Help me not ruin my new pc

Hello all,

 

Hello Totemtimer,

How can we help you?

Hey,

Tomorrow my new PC from NZXT with windows home 11 arrives.  In the past I had issues with downloading an excessive amount of "optimiziers" or other programs like driver updaters, anti viruses, utilities, etc because I would believee pop ups that my pc was at risk.  i would install one anti virus suite and install another.  I was much younger back then but I still dont want to make the same mistakes and i want to make life as easy as possible for this pc so it only needs to focus on performance and privacy..  I have tried norton 360, total av, bitdefender,malwarebytes,AVG, Glary utilities, Kaspersky, McCaffee , avast, and were talking all the free versions and most of the paid versions. and thats not even half of the things I used to check out.   I would say i know a bit more than the average joe but as far as computer savvy compared to actual computer people, I know very little.  I listed all those programs/utilities to give examples of how i always think that my computerr is at risk and that causes me a lot of anxiety.  I know that I am not knowledgeable enough to ever convince myself I am protected and that I don't need that "new optimizer".  What I am asking for is what do i need to be as protected as practically and reasonably as possible.  I was thinking of using Norton 360 deluxe for everything except for vpn and password manager.  I found nords VPN to be far superior to all the other ones I tried and i had no issues with their password manager.  Would installing those 2 programs together cause issues? I am assuming it would.  So i am looking for advice on what combination of (if there is a safe combination of different antiviruses)or PC "protection suite" work best with windows 11 for a useruser who games and uses his pc for minor work research. thank you

LC

Damn I had about 4 paragraphs of what details on my question and when i hit submit it said I don't have permission do this.  So, the short version is as follows.  I am getting my new pc tomorrow with windows 11 home.  I will use it primarily for gaming. And minor research for work.  In the past I have had issues with downloading an excessive number of utilities/anti-virus/optimizers/ you name it.  I have tried almost every recommended VPN and antivirus and what i prefer most and ideally i would use norton 360 deluxe for everything except i would use Nord vpn and Nord pass instead of Nortons version.  Will this cause conflict? if so, then what is the best "pc protection suite" or what is the best combination of everything i need to have downloaded so i am as safe as possible. without causing issues within windows. Also, any other suggestions or guides made by trusted people on setting windows up for privacy and helping me get rid of some of the awful sharing and other horrible default window settings would be amazing. Thank you!

I use my Windows 11 without installing any software that Windows 11 already have what you need for example Windows Defender and Windows Firewall i use it and imake some tweaks that will speed up Windows 11.

Here are the few things i do.

In this video, i will list several things you can do to increase your system’s performance to get the best gaming experience on a Windows 11 computer.



In this video, i will show you how to enable or disable let apps run in the background for your account in Windows 11.



If you are concerned about how Windows 10 and Windows 11 tracks your activity, here's a tool that allow you to take complete control over the operating system's privacy settings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVD5beIuyEs

Hello and welcome to BC:

In addition to the advice already provided...

There is no one single, "best" security setup that suits all computers, all users and all computing practices.
You are correct that "more is not necessarily better" when it comes to security applications and programs. Too many installed applications will inevitably lead to software conflicts and performance degradation.

Moreover, the core of computer security is not software, but rather the use of "safe hex" practices.

Here are a few tutorials to get you started (do not download or purchase anything offered on external sites - these are just for information):

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-enable-kernel-mode-hardware-enforced-stack-protection-in-windows-11/

https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-11-security-guide/

https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-11-improve-security/

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3684413/how-to-protect-your-privacy-in-windows-11.html

https://www.wired.com/story/11-security-settings-windows-11/

https://pureinfotech.com/best-security-settings-windows-11/

Cheers

Norton is CRAP!

 

Despite what others will tell you, Windows Defender is as well. 

 

NOTHING is 100% but Sentinel One + Malwarebytes is a great combo with the caveat of manual updates to Sentinel One. 

 

Good luck!

"NOTHING is 100% but Sentinel One + Malwarebytes is a great combo with the caveat of manual updates to Sentinel One. "

 

The security focus of these forums is the personal computer; not the endpoint or office or business/commercial. Thus Sentinel (endpoint) should not be recommended, instead just a personal or home user type of security software should be recommended.

Edited by 0lds0d, 20 September 2023 - 11:29 AM.

.an excessive amount of "optimiziers" or other programs like driver updaters,.................utilities, etc ..............................

Please don't bother with any of those because they're little more than snake oil. They won't make your PC run any faster or better and they have the potential to cause catastrophic problems.

 

For security, the security that's built into Windows 11 is very good, and is as good as or better than many paid-for products. Independent testing labs results prove that's the case. There's no need to install multiple anti-virus programs one after the other like you've been doing. As an on-demand scanner you could install the free version of Malwarebytes if you like.

 

Why do you think you need a VPN? It'll hide your IP address and location and allow you to watch content from other countries but it won't protect you from malware or scams.

 

Please don't ruin your new PC by installing multiple unnecessary programs and utilities.

