Could be that I'm underestimating the importance of security...
Could be that I'm underestimating the importance of security...
I’m not very interested in networking or cybersecurity (though I’ll start learning soon). I always prioritize speed, especially when resources are limited. That’s why I’ve kept my privacy and security concerns minimal—because they might slow things down. But now I feel a bit remorseful. Experienced folks still strongly suggest regular antivirus checks and other protections. If I honestly reflect, “How naive am I about safety?” It’s important to remember that the situation has changed.
Currently, I’m using a system with no sensitive data—just Arch Linux, a basic firewall, and default settings. No encryption, no VPN, no anti-virus. A few years ago, I had a system storing critical information on Windows without any antivirus or similar tools.
If I honestly assess my trust level, I think I’m doing reasonably well now. Even on Windows, I can function without those extra layers. That said, I’m not overly confident. I’ll only browse the web safely—sticking to popular sites and basic browsing.
This brings up my main question: how likely am I to be hit by the kind of environment described? I don’t think it’s realistic for everyday use, but a zero-day attack could be a risk. If it does happen, standard antivirus might not protect me unless it specifically targets unprotected systems.
Even though I’m trying to stay safe, I won’t compromise my identity. I plan to do a clean install with stronger security features and Defender enabled. This way, Microsoft can capture screenshots during banking if needed. What could go wrong?
I’ll stick to my approach: keep it simple, dual boot with a lighter Linux version, and avoid unnecessary partitions. I won’t mount drives or rely on encryption for sensitive data. I’ll also run lightweight third-party antivirus and stay cautious about suspicious sites. If I’m still unsure about certain actions, I’ll run them in a sandboxed environment.
My goal is to balance usability with security—especially since I’m not comfortable with heavy security measures right now.
Modern systems don’t require specialized antivirus software. Windows Defender and the firewalls in Linux distributions work well enough. For frequent downloads from questionable sites, a dedicated AV is advisable, but generally it’s not essential otherwise.
This setup is going to work well on your standard Windows 11 with default settings. After that, I’ll set up a second installation that runs alongside it, allowing personalization while accepting some security trade-offs. I’m aiming for a balance rather than full protection.
To keep certain data hidden and inaccessible, consider unmounting the partition and removing its drive letter. This makes it more difficult to reach, though there are advanced methods you can explore if needed. A higher-level approach might involve using a dedicated sandbox environment for running untrusted applications.
For a lightweight antivirus solution without Defender, look into options like ClamWin or Avira’s free versions. These provide basic protection without heavy resource use.
Regarding your Linux installation, avoid running destructive commands like `dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sd` directly. Instead, use safer alternatives such as `dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/null` or configure a proper partitioning strategy to isolate data. For firewall protection, enabling a dedicated security zone can help without disrupting your workflow.
Avoid sacrificing the built-in AV features, regardless of the operating system. Defender remains efficient, and I haven’t seen any performance issues from Ubuntu’s firewall. The best option to conceal data is moving it to an external storage device.
The OPs machine uses a Core 2 Duo processor. If it's running an older CPU like Atom or Athlon, that's acceptable.