let's start simply ...

00. A music production computer has no place on the Internet!

Whoever is of a different opinion, does not need to read further from this point.
I don't need hate speech here either; I'm just trying to help those who have the same problems over and over again.


01. Disable Windows pseudo security and system updates!

02. Sensible use of Windows Firewall (use Firewall-Control)

03. Absolutely essential, a HOST file that blocks "all" unnecessary queries from plug-in/DAW manufacturers and Windows. (mine now has over 490 lines)

04. Disabling Windows Defender. If that is not possible (WinHomeEditions) Exclude all drives containing music software/samples/libs/presets from the defender search!
Side effect: improved performance
(In case of virus panic disease, test the PlugIn in a sandbox beforehand)

05. Disabling Windows Telemetry.

06. For all purchased products, request offline licenses from the manufacturer. If that's not possible, f* the product. This has led to disputes with manufacturers in 30% of the products I have purchased.

07. Solution: Live with an older version that does not require an internet connection. Not every innovation is absolutely necessary to achieve the goal. Or, you don't want to? Then the only option is to switch to the alternative version (R2R/VR or whatever). I paid for this sh*, so it's the manufacturer's problem.

08. Get yourself an internet kill switch.
Search for Products like: DeLock RJ45 10/100/1000 2-Port manual bidirectional Gigalan Netwerk Switch 2x 10/100/1000 - Gigabit Netwerk Switcher, 10/100/1000Mbps, 2 in 1 Out

09. If !!! a plugin requires a one-time internet connection (registration query/or library download), use "savihost" or something similar for the initial launch.

10. Steps: Kill-Switch your Internet (or unplug your network cable), set "Firewall-Control" to allow all and start your session. In 99.9% of all cases, everything should now be working. I don't need the last 0.1% that still isn't working. Just uninstall that garbage.

Fundamental questions:
11. If you "need" Kontakt, use a portable version and add your old libs manually, works every time!

11.2 Do I really "need" the latest update for a PlugIn or DAW, or has something been fixed here that doesn't affect me at all?

11.3 Is it worth the risk of updating, for maybe 1 to 5 minor new features, that I'll never need, or that I already have elsewhere?

11.4 The basic rule for everything - Never change a running system.

Many problems with plugins arise “only” due to an active connection to the internet.
99.999999% of all time bombs are also triggered in this way, like the usual suspects so often mentioned here. The group that publishes this software is not always the problem, but rather the user and his system configuration. I've never had any trouble with serUheM bombs. But also online for just one sec, ta-daaa!
and the bombs fell

I myself have been following this procedure exactly since 2009 and have "never" had problems with applications. Neither on Win7 nor on Win10/11.
No Trojans, no viruses, no time bombs or whatever.
I can still start up my old Win7 music PC today and everything runs like a clockwork.
My Win11 laptop is a mirror of my Win10 studio PC, and “everything” runs completely identically.
But .... only if there is no connection to the Internet !!!

I hope I could help at least a few users

 

Never been online with my music PC, I have a second PC for 'offline' downloads, browsing etc, not every one has that luxury.

Folk do need to take care though.

Was in a commercial studio recording session recently and Pro Tools decided to update which caused problems so session was ended.

 

Always make a full backup of your C:/ drive to a second hard drive. Always back up important data to CD, DVD, or Blu-ray, keeping in mind that water damage, theft, etc., can always happen. A fireproof case is also a good investment!

 

I went the hardware protection route, got an Ubiquiti router so I can have my DAW on a separate VLAN. This lets me cut internet completely, or block traffic instead of using the windows firewall and hosts file. It also blocks malicious traffic

 

From "a bit radical but justified" POV I agree with most points.
I'd suggest to use the Firewall in whitelist mode: block everything except programs you explicitly allow
Takes a while to get used but does wonders

And the best point of the OP for me is: fuck everything that needs internet for no reason. Like OP says: once for first authorization tops. Not only for current security and whatnot problems with DAWs and similar, but for the future that will be worse in general for software.

 

Last edited: Feb 13, 2026 at 7:22 PM

This is really all you needed to impart. Not to say the rest is not pertinent. Every time I suggest this course of action here there are certain gomers that always chime in with - "you're paranoid", "yeah yeah that's your fix for everything", kind of b.s.. Of course this isn't fix for everything but it does in many cases become a possible remedy for a portion of the issues reported here with scene releases not working, or system overhead issues, etc...

Great suggestions ALL. However if there's no internet there's really no threat. You have your dedicated internet machine that is dual homed where you run A/V, firewall, etc so you scan stuff there before it ever hits any other part of your system.

On the production box, the defeating of all the the Windows hogwash like telemetry, A/V, firewall, autonomous updating, etc, can all be eliminated (not just disabled) due to the fact that the machine is not bound to the internet. At the point where there's no internet involved to muck things up these eliminations manifest in releasing system resources and allowing the system to run less burdened. You also do not need win "updates" as most of that garbage is telemetry exchange, and undoing anything microsoft doesn't like from remote. Generally those "updates" fuck up more than they ever fix.

You don't need a host file there either. In the case of R2R you'll have to run the Net Blocker anyway just because some things require it. You also don't need to buy a "kill switch" when one line of code can to the job to enable or disable your internet Network Interface Card. My internet facing boxen are all equipped with 2 batch files that keep the internet facing NIC DISABLED until I enable it or disable it myself. When the machines are turned on the internet NIC's are all disabled.

Code:

to enable a NIC
wmic path win32_networkadapter where index=XX call enable
to disable a NIC
wmic path win32_networkadapter where index=XX call disable

Where the index number is given in the System Information panel under <system summary/Components/Network/Adapter under the "name" of the installed network adapter that belongs to your internet connection.

Running a completely OFFLINE production box will certainly almost require using scene releases all the way around. If it isn't released to the scene then it isn't used.

Great post by the way!

 

Last edited: Feb 13, 2026 at 9:37 PM