I agree with the sentiments above. You don't really need optimizers. I have Windows 11 Pro at home, and use Windows Defender and Windows Firewall to protect, and use Disk Cleanup when I need to remove some garbage. I work in IT, so I do have an 8GB USB drive filled with things like CCleaner, Defraggler, Revo Uninstaller, and other programs, but that's usually for the computers I service.

Thank you for all the replies,

 So basically, as far as anti-viruses go, i I should consider malwarebytes (why only the free version) and  i should use the buil tinj windows tools for optimizing insted of these snake oil products online, is that correct so far?

  I do use a VPN because we have a data limit with xfnity at my house so it automatically shuts off your IP if youre using too much data so I use VPN for that.  Is therer any concefn with me using Nord VPN and  Nord Pass for managing my passwords? Or is their a passwordmanager known to be extra secure. Also, should I ever being using extensions while browsing?

Thank you for your help and the welcoming community

totemtimer

Malwarebytes Free does NOT provide real-time protection. It is only an on-demand scanner to help find and remove malware that has already made it onto your computer.

The paid, premium version can be easily configured to run in real-time alongside Windows Defender/Windows Security without conflict or performance degradation. The added real-time protection may help to prevent malware infection. Many computer uses favor that combination.
(I have NO financial relationship with Malwarebytes, and this is not an endorsement.)

Having said that, there are other, robust, 3rd-party security suites as alternatives. Each has its own fans and detractors. And others rely mostly/exclusively on Windows Defender.
Ask 100 people - you will get at least 101 opinions.
There is no perfect security setup to suit all computers, all users, and all computing practices.

But, as has always been emphasized, the weakest link in computer security is the user's failure to practice "safe hex".

Cheers

 

.an excessive amount of "optimiziers" or other programs like driver updaters,.................utilities, etc ..............................

Please don't bother with any of those because they're little more than snake oil. They won't make your PC run any faster or better and they have the potential to cause catastrophic problems.

This is exactly correct. These 'optimizer' / 'driver updater' programs almost exclusively are rubbish at best, and malware at worst. Many of them will steal as much of your information as possible or infect your computer with adware. Avoid at all costs.
Ninite is possibly the only exception to that that I would consider. 

 

 

I agree with the sentiments above. You don't really need optimizers. I have Windows 11 Pro at home, and use Windows Defender and Windows Firewall to protect, and use Disk Cleanup when I need to remove some garbage.

Exactly. Windows built-in tool called Disk Cleanup (Disk cleanup in Windows - Microsoft Support) is all you need to "optimise" your PC.

 

Also be careful of browser extensions that you install. Generally the fewer the better. There are plenty of browser extensions that have been widely used, then sold to a company that inserted tracking or malware or adware into the extension.   

 

Personally, I would use Microsoft Defender, I might consider a Malwarebytes subscription. If you really want to buy an AV product, I would opt for the most basic / cheapest option available, that does realtime scanning, from AVG, Bitdefender, McAfee, Sophos etc.  Again though, do not buy into their optimisers or add-ons.

 

You are far better to protect your accounts online these days via the use of secure and unique passwords. and unique logins (using plus addressing temp email accounts).

Each website you visit should have a unique email address and unique password. 

Use a tool like 1Password, or Lastpass, or Bitwarden for this.

 

 

  I do use a VPN because we have a data limit with xfnity at my house so it automatically shuts off your IP if youre using too much data so I use VPN for that.  Is therer any concefn with me using Nord VPN and  Nord Pass for managing my passwords?

Using a VPN will NOT prevent Xfinity knowing how much data you use. You will still be stuck with the data limit. For instance, if you have a 200GB data limit and you use 200GB through your VPN, Xfinity will know you have used 200GB. 

The only thing a VPN does, is prevent Xfinity from knowing where you are ultimately connecting to and what application you are using. It also prevents the service you are connecting to, e.g. a website, from knowing exactly where you connected from.

 

I'm sure Nord Pass is fine. 

.malwarebytes (why only the free version) ..............................  I do use a VPN because we have a data limit with xfnity at my house so it automatically shuts off your IP if youre using too much data so I use VPN for that...............................................

 

Microsoft's Windows Defender is so good so I don't see why you need to pay for a second AV solution. I always worry about performance issues when two real-time scanners are running and what happens if they both try to intercept the same threat simultaneously.

 

You don't need a VPN - fellow poster theDriver has explained why.

 

Okay thank you..  I have 3 separate questions if someone doesn't mind answering them for me.

1) why would a brand new computer enter stand by mode (at least it's calling itsself "standbymode" and i ill be playing a game or about to update a device and it the screen goes black and says its entering stand by mode and the only thing I can think to do is to turn it off by using the actual button on the case.  This happened multiple times within the first day of using the system.

 

Second, i was trying to go to my routers url , the 192.***,*.* and ill attach the screenshot of the message I received.  We thought my old compute was causing issues but maybe its the router?

 

Third, what are you're thoughts on onedrive and cloud services like that . Are they best to avoid? I can't stand  all of the synching and sharing , id prefer privacy.

 

Edited by Totemtimer, 22 September 2023 - 04:50 AM.