Advanced Plus Security Soulbound's Security Configurations - 2020

Last updated
Oct 18, 2020
How it's used?
For home and private use
Operating system
Windows 10
Log-in security
Security updates
Allow security updates
User Access Control
Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my desktop)
Real-time security
Across my systems, I have:
Main Gaming System - Avast (File, Web and Behaviour Shields) + Comodo Firewall (6882 build - Cruel Setings)
Secondary Gaming System - Kaspersky Internet Security 21
Production/Casual/Shared System - WiseVector StopX + Windows Defender with Comodo Firewall (6882 build - Cruel Settings)
Firewall security
About custom security
Mainly default settings with some minor tweaks.
Periodic malware scanners
None needed
Malware sample testing
I do not participate in malware testing
Browser(s) and extensions
Don't Track Me Google, Ublock Origin and The Great Suspender (Chrome)/Auto Tab Discard (Firefox)
Maintenance tools
Bleachbit/CCleaner/PrivaZer
EaseUS Partition Manager
File and Photo backup
Paragon Backup & Recovery/AOMEI Backupper Standard (Free)
System recovery
Paragon Backup & Recovery/AOMEI Backupper Standard (Free)
Risk factors
    • Gaming
    • Browsing to popular websites
Computer specs
Republic of Gamers Gaming Laptop, i7, 16GB RAM, GeForce GTX 860M, 2 HDDs
Notable changes
19th August 2020 - After a week of tests, decided to settle once again for ESET.
Performance gain is minimal in comparison to KIS/MES however every little helps, specially for gaming.

25th August 2020 - ESET Internet Security installed in my other system while the Gaming system is now running Kaspersky Internet Security 2020 (Latest patch); installed Kaspersky Protection browser extension.

27th August 2020 - Removed Kaspersky due to some problems with Path of Exile. Too lazy to troubleshoot, so reinstalled ESET Internet Security and imported my settings and rules.

31st August 2020 - since I have multiple systems and several solutions installed across the systems, I listed the 3 security solutions I use.

4th September 2020 - Updated Browser extensions (removed obsolete ones): Don't Track Me Google, Ublock Origin and The Great Suspender (Chrome)/Auto Tab Discard (Firefox)

7th September 2020 - Reinstalled ESET Internet Security:
ESET: Default Settings + HTTPS checking disabled + HIPS on Smart Mode

9th September 2020 - Out goes ESET replaced by KIS 2020 tweaked

18th September 2020 - Been testing for a week extensively on my gaming system Norton Security. Good enough for my needs.

9th October 2020 - One gaming system is now running Kaspersky Internet Security 21 with my custom settings (published in MT) while the other gaming system is running WiseVector StopX with Comodo Firewall (cruelsister settings).

17th October 2020 - Main Gaming System now runs Avast (File, Web and Behaviour Shields) + Comodo Firewall (6882 build - Cruel Setings)

18th October 2020 - Rolled back to 1909 Windows 10 from 2004

Soulbound

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Here is some of the apps i have installed/portable (its not the complete list but I am too lazy to tidy up everything).
2020-09-04 16_53_53-Window.png
 

Soulbound

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Updated Browser extensions (removed obsolete ones): Don't Track Me Google, Ublock Origin and The Great Suspender (Chrome)/Auto Tab Discard (Firefox)
Removed KIS from gaming system and reverted to ESET Internet Security with tweaks (including importing my HIPS Rules and set as Policy Based mode)

Also using Firefox as the main Browser over Chrome due to memory usage.
 

Soulbound

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7th September 2020 - Reinstalled ESET Internet Security:
ESET: Default Settings + HTTPS checking disabled + HIPS on Smart Mode

Important to note, all but one system are gaming systems mainly, therefore default deny approach is not something I want due to higher maintenance.

Also ESET default settings work fine, but I did disable HTTPS checking. HIPS on Smart Mode will fire an alert on some occasions, easier to maintain over policy based since i have missed a few rules previously and wasted 2 hours trying to figure out what happened.
 

Soulbound

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Been testing for a week extensively on my gaming system Norton Security. Good enough for my needs.
@ZeroDay can confirm they have improved in the latest version in comparison to when I tested performance impact etc.

As for removal, because I do not really get infected, its not a concern. Detection rate wise, the same since I barely download anything and what I do download is from reputable sources.

Out went Kaspersky (license given to a family member instead) and in goes Norton.
 

Soulbound

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Update:
After extensive testing in a low end system, I am now happy with WiseVector StopX + Comodo Firewall (cruelsister settings). One thing I disabled in Comodo Firewall was this:


One gaming system is now running Kaspersky Internet Security 21 with my custom settings (published in MT) while the other gaming system is running WiseVector StopX with Comodo Firewall (cruelsister settings).
 

Gandalf_The_Grey

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Update:
After extensive testing in a low end system, I am now happy with WiseVector StopX + Comodo Firewall (cruelsister settings). One thing I disabled in Comodo Firewall was this:


One gaming system is now running Kaspersky Internet Security 21 with my custom settings (published in MT) while the other gaming system is running WiseVector StopX with Comodo Firewall (cruelsister settings).
Did you succeed in disabling Windows Defender on those systems with WiseVector StopX and Comodo Firewall or is Windows Defender still enabled?
 

Soulbound

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Did you succeed in disabling Windows Defender on those systems with WiseVector StopX and Comodo Firewall or is Windows Defender still enabled?
WD off as im not using latest build of w10 and no rush in forcing an update. ill grab it when its deployed :)

i used the tool I made reference in Wise thread.
 

Soulbound

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Switched things around:

Main Gaming System - Avast (File, Web and Behaviour Shields) + Comodo Firewall (6882 build - Cruel Setings)

Secondary Gaming System - Kaspersky Internet Security 21

Production/Casual/Shared System - WiseVector StopX + Windows Defender with Comodo Firewall (6882 build - Cruel Settings)
 

Soulbound

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Windows 10 2004 version is rather a buggy mess in my systems across the board. Also noticed random restarts and slower boot time.

Needless to say, since I have 2004 on 2 systems in less than 10 days (this is the timeframe Microsoft allows you to roll back, granted you havent deleted the windows old folder), I was able to revert back to 1909.

Afterwards, I disabled Windows Automatic Update system (WAU) and using WAU Manager as a replacement.


Systems are now back to normality.
 
F

ForgottenSeer 85179

prevent 2004 download and update again. i stalled for as long as I could.
So Windows download and try to install it automatically ?
Cause on 2 PCs in my network Windows show a button for 2004 but doesn't do anything without permission.

Anyway 20H2 is upcoming which include all fixes.
 
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Soulbound

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So Windows download and try to install it automatically ?
Cause on 2 PCs in my network Windows show a button for 2004 but doesn't do anything without permission.

Anyway 20H2 is upcoming which include all fixes.
moment i shutdown/reboot i couldn't avoid, yeah.

happened on 2 systems, 3rd one and 4th one however didnt due to the delay I applied previously when I was doing maintenance.

I did give a try but having issues on 2 of my main systems was a no no.
 

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