March 2021: List of data breaches & attacks

SysPlayer is a potentially unwanted ad-supported media application from Goobzo.com. It can display targeted ads, hijack browser search results, and can display pop-up ads. This player gathers information about your visited websites, the number of clicks on each website, and cookie information containing sensitive data, that it occasionally sends back to the server.

Multiple Anti-virus programs detect SysPlayer as malicious or potentially unwanted as of the time of publication of this video. It has been associated in bundles with iWebar, which is also flagged by many AVs.

From the publisher:

SysPlayer is an extremely lightweight free Media Player with built-in codecs, which supports the most popular video and audio formats, as well as DVD, audio CD, Webcams, and other devices. It lets you play your video files, and watch images.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

People have experienced it – you download and install a piece of free software, next you see some unwanted programs on your computer system, find a strange toolbar on your web browser, or find your default search engine has been changed. You did not set them up, so how did they appear? A Potentially Unwanted Program, also known as PUP, in short, is actually software that contains adware, installs toolbars, or has other hidden goals. These types of programs are almost always bundled up with free software which you download via the internet or may also be bundled inside the custom installers of many download sites. Despite being considered very destructive, PUPs aren’t necessarily computer viruses or malware The main reason for this is the fact that the majority of PUPs get into users’ PC’s not because they exploit security weaknesses, for example, but because the users give consent to download and install it – unknowingly in general. On the other hand, there is no doubt that PUPs are still bad news for PC users as they can be incredibly dangerous to the computer in many ways.

What do PUPs do on your computer, really?

Unwanted programs can be found in many forms. More often, they can be found in adware bundlers which are known to use aggressive and misleading advertising. The majority of bundlers install many adware applications from several companies, each of which possesses its own EULA policy. Total System Care entirely eliminates this threat and protects your computer against unwanted programs or malware infection. PUPs that come as browser add-ons and toolbars are readily recognizable. They’ll modify web browser settings, change default search provider, substitute the default home page with their very own websites, decelerate internet speed, and can ruin your system also. They may look innocent but PUPs are usually spyware. They could include things like information gathering code which could gather and send your private information to organizations. Even if the PUPs really aren’t inherently malicious, these programs still do practically nothing good on your computer – they’ll take valuable system resources, slow down your computer, weaken your computer security, and make your system more vulnerable to trojans.

Protect yourself from PUPs

• Read the terms and conditions so that the end-user license agreement (EULA) you’re accepting is only for the program you actually intend to download. • Pick the “custom” install whenever installing a software program. Particularly, pay attention to those tiny boxes that have been checked by default, where you might ‘agree’ to receive advertising or install software bundlers. • Have a top-notch anti-virus program like Total System Care which will protect your personal machine from PUPs. Once you install this software, protection from viruses and PUPs is already switched on. • Avoid installing a freeware program you will not use. Prior to adding a toolbar or browser extension, think of whether it is really needed. • Always download programs from the original website. The majority of PUPs find their way to your computer system is through download portals, so stay away from it entirely.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Anti-virus?

Practically all malware is bad, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer or laptop than others. Some malware variants modify web browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS configuration settings. In these instances, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all of the sites, and therefore not able to download or install the necessary security software to eliminate the malware. If you are reading this article, you probably have got affected by malware that stops you from installing security software such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. Even though this sort of issue will be harder to get around, there are some steps you can take.

Eliminate viruses in Safe Mode

The Windows operating system includes a special mode known as “Safe Mode” in which just the bare minimum required applications and services are loaded. If the malware is obstructing access to the internet and affecting your computer, launching it in Safe Mode allows you to download anti-virus and run a diagnostic scan while limiting possible damage. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the computer is starting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, and update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you are able to run the antivirus scan to get rid of computer viruses and malware without hindrance from another application.

Use an alternate web browser to download an anti-malware program

Some malware only targets certain internet browsers. If this is your case, employ another web browser as it can circumvent the computer virus. If you’re not able to download the anti-virus application using Internet Explorer, this means the virus may be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch over to a different internet browser like Firefox or Chrome to download the Safebytes Anti-malware program.

