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Hive ransomware on Exchange servers

Hive ransomware has been targeting Microsoft exchange servers lately vulnerable to ProxyShell security issues in order to deploy various backdoors. Once the backdoor has been placed various attacks can be performed including but not limited to network reconnaissance, stealing admin accounts, taking valuable data, and even installing and deploying file-encrypting algorithms.

hive ransomware

ProxyShell wide abuse

ProxyShell is a set of three vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Exchange Server that allows remote code execution without authentication on vulnerable deployments. The flaw has been used in past by various ransomware like Conti, BlackByte, Babuk, Cuba, and LockFile.

Security vulnerabilities have been reported to be fully patched on May 2021 but how Hive was able to still be successful in exploiting PowerShell and infiltrating into the system there seems to be still some unpatched and open issues.

Hive

Hive has gone a long way since it was first observed in the wild back in June 2021, having a successful start that prompted the FBI to release a dedicated report on its tactics and indicators of compromise.

In October 2021, the Hive gang added Linux and FreeBSD variants, and in December it became one of the most active ransomware operations in attack frequency.

Last month, researchers at Sentinel Labs reported on a new payload-hiding obfuscation method employed by Hive, which indicates active development.

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Installing Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 4
A lot of controversies and mixed emotions have come from statements about Windows 11 minimum system requirements, especially ones linked to TPM. Naturally, each time some software company giant announces how things are must have there are people who go out and prove them wrong. This time Raspberry Pi community was one which demonstrated that not only Raspberry Pi does not have a TPM module, it can run the full desktop version of Windows 11

Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 4Raspberry Pi 4 and things you need for Windows 11 installation

In order to actually install Windows 11 on your Pi, there are certain things that you will need. Check out the below list and prepare everything.
  • Raspberry Pi 4 4GB or 8GB
  • A 32GB or larger SSD via a USB 3 caddy. Best for performance or 16GB or larger microSD card
  • USB boot enabled, see below.
  • A micro SD card with the latest Raspberry Pi OS
  • Windows 10 PC
  • USB to Ethernet or WiFi dongle
  • Bluetooth dongle (if you want Bluetooth)
  • Keyboard, mouse, HDMI, and power for your Raspberry Pi

Configuring Pi to boot from SSD

In order to boot from SSD be sure that firmware and bootloader are up to date on the latest version and upgrade if needed. Be aware that this firmware update can only be performed using the official Raspberry Pi OS. Also if you are eager and want to use a standard microSSD card instead of an SSD to run Windows 11 feel free to skip this entire section.
  1. Boot from microSSD with the latest Raspberry Pi OS on it.
  2. Update firmware and OS using the terminal by typing sudo apt update sudo apt full-upgrade sudo rpi-update
  3. Reboot your Pi
  4. Install the latest version of bootloader again using the terminal with the command sudo rpi-eeprom-update -d – a
  5. Reboot Pi
  6. Launch raspi-config on your Pi via terminal with sudo raspi-config
  7. Select option 3 (Boot options – Configure options for start-up) from boot options
  8. Select Boot ROM version and press ENTER
  9. Select latest and then OK
  10. Select NO when prompted to reset boot ROM to defaults on the latest version boot ROM selected screen. Press OK
  11. Select Boot order and press ENTER
  12. Select USB Boot and click on OK and remove microSD card from Pi
  13. Select Finish and click on NO when prompted to reboot

Creating Windows 11 installation image for Pi 4

In order to install Windows 11 on our Pi, we must create an installation image, follow the steps below explaining the process.
  1. Go to https://uupdump.net/
  2. Search for Windows 11 Arm
  3. Select the latest build for arm64
  4. Select Language on which you would like installer and Windows
  5. Pick Windows edition you would like
  6. Set download method to Download and convert to ISO and click on Create download package
  7. Extract downloaded content into win11 folder and go into it
  8. Double click on uup_download_windows.cmd
  9. On the security warning screen click on More info and then on Run anyway
  10. Wait for the process to finish completely
  11. Once the process is finished, press 0 to close the prompt

Installing image on microSSD or SSD

If previous steps of instruction were follower precisely you now have an ISO image that can be installed onto microSSD or SSD
  1. Connect SSD or insert microSSD card into your PC
  2. Go to https://www.worproject.ml/downloads
  3. Download Windows on Raspberry imager and extract it into the win11 folder
  4. Open Imager and allow it to make changes to your computer, set your language, and click on next
  5. Select storage drive where you would like to install Windows
  6. Set device type and click on next
  7. Select our Windows 11 ISO image we created and click on next
  8. On the drivers screen select Use the latest driver package available on the server
  9. On UEFI firmware select screen choose Use the latest firmware available on the server
  10. On configuration screen click on next
  11. Check your setting on the installation overview and if everything is ok click on install
  12. Wait for the whole process to be finished
  13. Once the process is completed, close Windows on Raspberry imager, take out SSD or microSSD card from PC and connect it on your Pi along with Pi peripherals.

