A few questions about Adguard + BitDefender...

[jasoncarle]

Am I duplicating capabilities by having both of these running at the same time? I pay for AdGuard and am trialing BitDefender right now and wondering what, if any, benefit it gives me. I also use Little Snitch and subscribe to 2 blocking lists with that as well, although that doesn't do as good a job as blocking things like youtube ads and such, as AdGuard does. Will I lose anything if I delete BitDefender?

I ask here because I use Mojave and Safari.

Thank you.

 

[bogdanw]

I don't think Bitdefender is really useful in this case and it might slow your system.
My method of creating self hosted rules for Little Snitch https://github.com/b0gdanw/AdAwayForSafari

 

[jasoncarle]

I think it is slowing things down as well, not a lot, but some.

 

[Macsonic]

Years ago I had a Trial version of BitDefender. The app was making my CPU run hotter looking at Hardware Monitor temperature reading. While BitDefender was scanning files, my Mac became slow. I removed BitDefender. Another guy had a similar problem with BitDefender. https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/1728/

I’m now using Norton Securities for Mac and was okay. Norton did not make my CPU run hotter. I am also using Norton Safe Web browser extension to guard against web phishing.

Norton Safe Web - Chrome Web Store

Norton Safe Web provides protection from online threats while you browse the web.

chrome.google.com

 

[jasoncarle]

I removed BitDefender and the difference it was making in browsing speed is quite big now that I am able to see the difference.

 

[bogdanw]

If your are looking for ways of blocking malware without using resources:
1. DNS
- Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.2 (No Malware) & 1.1.1.3 (No Malware or Adult Content) https://blog.cloudflare.com/introducing-1-1-1-1-for-families/
- OpenDNS FamilyShield https://www.opendns.com/setupguide/#familyshield

I set up 1.1.1.3 in my router, so every device that connects to it gets 1.1.1.3 as DNS through DHCP. Individual devices can bypass it by manually setting an alternative DNS (Google 8.8.8.8, Cloudflare 1.1.1.1) Script to easily change DNS on macOS https://github.com/b0gdanw/AppleScripts/blob/master/ChangeDNS.scpt

2. Hosts
I’ve explained here how it works https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/using-hosts-to-block-ads-and-malware-in-catalina.2198978/
Another solution, with autoupdate, was kindly explained to me here https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...stall-backup-restore-catalina-update.2203443/

 

[jasoncarle]

If your are looking for ways of blocking malware without using resources:
1. DNS
- Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.2 (No Malware) & 1.1.1.3 (No Malware or Adult Content) https://blog.cloudflare.com/introducing-1-1-1-1-for-families/
- OpenDNS FamilyShield https://www.opendns.com/setupguide/#familyshield

I set up 1.1.1.3 in my router, so every device that connects to it gets 1.1.1.3 as DNS through DHCP. Individual devices can bypass it by manually setting an alternative DNS (Google 8.8.8.8, Cloudflare 1.1.1.1) Script to easily change DNS on macOS https://github.com/b0gdanw/AppleScripts/blob/master/ChangeDNS.scpt

2. Hosts
I’ve explained here how it works https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/using-hosts-to-block-ads-and-malware-in-catalina.2198978/
Another solution, with autoupdate, was kindly explained to me here https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...stall-backup-restore-catalina-update.2203443/

Thanks, already using Cloudflare. I will explore your other suggestions.
[automerge]1586042025[/automerge]
Ok, in one of your links someone says that Little Snitch doesn't block things system wide, it does, unless I am unsure how it works. I have over 57,000 things that it blocks in 2 lists I subscribe to from inside Little Snitch.

 

[bogdanw]

Thanks, already using Cloudflare. I will explore your other suggestions.
[automerge]1586042025[/automerge]
Ok, in one of your links someone says that Little Snitch doesn't block things system wide, it does, unless I am unsure how it works. I have over 57,000 things that it blocks in 2 lists I subscribe to from inside Little Snitch.

Just to be clear, for anyone else reading this thread, Cloudflare’s normal DNS (1.1.1.1 & 1.0.0.1) does not block malware, just the new addresses: 1.1.1.2 blocks malware and 1.1.1.3 blocks malware and access to adult content.

That’s not true, Little Snitch can block everything “Any Process” https://help.obdev.at/littlesnitch/lsc-edit-rules
I use rules just for Safari because it’s my main browser and I need Chrome to run in a default configuration.

 

[jasoncarle]

Just to be clear, for anyone else reading this thread, Cloudflare’s normal DNS (1.1.1.1 & 1.0.0.1) does not block malware, just the new addresses: 1.1.1.2 blocks malware and 1.1.1.3 blocks malware and access to adult content.

That’s not true, Little Snitch can block everything “Any Process” https://help.obdev.at/littlesnitch/lsc-edit-rules
I use rules just for Safari because it’s my main browser and I need Chrome to run in a default configuration.

Thank you for the clarification.