Create a portable USB antivirus for removing malware

Another option would be to make a portable antivirus program on your USB thumb drive. Follow these steps to employ a USB drive to clean your corrupted system. 1) On a virus-free PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the USB drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Pick thumb drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the software. Follow the activation instructions. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the uninfected PC to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to run the Safebytes tool right from the thumb drive. 7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove malware automatically.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Light-weight Malware Protection for Windows Computer

If you’re looking to buy anti-malware for your computer system, there are many brands and applications for you to consider. A few of them do a good job in eliminating threats while many will harm your computer themselves. It is important to opt for a company that creates industry-best antimalware and has achieved a reputation as reliable. When considering trustworthy applications, Safebytes AntiMalware is certainly the highly recommended one. SafeBytes can be described as a powerful, real-time antivirus application that is created to assist the everyday computer end user in safeguarding their PC from malicious threats. Once you have installed this software program, SafeBytes superior protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC. SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. The following are some of the great features included in the product. World-class AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning antimalware program goes much deeper than most anti-virus tools to clean out your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard-to-remove malware that hides deep within your computer. Active Protection: SafeBytes gives real-time active supervision and protection from all of known viruses and malware. They’re extremely effective in screening and getting rid of numerous threats because they’re regularly improved with new updates and alerts. Quick Multi-threaded Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, with its advanced scanning engine, provides extremely fast scanning which will quickly target any active online threat. Web Protection: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety ranking to every single site you visit and block access to web pages known to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malware. Light-weight Utility: SafeBytes provides complete protection from online threats at a fraction of the CPU load due to its enhanced detection engine and algorithms. 24/7 Premium Support: Support service is accessible 24 x 7 x 365 days through chat and email to answer your concerns.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove SysPlayer without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by SysPlayer

A lot of users have experienced various issues either in installing a Feature or a Windows Update. One of these errors is the one with the error code 0x80d02002. If you are one of the users who is facing this problem right now, then the working solutions given in this post will surely help. The Windows Update error code 0x80d02002 indicates that Windows 10 fails to upgrade or install as there is some issue with the files that have been downloaded and Windows encounters an error in installing them. Thus, the best thing you can do in such a case is to start the installation from scratch but before you do that, here are some suggestions that might help.

Option 1 – Try to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder

The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. Aside from that, it also contains all the Windows Update History files and once you delete them, you will most likely lose the Update history. As a result, the next time you run the Windows Update, it may result in a longer detection time.

• Open the WinX Menu.
• From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.

net stop wuauserv net stop bits rename c:windowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak

• After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, and rename the SoftwareDistribution folder.
• Next, got to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
• Once all the contents in the Software Distribution folder are deleted, restart your PC and then go back to Command Prompt and input the following commands again.

net start wuauserv net start bits

Since the folder has already been flushed, it will be populated afresh the instant your restart your computer and open Windows Update.

Option 2 – Try to reset the Catroot2 folder

You can also try resetting the catroort2 folder as it is known to fix tons of Windows Update issues including the Windows Update error code 0x80d02002. Both the Catroot and catroot2 are Windows operating system folders that are required for the Windows update process.  So when you run the Windows Update, the catroort2 folders stores the signatures of the Windows Update package and helps it in the installation. It makes use of the “%windir%System32catroot2edb.log” file in the updating process. Afterward, the updates are stored in the SoftwareDistribution folder which is used then by the Automatic Updates in order to execute the updating process. Keep in mind that you must not rename or delete the Catroot folder. Although the Catroot2 folder is recreated automatically by Windows, the Catroot folder isn’t.

Option 3 – Try running the DISM tool to fix the broken Windows Update client

The Windows update/upgrade error 0x80d02002 might be caused by some issues in the Windows Update client so you need to run the DISM tool to repair it. Note that you have to use another computer or another Windows from a shared network to fix it.

Option 4 – Try to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update error 0x80d02002. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button.

Option 5 – Try to run Microsoft’s troubleshooter online

You also have the option to run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter which could help you fix Windows Update errors.

Where all have been there, we are downloading something and for any kind of reason chrome closes, internet breaks, etc. And our download is interrupted and gone forever, and we need to start again. You will be glad to hear that chrome has side a download manager which tracks each download you made and you can use this manager to resume interrupted downloads. Please note that some websites have certain scripts that will prevent you to resume interrupted downloads, in this case, using chrome's download manager will not work and you will have to start the download again. All of this being said, if your download has been interrupted, and went away, pin Chrome press CTRL + J to open download manager, find your interrupted download, and press the resume button. That's it, you have successfully resumed your download.

Video Download Converter is a potentially unwanted toolbar distributed by Mindspark Interactive network. This toolbar offers users the ability to download and convert youtube and other online videos.

