and elegant. Much easier for the quick fix I need these days.
Understandable. For me SRP was always the most simplistic and most effective way to support my AV without having to install another program, that has to run in the background all the time. But yeah, I think there is no other proper solution except using either OS Armor, Comodo Firewall or VoodooShield.
 

oldschool

Level 85
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 29, 2018
7,609
Screenshot?
I did no custom icons, etc. Just the basic theme. It would take more work to match color of Settings app.
Nord for Windows 2022-10-20 144751.png

Nord Control Panel 2022-10-20 144913.png

Wallpaper is Nord for Windows 11
Nord for Windown Wallpaper 2022-10-20 151005.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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