Sites generally contain ads, some of which can be harmful, often leading to unwanted pages or fake download buttons. Real download buttons are usually small, often text-based or subtly integrated into the site's design. Fake ones are frequently large, brightly colored, use generic terms like 'Download Now', and may appear multiple times on a page. It can be hard to tell them apart, so it's important to always have an adblocker.
For browsers we recommend **[uBO](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock)**, and you can also use a **[Redirect Skipper](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/internet-tools/#wiki_.25B7_redirect_bypass)** to skip annoying countdowns. Note that uBO alone should be enough for browser adblocking; using DNS alongside it can cause conflicts.
For mobile **[AdGuard Premium](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/android/#wiki_.25B7_android_adblocking)** / [iOS](https://adguard.com/en/adguard-ios/overview.html) or **[Rethink DNS](https://rethinkdns.com/app)**, and you can block YouTube, Reddit, and X.com ads with **[ReVanced Manager](https://revanced.app/)** or **[Morphe](https://morphe.software/)**, which you can optionally [set up easily](https://wispydocs.pages.dev/revanced-morphe-obtainium/). Note that uBO works on mobile browsers like Firefox too.
!!!note Using several ad blockers, like uBO and AdGuard at the same time can [mess things up](https://x.com/gorhill/status/1033706103782170625). This only happens with regular ad blockers, so it's perfectly okay to use uBO alongside something like SponsorBlock.
Before installing any file, it's recommended to scan the setup / install with **[VirusTotal](https://www.virustotal.com/)**. If you're having trouble determining if something is a false positive, refer to the **[Scan Guide](https://claraiscute.neocities.org/Guides/vtguide)** / [2](https://claraiscute.pages.dev/Guides/vtguide), or send it to us in [Discord](https://github.com/fmhy/FMHY/wiki/FMHY-Discord) and we'll take a look for you. For Android Apps, it's best to analyze them in a sandbox like [Triage](https://tria.ge/).
!!!note Most antivirus programs are unnecessary and can cause slowdowns. If you use trusted websites, Windows Defender should be all you need to stay safe, and you can run a [Malwarebytes](https://www.malwarebytes.com/) scan from time to time for extra protection.
We recommend **[Firefox](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/internet-tools/#wiki_.25B7_firefox_tools)**, but you can also try **[Privacy-Focused Browsers](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/adblock-vpn-privacy/#wiki_.25B7_browser_privacy)** or **[Brave](https://brave.com/)** if you prefer Chromium.
For Android, we recommend **[Firefox](https://www.firefox.com/browsers/mobile/android/)**, **[Brave](https://brave.com/)** or **[Cromite](https://github.com/uazo/cromite)**.
!!!note We recommend looking through our [Extension](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/internet-tools#wiki_.25B7_browser_extensions) / [Userscript](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/internet-tools#wiki_.25B7_userscripts) sections to find ways to enhance your browser.
Privacy is about controlling your personal information, not just keeping things secret. Non-sensitive data is used by companies to track your behavior, target ads, and influence your choices.
For email privacy, we recommend **[Proton](https://proton.me/mail)** and for search **[SearXNG](https://searx.fmhy.net/)**. It's also good to check sites like **[HaveIBeenPwned](https://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords)** to make sure your info hasn't been part of any recent data breaches.
!!!note Remember never to use your real email or password on any site you're not sure is trustworthy. It's good to use a different password on every site you register for, that way if a breach happens, only the password for that one site is compromised. You can also use email [aliasing](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/internet-tools/#wiki_.25B7_email_aliasing).
!!!note Keep in mind that it's **never** a good idea to upload personal or confidential files to any file host / cloud AI, even if they claim to be encrypted.
Download an ISO from Massgrave's **[Genuine Installation Media](https://massgrave.dev/genuine-installation-media)** page, and follow the **[Clean Install Windows Guide](https://massgrave.dev/clean_install_windows)** to install it. After install, activate it with **[Microsoft Activation Scripts](https://rentry.co/FMHYB64#mas)**. If you'd like to use Windows 10 past its End-Of-Life date, follow **[Windows 10 After EOL](https://massgrave.dev/windows10_eol)**.
Note you can turn on file extensions for all files by opening File Explorer, clicking on the "View" menu, and checking the box next to "File name extensions."
Downloading files through torrenting can cause issues with your ISP, so using a **[VPN](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/adblock-vpn-privacy#wiki_.25BA_vpn)** is a must in most countries. You should also **[bind your VPN](https://wispydocs.pages.dev/torrenting/)** to your torrent client. This ensures that if your VPN connection drops, your torrent client stops all traffic, preventing your real IP address from being exposed. You can also use **[Remote Torrenting Services](https://www.reddit.com/r/FREEMEDIAHECKYEAH/wiki/torrent#wiki_.25B7_remote_torrenting)** to avoid the need for a VPN altogether.
[Port forwarding](https://wispydocs.pages.dev/torrenting/#port-forwarding) (having an open port) is an essential part of torrenting and it's recommended to set it up. While it's not strictly needed, it benefits the swarm, can sometimes boost download speeds, and improves connectability for torrents with fewer seeds.