While this may seem useful at the start, this toolbar monitors user browsing activity and records visited websites, clicked links, and even personal data, that it later uses to display injected ads through your browsing session. When the toolbar is installed, it will automatically hijack your home page and search engine setting them to MyWay.com. This search engine uses google to display your search results, however, it injects ads into the search results to generate ad revenue. Several anti-virus scanners have detected VideoDownloadManager as a Browser Hijacker, and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a form of unwanted software, commonly a browser add-on or extension, which then causes modifications in the browser’s settings. There are lots of reasons why you might experience a browser hijack; however commercial, marketing, and advertising are definitely the key purposes for their creation. Usually, it will force users to predetermined sites which are looking to increase their advertising campaign earnings. It may seem naive, but the majority of these sites are not legitimate and can pose a major threat to your online safety. Browser hijackers can also allow other harmful programs without your knowledge to further damage the computer. How to determine if your browser has been hijacked There are many symptoms that indicate the internet browser has been hijacked: the home page of your browser is changed suddenly; you find yourself constantly directed to a different web page than the one you intended; the main web browser settings are modified and unwanted or insecure resources are added to the trusted websites listing; unsolicited new toolbars are added to your web browser; you may find numerous pop-up adverts on your computer screen; your browser has instability issues or exhibits frequent errors; you can’t navigate to certain websites, such as computer security software related websites.

So how does a PC get infected with a browser hijacker?

Browser hijackers can enter a PC by some means or other, for example via file sharing, downloads, and e-mail too. Many web browser hijackings originate from add-on applications, i.e., toolbars, browser helper objects (BHO), or extensions added to browsers to provide them additional features. Some browser hijackers spread in user’s computers using a deceptive software distribution method called “bundling” (commonly through freeware and shareware). Some of the popular hijackers are VideoDownload Converter, Babylon Toolbar, Conduit Search, OneWebSearch, Sweet Page, and CoolWebSearch. Browser hijackers might record user keystrokes to gather potentially invaluable information leading to privacy concerns, cause instability on computers, drastically disrupt user’s browsing experience, and eventually slow down the PC to a point where it becomes unusable.

The best ways to remove browser hijackers

Certain kinds of browser hijackers can be easily removed from your PC by uninstalling malicious software programs or any other recently added shareware. However, many hijacking codes are not very easy to get rid of manually, since they go deeper into the operating system. Moreover, manual removal demands you to do many time-consuming and complex procedures which are very difficult to carry out for beginner computer users. You can go for automatic browser hijacker removal by simply installing and running reliable anti-malware software. Safebytes Anti-Malware has a cutting-edge anti-malware engine to help you prevent browser hijacker infection in the first place, and clean up any pre-existing issues. Together with anti-malware, a PC optimizer tool, similar to Total System Care, could help you resolve registry errors, remove unwanted toolbars, secure online privacy, and improve overall system performance.

What to Do if Malware Stops You From Downloading Or Installing Anything?

Every malware is detrimental and the magnitude of the damage will vary greatly depending on the type of malware. Some malware sits in between your PC and the internet connection and blocks a few or all internet sites which you want to visit. It would also block you from adding anything to your system, particularly anti-malware software. If you are reading this article, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download and install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your computer. There are a few steps you can take to circumvent this problem.

Eliminate viruses in Safe Mode

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should prevent it. Just bare minimum required programs and services are loaded when you boot your computer into Safe Mode. Here are the steps you need to follow to take out viruses in Safemode. 1) After switching on the computer, press the F8 key before the Windows splash screen begins to load. This would invoke the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and hit ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you should have an internet connection once again. Now, utilize your web browser to download and install Safebytes Anti-malware. 4) Right after installation, run a complete scan and let the software remove the threats it detects.

Obtain the security program using a different browser

Some malware mainly targets particular browsers. If this sounds like your situation, employ another web browser as it could circumvent the virus. If you appear to have a trojan attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different browser with built-in security features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite anti-malware program – Safebytes.

Install security software on a USB drive

Here’s yet another solution which is utilizing portable USB anti-malware software that can scan your computer for viruses without the need for installation. Adopt these measures to use a USB drive to fix your corrupted computer system. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Windows Defender Offline onto a clean PC. 2) Mount the pen drive on the same PC. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose a thumb drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you wish to install the application. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. 5) Transfer the pen drive from the uninfected computer to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to run the Safebytes program from the thumb drive. 7) Click on the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove viruses automatically.

