Antimalware, firewall, and other security programs for Windows XP working in 2023 and hopefully beyond

[Milkinis]

4 hours ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

I run XP and run Process Hacker under XP, so I provided my two cents.

16.32 for XP  https://www.filehorse.com/download-process-explorer/62284/old-versions/

[mina7601]

12 hours ago, Milkinis said:

16.32 for XP  https://www.filehorse.com/download-process-explorer/62284/old-versions/

That's Process Explorer, we are talking about Process Hacker, and besides, based on my testing (July 2022), v16.26 is the last version that works properly on XP, I don't recommend v16.32.

Edited July 6, 2023 by mina7601

[AstroSkipper]

On Windows XP, Process Explorer v16.32 works, but doesn't show the menu bar icons and graphs. Therefore, a less recent version than 16.32 will be more suitable. But unfortunately, Process Explorer doesn't have the above mentioned, additional security features of Process Hacker.  BTW, I already wrote about other task managers like Process Explorer:

On 7/2/2023 at 6:19 PM, AstroSkipper said:

I tried a lot of task managers and I know them all. IMHO, Process Hacker is the best of all.

All in terms of security programmes, of course!  Process Explorer as a task manager is really good. It's portable and easy to use.

Edited July 6, 2023 by AstroSkipper

[NotHereToPlayGames]

I guess I don't recall if mine is Process Explorer or if it Process Hacker.  Will have to double-check later this evening.

[Andalu]

Already only because of attempts to connect to IPs

95.101.114.48, 95.101.114.196, 23.220.255.25, 23.220.255.21, 23.59.69.139, 192.229.221.95, 104.18.15.101 and 104.18.14.101

performed by Process Explorer v16.32 when it started (and without any possibility of disabling them via a program option), I would discard such version.

 

I would also like to try version 16.26, but it is no longer available for download.

[AstroSkipper]

21 minutes ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

I guess I don't recall if mine is Process Explorer or if it Process Hacker.  Will have to double-check later this evening.

Your screenshot was obviously taken from Process Hacker. The System Information window of Process Explorer looks a bit different.

[mina7601]

16 minutes ago, Andalu said:

I would also like to try version 16.26, but it is no longer available for download.

Here is the link: https://www.fileeagle.com/software/470/Process-Explorer/16.26/

Edited July 6, 2023 by mina7601

[AstroSkipper]

21 minutes ago, Andalu said:

Already only because of attempts to connect to IPs

95.101.114.48, 95.101.114.196, 23.220.255.25, 23.220.255.21, 23.59.69.139, 192.229.221.95, 104.18.15.101 and 104.18.14.101

performed by Process Explorer v16.32 when it started (and without any possibility of disabling them via a program option), I would discard such version.

 

I would also like to try version 16.26, but it is no longer available for download.

Hello @Andalu! Have a look into this post: 
https://msfn.org/board/topic/178377-on-decommissioning-of-update-servers-for-2000-xp-and-vista-as-of-july-2019/?do=findComment&comment=1221841
There you find a link to an attachment down below. 
The link https://www.fileeagle.com/software/470/Process-Explorer/16.26/ doesn't work anymore. 
Alternatively, you can download it from here: http://process-explorer.findmysoft.com/

 

Edited July 6, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[Andalu]

@AstroSkipper

Thanks for the link

Even with v16.26 I detected connection attempts to the following IPs:

2.21.14.112
2.23.155.162
2.21.14.97
195.22.200.40
2.23.155.136
195.22.200.33
92.122.251.85
192.229.221.95
23.59.69.139
104.18.15.101
104.18.14.101

With this version the IPs that Process Explorer v16.26 attempts to connect to when it starts are 11, 3 more than version 16.32

I do not like this behavior.

I will continue to use v15.11, which I also prefer for cosmetic reasons

Edited July 6, 2023 by Andalu

[AstroSkipper]

23 minutes ago, Andalu said:

@AstroSkipper

Thanks for the link

Even with v16.23 I detected connection attempts to the following IPs:

2.21.14.112
2.23.155.162
2.21.14.97
195.22.200.40
2.23.155.136
195.22.200.33
92.122.251.85
192.229.221.95
23.59.69.139
104.18.15.101
104.18.14.101

With this version the IPs that Process Explorer v16.23 attempts to connect to when it starts are 11, 3 more than version 16.32

I do not like this behavior.

I will continue to use v15.11, which I also prefer for cosmetic reasons

In my firewall Windows 10 Firewall Control XP from Sphinx, custom rules can be created to block or allow certain IPs. So if you want to use a programme which tries to connect to a server and you want to prevent that, it is very easy to control its connections by creating such a rule.

Edited July 6, 2023 by AstroSkipper

[NotHereToPlayGames]

1 hour ago, Andalu said:

I do not like this behavior.

Agreed.  I'm NOT a fan of any software that "phones home".

[NotHereToPlayGames]

2 hours ago, Andalu said:

I will continue to use v15.11, which I also prefer for cosmetic reasons

Thanks, I've add v15.11 to my collection.  

[Andalu]

2 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

In my firewall Windows 10 Firewall Control XP from Sphinx, custom rules can be created to block or allow certain IPs. So if you want to use a programme which tries to connect to a server and you want to prevent that, it is very easy to control its connections by creating such a rule.

As much as possible, I try to avoid those programs that arbitrarily try to connect to servers. In any case, all the programs running on my pc are monitored (not only with the firewall) and have rules in order to run. The only missing monitoring tool is the antivirus, uninstalled since 2008 and no longer used not even for on-demand scans :)

[Andalu]

36 minutes ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

Thanks, I've add v15.11 to my collection.  

Please keep in mind that this version will definitely have a few less features than the newer ones. However, at least it does not attempt to "phone home"

[UCyborg]

I don't remember when I started using Process Hacker, the version 2.38 is still installed on XP partition, which I may boot to every once in a blue moon. But otherwise, I haven't used "stable" Process Hacker in years, much preferred "nightly" builds on my daily driver Win10 and eventually switched to System Informer (renamed from Process Hacker, Win10+ only program).