The Risk of still using Win7?

Alas, I have no experience with Avast, EMET or Sandboxie.

And I have no Win7 VM to test any of this.

So, we'll need to wait for a tech expert.

I will offer this friendly observation: At some point, loading up this old hardware (and old OS) with a ton of "security" apps and configurations might backfire in terms of degraded performance or worse (unbootable system).

And this friendly reminder: no one program/application OR conglomeration of programs will provide 100% protection for an outdated system.

The weakest link in the system is the user.

(This is not directed at you personally and no offense is intended - it's just the way things are.)

I'm afraid that you're fighting an uphill battle, and investing a LOT of time to salvage this system.

It may be time to resign yourself to the need to move on.

I understand & accept that you (and others) may well disagree.

Respectfully submitted

Hey MoxieMomma,

Your friendly advice is always

Well In any system, old or most updated the weakest point is always the user, I know that. I donno maybe the many doomsaying what make me more paranoid lately. There is a chance that my normal defensive setting can protect me as it did so far with carefuly behavior on internet.. Maybe all this tinkering and hardening on my protection programs change things to worst. Atm I feel myself unconfortable in my system since I tried to hardening my settings.

Anyway at first this Sandboxie seemed supercool thing, now I have doubts and questioning in usefulness based on my above described thoughts I have.

You do not seem to me to consider yourself an expert enough to follow my advices,so I can only advise you to study.

Edited by Sampei_Nihira, 03 January 2024 - 10:19 AM.

Fair points Sampei_Nihira,

I have been using computers since 30+ years (If Enterprise 128 counted ), my first own made PC build was a Tualatin processor PC back in around 2001, but I never was and probably never will be an advanced user. However I always solved the issues I faced in computers this or that way (no, not with a hammer :D). My real disadvantage that my memory in my head is crap, while I enthusiastly get knowledge by learning things what interrest me if I dont keep it updated then after a while I totaly forget it.

I know that the user is the weakest point in any system, both in security and system usage.

This is why I start to feel that more I try hardening my system security more I screw it up.

I would not leave Firefox. I will search more about fixing the issue I have with sandboxie.

PS: I just found the "FAQ Virus" description on Sandboxie Plus site. It seems this is the article what enlight me about my questions.

Edited by Erunosta, 03 January 2024 - 11:24 AM.

 

OK,Firefox stays.

Can I at least recommend that you harden Firefox?

 

Look at this user's security configuration:

 

https://malwaretips.com/threads/kongos-computer-security-config-2023.105925/page-25

 

You will notice that it uses some of the advice I gave you (NextDNS......).

Have a nice day.

 

Thanks for your help once again Sampei. Also sorry for my stubborness here and there. Im abit lazy also. Im unsure about this NextDNS, I mean I dont understand it much yet so I need to study abit more as you suggested. I never used VPN for same reasons. Both of theses seems too advanced for me.

Anyway as I readed the Virus FAQ on Sandboxie Plus site now I see why my questions sounded silly.

Edited by Erunosta, 03 January 2024 - 11:54 AM.

Okay I followed that linked guide. I hardened the Firefox settings, browser extension and privacy/security settings. I also set NextDNS as default in Max Protection. The about:config settings left what I might do it tomorrow. It will be hard because the copy text not working issue I have inside sandboxie Firefox.

Strangely the Netcraft is not checked/trusted as extension, also not so popular, like only few thousand use it, while I read on wiki how effective and useful stuff anyway.

I tried the suggested DuckDuckGo search engine, but it offered me strange results when I tested with word "kutya" (dog in my language), basicaly failed me on my first search test. I might stick with google.

Note: My Avast also give me an answer of my silly questions because it blocked a threat inside my sandboxied Firefox.

I also made a report, help request about sandboxie issue on github. Lets hope I get some answers.

Thanks Again Sampei_Nihira 

Okay I did a terrible mistake in Sandboxie Plus. I enabled "Auto delet content when last sandbox process terminates". I did this because I thought it just somekind of clear things to be safer, like hardening things. I expected to show if something is a dangerous and not recommended setting like this, but I freely can check it without any warning also there is nothing what indicated it is so dangerous to enable.

Now it resetted back my Excel work I do daily to last year december 24 when I installed Sandboxie Plus. Also all settings I made for Firefox resetted back.

The only good part that now the copy text and move site tabs is working, so this mean some setting or Firefox Addon caused the issue not the Sandboxie.

Update: I reworked again all the Firefox Hardening, now included the about:config settings. However I dont know if there is a way to restore my Excel Table work because it basicaly replaced with the old file in both (normal and sandboxed) folder.

Edited by Erunosta, 04 January 2024 - 09:37 AM.

Like I posted earlier, it's been a while since I used Win 7 on line and Sandboxie.

So I've probably forgotten a little...lol.

I ran Firefox in SB but never updated or made changes to it while run in SB, I always kept FF up to date.

I didn't update/re-configure installed apps, within SB ( the settings would only apply within SB and be lost when SB was cleaned out )

I tested downloaded apps and even invoked MSE and MBAM to check if safe.

My main usage was to run FF in SB.

 I didn't run my everyday applications like Excel or Word in SB. Too much of a hassle to save before closing SB and I didn't see any need.

Everything done in SB was lost if not intentionally saved.

But files saved, remained after SB was cleared and closed with out 'reverting'.

For me...all that was past 'history'.

For Internet connectivity, I found Linux a better way.

I've heard it said, Linux isn't for everyone.

Maybe so, but it works for me.

Having said that....I still run an off line Win 7 computer for everything else...

( I recently installed Win 11 on a 12 year old computer and have to say, I like it, and this surprised me )

I suspect you'll keep encountering a never ending supply of difficult issues to solve as new malware and intrusion vectors continually arise. Without MS support, that's a lot to ask.

For me, that was frustration and paranoia.....and that was when Win 7 was still supported 

Good luck!

Edited by JohnnyBeeGood, 04 January 2024 - 10:55 AM.

Thanks JohnnyBeeGood for your thoughts. Yeah I will use Sandboxie for only FF from now onward. I found out I can pull out (recovery) files from sandbox, but Im not sure I can save the FF settings somewhere, if it saved in a file or something.

Atm Im searching for a file recovery tool to get back that XLS I lost. EaseUS found it instantly with date of december 31, exactly what I need. However for recover I need to buy the product.

I keep trying other recovery tools, but they fail to find the file, Recuva, Wise Data Recovery, Glarysoft all failed so far. Ofc first I check everything on VirusTotal, not mindlessly install in need. I wonder why other cant find what EaseUs found? Is this so much better?

Yeah I will swap to Linux Mint, but I so hate to change as also learn a new OS from scrach even it try to use the same UI as Win. sigh

 

OK,Firefox stays.

Can I at least recommend that you harden Firefox?

 

Look at this user's security configuration:

 

https://malwaretips.com/threads/kongos-computer-security-config-2023.105925/page-25

 

You will notice that it uses some of the advice I gave you (NextDNS......).

Have a nice day.

 

Since I hardened Firefox followed the guide (all about:config too) you linked the browser dont start fullscreen. It start in strange narrow windowed, almost fullscreen height, but like halfscreen width.

Not a big issue, but is it normal behavior based on hardening?