Detect And Remove Viruses With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you’re looking to purchase anti-malware for your computer system, there are lots of brands and applications for you to consider. Some of them are good and some are scamware applications that pretend as legit anti-malware programs waiting around to wreak havoc on your personal computer. Make sure you choose a company that builds industry-best anti-malware and it has attained a reputation as reliable. One of the recommended software by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the most dependable program for Windows computers. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, highly effective protection tool made to help users of all levels of IT literacy in detecting and removing harmful threats from their PC. Using its cutting-edge technology, this application will assist you to remove several types of malware including computer viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers. SafeBytes has got a plethora of amazing features which can help you protect your computer from malware attack and damage. Here are some of the features you will like in SafeBytes. Active Protection: SafeBytes offers a completely hands-free real-time protection that is set to monitor, block and kill all computer threats at its very first encounter. It will continuously monitor your computer for hacker activity and also provides end-users with sophisticated firewall protection. World-class AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware application goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean out your computer system. Its critically acclaimed virus engine locates and disables hard-to-remove malware that conceals deep inside your personal computer. Fast Scan: SafeBytes Anti-Malware possesses a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5 times faster than any other antivirus software. Web Protection: Through its unique safety ranking, SafeBytes tells you whether a website is safe or not to visit it. This will make sure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the web. Light-weight: This software is not “heavy” on the computer’s resources, so you’ll not find any performance troubles when SafeBytes is working in the background. 24/7 Support: You could get high levels of support around the clock if you are using their paid software. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is pretty great for securing your computer against all sorts of malware threats. There is no doubt that your PC will be protected in real-time once you put this software program to use. So if you’re looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we suggest the SafeBytes Anti-Malware software program.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you do not want to use malware removal software and like to remove VideoDownload Converter manually, you may do so by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and deleting the offending software; in cases of web browser extensions, you could uninstall it by going to the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You may even want to reset your internet browser settings, and also delete temporary files, browsing history, and cookies. Finally, examine your hard disk for all of the following and clean your registry manually to remove leftover application entries following an uninstallation. Please keep in mind that this is for advanced users only and could be difficult, with wrong file removal causing additional PC errors. Furthermore, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing removal. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is recommended.

When you try to open your Google Chrome browser and it starts to connect to the internet but suddenly, your Windows 10 computer crashes along with a Blue Screen error that says, “MEMORY_MANAGEMENT”, then read on as this post will guide you in fixing the problem. This kind of BSOD error occurs when Google Chrome requests more memory or when it tries to access the network and demand is raised for more memory, the memory management program fails. To fix the problem, here are some possible solutions you might want to try. Follow them thoroughly.

Option 1 – Use the Driver Verifier Manager

The Driver Verifier Manager is another tool in Windows that could help you fix driver-related issues. And since the MEMORY_MANAGEMENT Blue Screen error concerns Google Chrome and an internet connection, the root cause of the problem might have something to do with the Network driver and to verify that, you can use the Driver Verifier Manager:

• Type in the keyword “Verifier” in the Cortana search box to search for Verifier in Windows 10.
• After that, select the option “Create custom settings”.
• Make sure that you have checked everything except the options “DDI compliance checking” and “Randomized low resources simulation”.
• Next, select the option “Select driver names from a list” option.
• Afterward, you have to select all the drivers from any unofficial or third-party provider. To simply put it, you have to select all the drivers that are not supplied by Microsoft.
• Then click on the Finish button.
• Open Command Prompt as administrator and execute this command – verifier /querysettings
• The command you just executed will display the Driver Verifier settings so if you see any of the flags enabled boot your Windows 10 PC into Safe Mode.
• Open the Command Prompt as admin again and run this command – verifier /reset
• The command will reset the Driver Verifier. Once the process is done, restart your PC and check.

Option 2 – Try updating the Network drivers

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “devmgmt.msc” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
• Under the Device Manager, you will see a list of drivers. From there, look for the Network Adapters and expand it.
• Then right-click on each one of the Network drivers and update them all.
• Restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the MEMORY_MANAGEMENT BSOD error.

Option 3 – Try disabling Hardware Acceleration

You might want to disable Hardware Acceleration system-wide or for a particular program like Google Chrome and see if it resolves the MEMORY_MANAGEMENT error

Option 4 – Run the Memory Diagnostic Tool to check for Memory leaks

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
• After that, it will give two options such as:
  • Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
  • Check for problems the next time I start my computer
• Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.

Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them and if there’s no issue found, then it’s most likely not a memory-based issue so you should try the other options given below.

Option 5 – Perform a System Restore

Performing System Restore might help you in fixing the SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 6 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like MEMORY_MANAGEMENT. It can be found in the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
• Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

Error Code 0x80070020 – What is it?

One of the problems encountered by Windows users when upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 is the Error Code 0x80070020. This error code normally occurs when users try to download updates from the Windows Update Website or simply by upgrading to Windows 10. Error Code 0x80070020 also occurs when the device already has a Windows 10 installed.

