Advanced Plus Security Thales' AVG based system for 2020

[Thales]

AVG Internet security + VPN (Prejudge)

Activated layers

Spoiler

User Interface/Usability
I like it because it is well designed. Easy to navigate and kind of minimalistic and the colours are good for the eye.
I have no problem finding anything.

Performance
Clicking on the tray icon shows the dashboard within 2 sec and it is very impressive!
AVG is light as F-Secure or ESET (at least on my machine). Boot time is good and everything is responsive on my system. I haven't experienced any slowdown.
VPN is so far so good but I need more test because it depends on many things but I can tell you it is fast and stable.
There is a kill switch but there is no any option to change protocols.

Spoiler: General

Spoiler: Network Security

Protection
Sorry I'm not a malware hunter but I'm sure you can find tests here if you want to.

Firewall
I used to use Simplewall/Glasswire/WFC (binisoft/malwarebytes) but I really like the AVG firewall.
Plus I don't need an extra software to manage the firewall.
The only "downside" that I need 3 clicks to get to the firewall menu.
There are a lot of options in the firewall menu but for now I don't want to deal with it.

Spoiler: Alert

Spoiler: Application Rules

Email shield
I had to turn it off because eMclient had connection issue and couldn't solve the problem. I don't really need this layer.

Remote access shield & Fake website shield
I was afraid they were gonna slowdown my browsing experience but so far so good. Good to have these layers.

Spoiler: Remote Access Shield

Spoiler: Fake Website shield

This is for now

 

[FireHammer]

Real nice Configuration @Thales, enjoy the rest of your day/night where ever you are in the world.

 

[ForgottenSeer 89360]

Ransomware Shield and Sensitive Data shield would be good addition to your current AVG Layers.
They are much better than I originally thought, as they recognise the module behind an app.

 

[Thales]

Thank you

Real nice Configuration @Thales, enjoy the rest of your day/night where ever you are in the world.

Thank you my friend. I wish the same for you

Ransomware Shield and Sensitive Data shield would be good addition to your current AVG Layers.
They are much better than I originally thought, as they recognise the module behind an app.

I'm not sure if I need the sensitive data shield beside the OSArmor.
Ransomware shield is a good idea. Will inspect it.

 

[ForgottenSeer 89360]

Thank you

Thank you my friend. I wish the same for you

I'm not sure if I need the sensitive data shield beside the OSArmor.
Ransomware shield is a good idea. Will inspect it.

It’s very different from OSArmor. It uses machine learning to detect documents with sensitive data and then doesn’t allow untrusted processes to access or modify them.

 

[Thales]

It’s very different from OSArmor. It uses machine learning to detect documents with sensitive data and then doesn’t allow untrusted processes to access or modify them.

Sounds good. I will look at it.

 

[oldschool]

Ransomware shield is a good idea.

Indeed, you should enable this feature. It's also included in AVG Free. Personally, I don't see much point in using paid version. The nag screens aren't bad, only on smart scan I think, and this can be blocked via firewall, i.e. AVGUI.exe.

I doubt I would use OSA with AVG, especially the paid suite.

 

[ForgottenSeer 89360]

Indeed, you should enable this feature. It's also included in AVG Free. Personally, I don't see much point in using paid version. The nag screens aren't bad, only on smart scan I think.

I doubt I would use OSA with AVG, especially the paid suite.

No, I wouldn't use OSA with paid AVG either, considering it's got highly-effective web and behavioural blockers. Upon downloading malware, it takes 2-3 minutes for the link to be blacklisted. The behavioural blocker, as well as CyberCapture are a continuous discussion, which can be seen in a thread of mine:

User Feedback - Avast Premium Security 20.9

This is probably the most difficult review that I've done and not without a reason. Avast is a software with its own, unique identity. I will not be discussing any of the company's practices as I am not doing business analyses of Avast Software B.V. I am simply reviewing one of the products they...

malwaretips.com

It's worth mentioning that this is the only AV I've seen being able to handle java malware and non-process threats the right way. I've not tested Kaspersky in depth, so it's exempt from this conclusion. I've also not tested programmes such as Nano Antivirus, TotalAV and similar.
I am using AVG Ultimate.

 

[Thales]

Indeed, you should enable this feature. It's also included in AVG Free. Personally, I don't see much point in using paid version. The nag screens aren't bad, only on smart scan I think.

I doubt I would use OSA with AVG, especially the paid suite.

Yeah I was also thinking removing OSA. I'm gonna buy AVG Ultimate today because of the VPN. and firewall.
I need VPN because (I don't know why) without it my internet has connection issues and I lost money because of it. I have windscribe premium and tried a lot options (wireguard app, openvpn app, windscribe app with different protocols but nothing worked except f-secure freedome and AVG secure VPN (I tried only this two besides windscribe)
So, it seems the those VPNs can stabilize my network but windscribe failed. The another reason is the firewall. I don't need another software (even if I like simplewall or glasswire) because AVG's firewall is aswesome.
It cost only 28$ for 2 years, so this is a great deal.

 

[Digmor Crusher]

Me thinks that if you need a VPN to stabilize your network that something else is going on you need to investigate.

 

[Thales]

Update:
Bought AVG Ultimate (2yrs 5 devices)
Still good. I'm gonna update my experience.

Switched back to Onedrive from MEGA (400GB)
Now it's time to transfer my 250GB data
Reason: MEGA's website is buggy. That's all.
Onedrive is good because for the price I got the Office365 and 1TB cloud space. I don't really need the office 365 or the whole 1TB but why not.
The downside is how they handle your account if you don't pay for it anymore. You lose everything after a couple of months. MEGA by contrast keeps your data for years. I have this experience.
I tried outlook client but I think eMclient is better. Just my opinion.

 

[Thales]

Back to Sticky password premium. Thanks to MalwatreTips.
Sticky is awesome in everything. I use local sync only.

 

[Thales]

All right, I've changed my backup plan and started using cryptomator for sensitive data instead of Bandizip.
Cryptomator: Simplier version of Veracrypt. No need to create specific sized container and it is very good. Well designed and responsive didn't find any error or critical data loss on the forum about cryptomator. Onedrive noted me I have ransomware infection but that was just the filesystem of cryptomator. Nice to have this feature in onedrive.

Backup:
New GDrive account (Not shared and protected with long but memorable password, no 2FA)
New Onedrive account (Not shared and protected with long but memorable password, no 2FA)
Main Onedrive account (Random complex and long password, 2FA)
Separated partition on my SSD.
USB drive (Protected by bitlocker)
Phone as my secondary external drive

Sticky password is in my document folder with my backup codes, keyfiles, plaintext passwords protected by cryptomator.

Spoiler

I use syncbackpro to save them automatically.
Like this

Spoiler

I know only 2 passwords.
The 1st password
Masterpassword of sticky, USB drive, cryptomator

The 2nd password
Backup emails (Gmail and outlook)

This way I can restore my accounts even if I lose my phone, USB and laptop at once. Plus everything works automatically.

Ransomware? Still have everything on external USB/phone and onedrive is capable of restoring.