Setting Windows 11 on Pi

In order to actually use Windows 11 on our Raspberry Pi we now have to set up the Windows 11 install using the standard post-installation setup sequence.
  1. Power up Pi and press ESC when prompted
  2. Go to Device manager and press ENTER
  3. Select Raspberry Pi Configuration
  4. Select Advanced configuration
  5. Set Limit RAM to 3GB to a disabled state, press F10 to save, and ESC to exit.
  6. Select Display configuration
  7. Set the resolution to desired option and press ENTER, F10 to save, and ESC to exit
  8. Go to CPU configuration
  9. Check if the CPU clock is set to default, if not set it
  10. Press ESC to go back all the way to the main menu
  11. Select Continue to exit BIOS and boot your Raspberry Pi with Windows 11 on it
And there you have it, fully working Windows 11 OS on Raspberry Pi despite what Microsoft says Note that due to lack of some drivers performance can be less than optimal, for example, full HD videos will not work since there are no compatible graphic drivers for Pi and some other stuff like Wi-Fi will also cause some issues but overall Windows 11 is working pretty well.
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Win Update enables itself after turning it off
Windows Updates are important and though it is not recommended for any user to turn it off completely, there are just some remote cases where you might have to keep it off. Such are the cases when you want to use your Windows 10 computer just for gaming and you don’t want Windows Update to interrupt it because of some messy driver update. A lot of users have in fact want to disable Windows 10 updates completely. Although you can always use the built-in option to delay Windows Updates or make Windows 10 inform you before downloading the updates, however, there are instances when Windows 10 Update may enable itself even after you turn it off or delay it. To resolve this issue, read on. You may have to disable the Windows Update Medic Service if Windows Update just keeps on starting and turning itself back on even after turning it off in Windows 10 on top of turning off the Automatic Windows Update Service or wuauserv and setting a Guest Log on. To get started, refer to the instructions prepared below.

Option 1 – Change the Log on account of the Windows Update Service

It appears that one of the major upgrades in Windows 10 has made sure that Windows 10 enables back the Windows Update Service all on its own even if the service has been set to disable by the administrator. And that’s the important thing here, Windows 10 uses admin credentials in order to ensure that it can re-enable the Windows Update Service each time it is in a disabled state. So in this fix, you can prevent the Windows Update Service from changing the account credentials used to run it.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run prompt with admin privileges.
  • Then type “services.msc” and click OK or hit Enter to open Services.
  • After that, locate the Windows Update Service from the list. Once you see it, double-click on it to open its Properties.
  • From there, click the Stop button to stop the service.
  • Next, go to the Log On tab and select the “Log on as ‘Guest” option which is the Guest account.
  • Just leave the password blank and then click Apply to save the changes made.
Note: After you made the changes, every time the Windows 10 Update Service attempts to run, you might get an error message that states, “Windows could not start the Service” or “The account specified for this service is different from the account specified for other services running in the same process”. This is what makes this fix a lot better compared to other software or batch file to keep turning off the Windows Update Service. You did not exactly disable the service but you just changed the account used to run the Windows Update service and since there is a password, the service never really works. On the other hand, Windows Defender can’t be stopped using this trick as it will keep getting an update.

Option 2 – Try to disable the Windows Update Medic Service using the Windows Update Blocker

Aside from changing the Log on account of the Windows Update Service, there is also another way you can prevent the service from enabling itself after you disable it. This alternative you can use is the Windows Update Blocker. This is a new Windows Service that was introduced in the recent Windows 10 versions. You can use this service to disable the service.
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Chrome won’t clear Browsing History and Data
As you know, one of the most popular browsers these days is the Google Chrome browser. Browsing the web every day using your Chrome browser, leaves a trail of browsing history. Google uses the browser history to streamline and make the browsing experience a lot better. But there are times when Chrome users experience trouble in deleting their web browsing history, data, cookies, and cache. In this post, you will be guided through specific settings that will help you in getting rid of the browsing history in Chrome. There are several options you can take in clearing the browsing history in Chrome. But before you try them, you can try the basic one first using the following steps:
  • First, click on the three-dotted icon and click on History from the menu.
  • Next, click on the Clear browsing data option and select “All time”.
  • Then select the type of history you want to delete.
  • After that, click on the Clear Data button.
If clearing the browsing history in Chrome the old way didn’t work, then you can try to check out the options provided below.