Once this error is encountered, it will cause malfunction of update installs and display the following message:

An error (-5006 : 0x80070020) has occurred while running the setup. Or The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process”

Solution

Error Causes

In an attempt to fix Error Code 0x80070020, it is important to pinpoint what the cause is. The most probable cause of this error is due to interference. This error code most likely occurs when there is another automatic update running, for instance, an Antivirus scanning in real-time. If you’re scheduled to have an automatic update during real-time scanning, the Windows 10 update might malfunction.

Further Information and Manual Repair

In trying to fix Error Code 0x80070020, you can perform manual repair methods to resolve the issue effectively and efficiently. Most Windows users can easily employ these manual repair methods, even those who do not have technical abilities. However, there are certain instances where a Windows professional’s help is needed. If you don’t want to face any risk in resolving the issue, it would be best to consult a professional Windows technician or you can also make use of a powerful automated tool.

NOTE: It is best to attend immediately to errors encountered since unresolved errors can result in slowing down your computer’s performance. This might also cause other error messages to arise such as Error Code 0x80070057.

Method One: Restart Your Device

Since Error Code 0x80070020 is most likely encountered due to interference during your update, the easiest method you can do is to close all opened programs and restart your device. After restarting, try to start the update process again.

Method Two: Disable Antivirus Temporarily

Another quick and safe way to fix Error Code 0x80070020 is to disable your antivirus. You must take note though that in doing so, your computer will be susceptible to virus attacks. If you want to proceed with this method, follow these steps:

1. Locate all programs in process in the notifications area, found in the lower right-hand section of your screen. If in case the antivirus icon is not visible on the taskbar, you may have to click an arrow pointing up to show what programs are currently running.
2. Right-click on the antivirus icon then select the disable option.

Method Three: Run the Update Troubleshooter for Windows

The Windows Update Troubleshooter may resolve many of the errors encountered by Windows users when installing updates from Windows Update. To execute the troubleshooter, follow the steps below:

1. Access a menu by holding the Windows key and X. Wait for the menu to appear on the bottom left corner of the screen.
2. Open the Control Panel.
3. Change the appearance of files by selecting large or small icons in the View by option located on the upper right section of your screen.
4. Once you change the appearance of the files, choose the troubleshooting
5. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter.
6. Restart your device then check if this resolves the problem.

Method Four: Execute A Clean Boot

Executing a clean boot means starting Windows using only a few resources, including startup programs and drivers. This safeguards minimizing conflicts and prevent software clash when an update is received. In performing a clean boot, you will be able to pinpoint what caused the manifestation of error code 0x80070020. Check Microsoft’s Support website to know how to execute a clean boot.

Method Five: Reset Windows Update Components

Performing this method is a bit risky and should be your last option if all methods were unsuccessful. This process will alter your device’s registry so you must ensure to perform accurately the steps. A single mistake can lead to modifying your registry erroneously, which might result in the occurrence of other error messages. Carefully follow the steps found on Microsoft’s Support website to successfully reset Windows Update components.

Resetting Windows Update components can also be done by implementing the following steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt by pressing Windows Key + X. Select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
2. Stop the BITS, MSI Installer, Cryptographic, and the Windows Update Services.
3. Rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders to <name of folder> old.
4. Start now the BITS, MSI Installer, Cryptographic, and the Windows Update Services.
5. Exit the Command Prompt then restart your device. After restarting, try installing the updates again.

Method Six: Disable Third-Party Antivirus

A third-party antivirus such as BitDefender may recognize the Windows Update as a threat since the new update of Windows 10 is probably not yet registered with this third-party antivirus vendor. To solve this, you must disable temporarily the antivirus before performing the update. Once the third-party antivirus is disabled, you can now proceed with the updating process. Update as well your third-party antivirus.

Method Seven: Use the DISM Tool for Windows 10

The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a command-line utility that is installed by default in Windows 10 system. This program is used to fix images in Windows. In the case of Error Code 0x80070020, the DISM can repair the recovery image in Windows 10 and can perform as a virtual hard disk as well.

1. Scan and check files for errors.
2. Open the Command Prompt by pressing Windows Key + X. Select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
3. Type sfc /scannow
4. You can also use the following commands to check for corrupted files:

/CheckHealth – to check for corrupted files or components

/ScanHealth – to check for corrupted Windows image. This may take up to 10 minutes to finish

/RestoreHealth – to check for corrupted Windows image and do an automatic repair. This may take up to 20 to 30 minutes to finish

NOTE: In an instance where you cannot locate the good files in your computer, the system image files may be corrupted. If this happens, you need to have a copy of install.wim from a computer with good Windows 10 OS or the Windows 10 ISO file. Make sure that the source of the good files has the same language, version, and edition of your OS.

