Software Alternatives & Startups

Hardentools VS Process Explorer

Compare Hardentools VS Process Explorer and see what are their differences

Hardentools

Harden your Windows security by disabling features.

Rating
0 reviews
Process Explorer

The top window always shows a list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, whereas the information displayed in the bottom window depends on the mode that Process Explorer is in: if it is in handle mode you'l…

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Process Explorer seems to be a lot more popular than Hardentools. While we know about 289 links to Process Explorer, we've tracked only 4 mentions of Hardentools.

social mentions
4 vs 289
Cyber Security popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
10 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Hardentools
Process Explorer
Website github.com learn.microsoft.com
Company Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Hardentools 3 features
Process Explorer 6 features
  • Increased Security
    Hardentools enhances the security of the Windows operating system by disabling certain features and functionalities that are commonly exploited by malware, making it more difficult for malicious actors to compromise the system.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Hardentools allows users to review the source code, ensuring transparency and enabling contributions from the community to improve its functionality and security features.
  • Ease of Use
    Hardentools provides a simple and straightforward way to strengthen a system by applying security hardening tweaks without requiring extensive technical knowledge or manual configuration from users.

Possible disadvantages

  • Reduced Functionality
    By disabling certain Windows features and functionalities, users may experience reduced functionality or encounter limitations in using applications that rely on the disabled features.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Some applications or processes might require specific features that Hardentools disables, potentially leading to compatibility issues or disruptions in software performance.
  • Lack of Granular Control
    Hardentools applies a set of predefined tweaks without offering users the ability to selectively enable or disable specific features, which might not suit all security policies or user preferences.
  • Detailed System Information
    Process Explorer provides in-depth information about system processes, including detailed CPU and memory usage stats.
  • Hierarchical View
    It shows processes in a tree structure, making it easy to understand parent-child relationships between processes.
  • Advanced Diagnostic Capabilities
    The tool offers advanced features like DLL and handle viewing, allowing detailed investigation of system issues.
  • Real-Time Monitoring
    It allows real-time monitoring of system performance, including CPU, GPU, and I/O activity, which is critical for diagnosing performance bottlenecks.
  • Integration with VirusTotal
    Process Explorer can integrate with VirusTotal to check the safety of running processes, adding an extra layer of security.
  • Free to Use
    Process Explorer is part of the Sysinternals suite, which is freely available for use, making it accessible for both individual users and organizations.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    The extensive features and detailed information can be overwhelming for novice users who may find the interface complex to navigate.
  • Resource Intensive
    While generally lightweight, the comprehensive monitoring features can consume a noticeable amount of system resources, which might affect performance on older or less powerful systems.
  • Windows Only
    Process Explorer is designed specifically for Windows operating systems, limiting its use for those who work in cross-platform environments.
  • No Built-In Reporting
    The tool does not offer built-in reporting capabilities, requiring users to manually capture and document information.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its advanced features and detailed information, new users might face a steep learning curve before being able to fully utilize all its capabilities.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there are some resources available, the documentation can be sparse, making it difficult for users to find solutions to specific problems.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Hardentools
Process Explorer

No analysis of Hardentools yet.

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Process Explorer is generally regarded as a good and reliable tool by both system administrators and other IT professionals. It is frequently recommended for its depth of features, ease of use, and the detailed process information it provides.

Why this product is good

  • Process Explorer is considered a valuable tool because it offers comprehensive insights into system processes, threads, and resource usage. It provides detailed information about which files and directories individual processes have open, the DLLs they have loaded, and more. Its ability to offer real-time data and powerful searching capabilities makes it invaluable for troubleshooting and performance monitoring.

Recommended for

  • System administrators
  • IT professionals
  • Software developers
  • Anyone interested in detailed system diagnostics
  • Users troubleshooting application issues

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Hardentools 0 videos + Add
Process Explorer 3 videos + Add

No Hardentools videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Sysinternals Process Explorer Review + download link and method

More videos

  • - Scan for Malware Using Process Explorer and Virus Total
  • - What Is?: Process Explorer?

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Hardentools
Process Explorer
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Hardentools and Process Explorer. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Hardentools 4 mentions
Process Explorer 289 mentions
  • What is the most painfree way to scan a pc for viruses?
    After you're done, you need some apps that protect your device. First get harden tools https://github.com/securitywithoutborders/hardentools. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Is there a better way to do backups like this?
    As long as your windows machine is locked down enough, Ex:simplewall/Safing Portmaster, MullvadVPN, https://github.com/securitywithoutborders/hardentools. You should be fine, as that's a pretty good process. Source: over 4 years ago
  • [HELP] How to enable Windows Script Host
    Windows Script Host was disabled with the use of Harden Tools. You could try de-hardering Windows Script Host with the application: Https://github.com/securitywithoutborders/hardentools. Source: over 5 years ago

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  • Stats – macOS system monitor in your menu bar
    Unclear what you mean by programmable, but https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer is the bee's knees and you can set an option to have it take over taskmon.exe, launch on login, and put as many of the... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What tools do you recommend for working on Windows?
    Always put all your portable programs in the "A:\MyPC\Programs\" folder. Always put all your documents in the "A:\MyPC\Documents\" folder. Put driver files and runtime libraries in the "A:\MyPC\Install\" folder. For all three, feel free... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Hidden dependencies in Linux binaries.
    On windows, this is Dependency Walker versus ProcExp. Similar eye-goggling results. https://www.dependencywalker.com/ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

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Alternatives to Hardentools and Process Explorer

When comparing Hardentools and Process Explorer, you can also consider the following products.