Favorite security setup yesterday vs today

There has been many, many security software of different types over the years, Firewalls,HIPS,sandbox's,light virtualization,AV's, Anti excutable's and so on.
Just curious on your favorite set up from last year or many years ago with what you use today.

Favorite from long ago / Look-n-Stop...DefenseWall...ShadowDefender
Today's Setup / Sphinx FireWall...AppGuard Solo...SandBoxie

A pointless topic, maybe, but I think interesting just the same.

 

Dec 18, 2005: StorageCraft ShadowUser, Look’n’Stop firewall, Eset Nod32, ProcessGuard Full, RegDefend, Opera

Sept. 28, 2019: Shadow Defender, Windows Firewall, Avira Pro, Chrome + uBlock Origin, Macrium Reflect 7 Home Edition

I find it an interesting topic as one can see changes in security strategies. In my experience for example, I wouldn't use HIPS and anti-executables anymore, I find them useless and troublesome.

On the other hand light virtualization and anti virus stood the test of time, and definitely the use of a backup program was the most important change, it ought to be the first thing to learn in order to secure a computer

 

In 1997, used AVG antivirus, Netscape Navigator for browser. That's all.

Today, Andy Ful's Hard Configurator with Configure Firewall and Defender and MS Edge Beta for my browser.

 

In 1999, I used Trend's PC-cillin 98. I liked it a lot because it was very stable. Windows 98 did not have memory protection, which meant that buggy applications (including antiviruses) could issues with Windows. However with PC-cillin, I had no such problems. I was using Netscape Navigator as my browsers.

Currently I'm using 360 Total Security Premium on my main computer and Cent Browser. On my test PC, I have 14 antiviruses installed.

 

Osaban, I had the same setup as you in 2005. NOD32 versions 1 and 2 were awesome! I still miss LnS.

 

I agree there's definitely a feeling of nostalgia thinking of those days, I also sort of miss LnS, I used to spend hours on end trying to figure out what was wrong with my computers... Nowadays I don't care, restoring an image takes about 2 minutes, life is good...

 

Years ago: Malware Defender and Sandboxie
Now: Kaspersky or Eset and Macrium

 

Back then: Private FW & Avira free
Now: Private FW & EXE Radar Pro 3.1 & R-Drive Image

 

I always liked Kevin and Nancy's little program...

 

Then: PGP
Now: Macrium

 

Then: (Windows 7) Agnitum Outpost Security Suite (AV realtime scanning disabled), AppGuard, Eset NOD AV, Malwarebytes AntiExploit, Sandboxie, Shadow Defender, True Image (Disc, Not installed), VMWare Workstation

Now: (Windows 10) AppLocker, Bvckup2, Memprotect, Pumpernickel, True Image (USB, Not installed), Unified Write Filter, VMWare Workstation, Windows Firewall (managed via Group Policy)

 

Dropped Disroot, started using Criptext

 

I have a feeling this topic will be locked.

But my setup has not really changed back from 2004. It's still whitelisting, sandboxing, behavior blocking and firewall. I dumped AV's back in 2008 when they became too bloated and slow.

 

As LoneWolf said himself, I think this topic is pointless.

 

I'll take that bet.
It's interesting to see not only what everyone used back in the day, but what they are doing now.
It's a fun item that stays on topic - which is Wilders SECURITY forums - unlike some of the posts here that are so far of course I sometimes think I'm on the wrong website.

 

IMHO this thread is more relevant than
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/what-is-your-security-setup-these-days.111264/
where replies like

make sense if someone wants to read through all 1500+ pages (hint:I don't and I didn't) though I will admit to checking out the more recent pages hoping to see why (instead of just what) they make changes.

While this one [could also end up in the same category - eventually - I think it] is actually more helpful as it encompasses a greater time period where people can see what others changed. Whether it be not much at all or quite a bit. As such it could create a slightly more helpful environment where people currently looking to set up their own, sort of, secure experience can see where others started (eg once they cared) and then where they are now.

To expand on that, I for one could be vague and say something like:
(DOS, Windows 3.1 / ME etc) I used to use Norton then McAfee and then the next popular one then the next popular but...[All true btw!]

I eventually went beyond the placebo choices and realized I actually had stuff needing protecting on my PCs and that it wasn't just another device I could factory reset at any point and be ok with. So while it was a tad later on my end compared to most of you here, I finally realized 'uhoh I care' and so came up with the original layered setup shown in my THEN section. The Wilders Forum and the people here combined with their comments were a major reading factor for me at that time! (Trumped mainly by personal tests/goals)

Since then I've tested much more (loved and hated others) but where I am now vs then also says some important things, I think.

 

Then (2003): Norton AV, Sygate Firewall, ADFree (a HOSTS file manager), IE6 with scripting turned off, "XBlock" anti-spyware on-demand
Later: Avast Free AV, Kerio Personal Firewall, MVPS HOSTS file, Adblock Plus on Firefox
Later still: Webroot AV, Windows Firewall, small custom HOSTS file, uBlockO on FF
Now: WD AV, Windows Firewall, uBlockO on FF, Quad9 DNS

 

PcTools FW Antivirus Antispyware AVG Avast BoClean Ewido
Now Comodo Internet Security Paid

 

I've run a few anti-malware programs. I used SUPERAntiSpyware for over ten years. Now I just run UNIX and browsers with some hardening and use a bit of common sense.

 

Then: Kaspersky Internet Security, Defensewall, BOClean, Spybot, SuperAntiSpyware
Now: Kaspersky Internet Security, AdGuard, OSArmor, SysHardener, frequent backups with Macrium Reflect

 

Redux: I'd love to hear more about *what you used way back in 2004* for each job vs *what you use now* for the same job.
/wink at the AV jab, I don't use one anymore atm either on MY systems but I don't argue against them on systems I work on.

Hopefully you know by now that I only argue to argue..muahahhah

 

Then: McAfee Internet Security on Windows 8.1 and got majorly infected anyway.
Now: Windows Defender w/group policy, OSArmor w/many rules enabled and custom system adjustments for greater security. Boring.

 

Then: GesWall, Giant Antispyware, Online Armor, Looknstop,
Now : CFW, Nano AB, Group Policy and OD scanners.

 

Then : Outpost Firewall Pro, NOD32, Defensewall, Spybot S&D,
Now : Outpost Firewall Pro, Emisoft, Appguard 5.2.9.1, Sandboxie, Malwarebytes free

It might evolve, since I will buy a new pc in a couple of months, and I guess I won't be able to activate OFP again, and I don't want to pay for AG's new monthly plan. I might give Bravatek's Tuitio a try, and go without a 3rd-party firewall, unless I find a better solution.