Cleaning corrupted files using DISM utility:

Enter the following commands one by one to perform the /RestoreHealth switch using the source path location of good files you copied:

1. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:repairSource install.wim
2. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:repairSource install.wim /LimitAccess
3. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:repairSource install.wim:1 /LimitAccess

For example purposes, the “repairSource” is the source of the good files.

If your Windows 10 computer is downloading or installing updates but suddenly an error pops up saying, “GWXUX has stopped working”, read on as this post will show you what you can do to resolve the problem. GWXUX is a process responsible for downloading and installing Windows updates and is installed on your computer via Windows Updates. That particular update is known as “KB3035583”. Through this process, the “Get Windows 10” pop-ups are installed and initiated by Microsoft. This process is also capable of checking the compatibility of your PC to run Windows 10 as well as preparing it for installation. However, this process might also result in excessive usage of Disk and sometimes, CPU. So in this post, you will be guided on how you can fix the issue with the GWXUX. Follow the instructions given below carefully.

Option 1 – Disable GWXUX in the Task Scheduler

You will have to disable the gwxux.exe process to run from the Task Scheduler. Thus, you need to follow the steps below to do so.

• Open the Cortana Search box and then type “task scheduler” in the field.
• Then click on Task Scheduler from the related search results that appear to open it.
• After opening the Task Scheduler, navigate to Microsoft > Windows > Setup > gwx on the left panel from the Task Scheduler Library.
• Once you select the GWX folder, you will see two tasks that are listed under that folder. Select both of these tasks and permanently disable them.
• Restart your computer to apply the changes made and check if the issue is now fixed or not.

Option 2 – Uninstall the KB3035583 Windows Update

• To uninstall the KB3035583 Windows Update, you need to go to Control Panel, and for you to do that, type “control panel” in the Cortana Search box.
• After that, click on Control Panel from the related search results given.
• Once Control Panel is pulled up, search for “View Installed Updates” in the search field from the top right part of the window.
• Next, click on a link labeled, “View Installed Updates” under the Programs and Features menu.
• After clicking the link, you will see the list of all the installed updates in your computer from the Windows Updates.
• Now look for an update named “KB3035583” and select it.
• You should notice the Uninstall button located at the top portion of the sub-menu ribbon as you can see on the snippet below. Click on that button to uninstall the KB3035583 Windows Update.
• After uninstalling the update, make sure to restart your computer to apply the changes made.

Option 3 – Try using the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be causing the error 0x80200056. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

After running the System File Checker, restart your computer and check if the error with the GWXUX.exe file is now fixed or not.

If you are trying to install a Windows 10 upgrade but was interrupted with an error saying, “0x80070003 – 0x2000D, The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during MIGRATE_DATA operation”, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you sort this problem out. When you get this kind of error while trying to upgrade your computer, although there could be various reasons for this, the primary one is that when you upgrade from one update to another, something stopped the upgrade process to migrate the user data. To fix this error, you can try to run both the DISM tool and the System File Checker to automatically repair any corrupted system files. You could also try checking the free storage space of your primary drive and if you have any file lock apps like BitLocker, consider disabling them for they could also be the reason why you’re getting the error.

Option 1 – Run the DISM tool

Running the DISM Tool helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10 which might be the reason behind the Windows Upgrade error 0x80070003 – 0x2000D. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.

• Open the Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in this command: exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
• Once it’s done, restart your computer and then check if the issue is resolved or not on the next startup.

Option 2 – Run the SFC scan

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the Windows Upgrade error to appear. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

• Reboot your PC.

Option 3 – Try checking the free storage space on your primary drive

The next option you can try to resolve the error is to see if you have enough free storage space on the primary drive because if you don’t then it’s probably the reason why you’re getting this error. To fix it, you need to free up some storage space by following these steps:

• Open Setting > System > Storage from the WinX Menu.
• From there, you will see a list of all the local and connected storage devices along with the details on the free space.
• Now make sure that the Storage Sense feature is turned On then go find a link that says “Free Up Space” and click it to open.
• After that, a screen which is the built-in program in Windows 10 will appear and will scan your computer for the following junk files so you can free up disk space:
• Windows Upgrade Log Files
• System created Windows Error Reporting Files
• Thumbnails
• Temporary Internet Files
• Previous Windows Installation Files
• Delivery Optimisation Files
• DirectX Shader Cache

Note: Once you’re done freeing up space on your drive, try to run the setup file again.

