Alternatives to Hardentools
A Windows utility that reduces attack surface by disabling risky features commonly abused by malware. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Hardentools
A Windows utility that reduces attack surface by disabling risky features commonly abused by malware.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Hardentools.
privacy.sexy
Generates privacy and hardening scripts for Windows, macOS and Linux.
privacy.sexy generates readable hardening and privacy scripts for Windows, macOS and Linux that you review before running, rather than one-click feature disabling.
O&O ShutUp10++
Portable Windows tool that toggles telemetry and data collection settings.
O&O ShutUp10++ is a portable Windows tool that toggles telemetry and data collection settings with recommended defaults, focused on privacy rather than attack surface.
WPD
Windows privacy dashboard for telemetry, services and firewall rules.
WPD combines telemetry blocking, firewall rules and app removal in one portable Windows tool, closed source unlike Hardentools.
Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit
Microsoft tools and security baselines for analyzing, testing and comparing Windows security configurations.
Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit applies and compares official Windows security baselines through Group Policy, aimed at administrators rather than everyday hardening.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
simplewall
Puts a plain list of programs in front of the Windows Filtering Platform, so you decide what is allowed online.
