(setq-default prevent-highlight-symbol-mode nil)

(add-hook 'font-lock-mode-hook
          (lambda()
            (if (and (null (memql major-mode highlight-chars-disable))
                     (not prevent-highlight-symbol-mode))
                 (hc-highlight-tabs))))

(project-specifics "projects/some-project"
  (setq prevent-highlight-symbol-mode t)
  (setq indent-tabs-mode t))