Option 4 – Try disabling BitLocker and other file lock apps

If you are using BitLocker or other file lock apps, then it could be the reason why you’re getting the error. Usually, file lock apps don’t cause any kind of issue, however, if you have something that works on file level like BitLocker, you can try to disable it. Once you’ve disabled it, try to install the Windows 10 Upgrade again and after you do, enable BitLocker again. This should fix the problem.

Not a Valid Win32 Application Error - What is it?

Not a Valid Win32 Application error code that indicates either the file or the program you are attempting to run missing or corrupt. And because of this error, Windows is unable to open your desired file or run the program successfully.

Error Causes

The ‘Not a Valid Win32 Application’ is triggered due to multiple reasons such as:

• Unsuccessful program installation due to damaged disc/CD
• Corrupted or incompatible file
• The hard drive is loaded with bad and invalid entries
• Malware invasion or viral infection

When you come across this error code on your PC, it is advisable to resolve it as it will cause you a great deal of inconvenience hampering program and file accessibility. Furthermore, if the error code occurs due to malware or viruses, then it can lead to severe data security threats and privacy issues.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve the Not a Valid Win32 Application error on your PC, you don’t need to be a technical expert or hire a professional. Though this error might be crucial it is easy to fix. Here are some of the many methods that you can try to resolve this error code on your PC:

• Check for File Compatibility

If you downloaded a file that is not compatible with your Windows version then you will come across this error. In this case, it is advisable to download the file version that is compatible and can run easily on the Windows version installed on your system. Nonetheless, if the file is compatible but still doesn’t run on your PC, then it’s possible that the file became corrupt during the download. Try downloading the file again.

• Check if the CD is Clean

You may also come across the Not a valid Win32 application error code if the program installation from the CD is unsuccessful. This happens when the CD is dirty or it is scratched. The program does not copy properly onto the computer from the damaged CD. So, if the CD is scratched and dirty, buy a new CD and try installing the program again.

• Verify the Program You Want to Run is Still on the Computer

If you are running the program from a shortcut, then verify that the program is still installed on your PC. This error may occur if the program is no longer installed on the computer. If you find the program is not installed on your system, then reinstall and try running the program again.

• Wrong File Name Issue

Make sure the program or the file you are attempting to run on your system does not contain the same name as the long filename directory it is saved in. For example, running a file named ‘program’ in the ‘program files’ directory can cause errors in some Windows versions. If this is the issue, then try installing the program in a different directory.

• Repair Hard Drive

If the hard drive is bad or corrupted, it can also generate the not a valid Win32 application. And because of this error files and programs fail to execute successfully as not all data can be read from the hard drive. To repair this issue first you need to run defrag and ScanDisk Microsoft built-in tools. These tools check for errors on the hard drive.

• Run an Antivirus

If the error code occurs due to a viral infection or malware attack on your system, then you must download an antivirus, scan, and remove such malicious software. However, antivirus may slow down the speed of your PC. So, to resolve speed issues and boost the performance of your system, you may have to download a system optimizer.

FindYourMaps is a Google Chrome Browser Extension developed by Mindspark. This extension hijacks your home page and new tab page changing them to MyWebSearch.com in order to display ads more efficiently.

While using this extension you will see additional pop-up ads, sponsored content, and unwanted ads (that are sometimes not ever relative to your search query) displayed throughout your browsing sessions, cluttering up the pages and sometimes even going over page parts, making some pages unreadable.

Several anti-virus applications have marked this Extension as a Browser Hijacker due to its data mining behaviors and ad injections and were marked for removal by most of them.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a very common type of internet fraud where your web browser configurations are modified to allow it to do things you never intend. Practically most browser hijackers are made for advertising or marketing purposes. These are typically used to force visitors to a specific website, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. However, it is not that innocent. Your web safety is jeopardized and it is extremely annoying. What’s more, hijackers will make the whole infected system fragile – other harmful malware and viruses would use these opportunities to get into your system very easily.

Indications of browser hijack

There are many symptoms that indicate the browser is highjacked: your home page is reset to some unknown site; you observe new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, typically directed to ad-filled or porn websites; The default search page of your web browser is modified; you see many toolbars on the browser; you observe numerous ads show up on the browsers or display screen; your browser has instability issues or displays frequent errors; you cannot go to specific sites such as home pages of security software.

How it infects your computer

A browser hijacker could be installed on your PC when you check out an infected website, click an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing website. They also come from add-on programs, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser plug-ins, or toolbars. A browser hijacker could also come bundled up with some free application which you inadvertently download and install the browser hijack, compromising your PC security. Browser hijackers can record user keystrokes to gather potentially invaluable information leading to privacy concerns, cause instability on computers, drastically disrupt user’s browsing experience, and ultimately slow down the system to a point where it will become unusable.

How to fix a browser hijack

The one thing you can try to remove a browser hijacker is to locate the malware inside the “Add or Remove Programs” list of the Windows Control Panel. It may or may not be there. When it is, uninstall it. But, many hijacking codes aren’t very easy to remove manually, as they go much deeper into your operating system. On top of that, manual removal demands you to carry out several time-consuming and tricky procedures that are very hard to carry out for novice computer users. Anti-malware application is incredibly efficient when it comes to picking up and eliminating browser hijackers that standard anti-virus software has overlooked. Safebytes Anti-Malware features a state-of-the-art anti-malware engine to help you avoid browser hijacking in the first place, and clean up any pre-existing problems. Along with the anti-virus tool, a system optimizer, like SafeBytes’s Total System Care, could help you in deleting all associated files and modifications in the computer registry automatically.

What you can do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Or Installing Anything?

Viruses may cause a great deal of damage to your computer. Certain malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your computer system, particularly antivirus programs. If you’re reading this now, you have probably realized that a malware infection is a reason behind your blocked net connectivity. So how to proceed when you want to download and install an anti-virus application such as Safebytes? Do as instructed below to get rid of the malware by alternate methods.

Start Windows in Safe Mode

If any virus is set to load automatically when Windows starts, stepping into Safe Mode could very well block this attempt. Since only the minimum applications and services start-up in Safe Mode, there are seldom any reasons for conflicts to occur. Below are the steps you have to follow to remove malware in Safemode. 1) At power-on/startup, press the F8 key in one-second intervals. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and hit ENTER. 3) When this mode loads, you should have an internet connection. Now, utilize your browser to download and install Safebytes. 4) As soon as the application is installed, allow the scan run to remove trojans and other threats automatically.

Obtain the anti-malware program in an alternate internet browser

Some malware might target vulnerabilities of a specific browser that obstruct the downloading process. If you are not able to download the security program using Internet Explorer, this means malware is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you must switch to another internet browser like Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes application.

Run anti-virus from your pen drive

Another option would be to create a portable antivirus program onto your USB stick. Adopt these measures to employ a flash drive to fix your infected computer system. 1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free computer. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Choose the USB flash drive as the location for saving the file. Follow the directions to finish the installation process. 5) Now, plug the thumb drive into the infected computer. 6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the program. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Highlights of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

These days, an anti-malware program can protect your laptop or computer from different forms of online threats. But how do choose the right one amongst several malware protection software that’s available out there? Perhaps you might be aware, there are numerous anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few of them are great and some are scamware applications that pretend as legitimate anti-malware programs waiting around to wreak havoc on your personal computer. You have to be careful not to pick the wrong application, particularly if you purchase a paid software. One of the highly recommended software by industry experts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, well-known security software for Windows computers. Safebytes is among the well-established PC solutions firms, which offer this comprehensive anti-malware program. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your computer against infections caused by different types of malware and similar internet threats, including spyware, adware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.

SafeBytes has great features when compared with various other anti-malware programs. These are some of the great features included in the tool.

Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes delivers complete and real-time security for your PC. They are extremely efficient in screening and getting rid of different threats because they are continuously revised with the latest updates and safety measures. World-class AntiMalware Protection: By using a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection which is made to find and eliminate viruses and malware which are hidden deep in your computer’s operating system. Web Filtering: Safebytes allots all websites a unique safety rating that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you’re about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Very Low CPU and RAM Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight tool. It consumes a very small amount of processing power as it runs in the background so you are free to use your Windows-based computer the way you want. 24/7 Assistance: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and upgrades for the best user experience. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware offers outstanding protection combined with very low system resource usage with great malware prevention and detection. You can rest assured that your PC will be protected in real-time once you put this software program to use. You will get the very best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes anti-malware subscription, there is no doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t wish to use an automated tool and prefer to eliminate FindYourMaps manually, you could do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and deleting the offending software; in cases of web browser add-ons, you can remove it by visiting the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. It’s also advised to factory reset your web browser settings to their default state. To ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard drive and Windows registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values as needed. Please be aware that this is for experienced users only and might be challenging, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. Furthermore, some malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. Completing this task in Safe Mode is recommended.