Option 1 – Clear the cache using the File Explorer

The first thing you can do is to clear the cache by using File Explorer. To get started, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
  • Next, navigate to the following paths:
    • C:/Users/YOURUSERNAME/AppData/Local/GoogleChrome/User Data/DEFAULT/Cache
    • C:/Users/YOURUSERNAME/AppData/Local/GoogleChrome/User Data/PROFILENAMECache
  • From the given locations above, replace “YOUR USERNAME” with the user profile name you use and then search for a file named “Cookies”.
  • Now delete its contents.

Option 2 – Reset Chrome

Resetting Chrome can also help you fix the error. This means that you will be restoring its default settings, disabling all the extensions, add-ons, and themes. Aside from that, the content settings will be reset as well and the cookies, cache, and site data will also be deleted. To reset Chrome, here’s what you have to do:
  • Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
  • After that, click on Settings.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
  • After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
  • Now restart Google Chrome.

Option 3 – Try to clean reinstall Chrome

There are instances when programs leave files behind after you’ve uninstalled them and the same thing can happen to Chrome so before you reinstall Chrome, you have to make sure that you have deleted the User Data folder. To do so, refer to the following steps:
  • Hit the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type “%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser Data” in the field and hit Enter to open the User Data folder.
  • From there, rename the default folder and name it something else, e.g. “Default.old”.
  • After that, install Google Chrome again and check if the issue is now fixed.
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Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.71
Microsoft just released Windows 11 Insider build 22000.71. Let’s dive in and see what it brings with you.

windows insider 2000Changes and features

New entertainment widget. The entertainment widget allows you to see new and featured movie titles available in the Microsoft Store. Selecting a movie will direct you to the Microsoft Store to see more information about that title. Just open widgets and click or tap on the “Add widgets” button and choose the entertainment widget. For now, the entertainment widget is available for Insiders in the following countries: US, UK, CA, DE, FR, AU, JP. The new context menus and other right-click menus have been updated to use acrylic material. We are testing the usability of a SplitButton for making new folders and files in the File Explorer command bar. The Taskbar previews (when you mouse-over open apps on the Taskbar) have been updated to reflect the new visual design of Windows 11.

Fixes

Taskbar:

  • We fixed an issue where if you drag app icons on the Taskbar to rearrange them, it was making the apps launch or minimize when you released the icon.
  • Using a long press with a touch on an app icon in the Taskbar to open the jump list should now work.
  • After right-clicking the Start icon in the Taskbar, clicking somewhere else should now dismiss the menu more reliably.
  • Shift + Right-click on an app icon in the Taskbar will now bring up the window menu like it used to and not the jump list.
  • We’ve addressed an issue that was making your mouse move slowly when hovering over the Taskbar previews.
  • We’ve included the fix for an issue when using multiple Desktops where an app icon in the taskbar might give the appearance of multiple windows being open when that wasn’t the case on that Desktop.
  • When using the Amharic IME you should no longer see an unexpected X next to the IME icon in the taskbar.
  • The issue where if you click on the input indicator on the Taskbar and it would unexpectedly highlight Quick Settings has been fixed.
  • When you hover over Task View, the preview flyout for your Desktops will no longer pop back up after using Esc to dismiss them.
  • We made a fix to address an issue where explorer.exe might crash after hovering over the Task View icon in the Taskbar.
  • We fixed an issue where the selected date in the calendar flyout was out of sync with the date in the Taskbar.
  • We made an update to address a scenario resulting in some Insiders not seeing the lunar calendar text in the calendar flyout when enabled in Settings.
  • This flight addressed an issue that could unexpectedly make the Taskbar background transparent.
  • Right-clicking the focus assist icon in the taskbar should now show a context menu.
  • The issue from the previous flight where icons in the taskbar corner were getting crushed against the top of the Taskbar has been addressed.
  • The tooltip for the location in use icon in the Taskbar should no longer appear blank sometimes.

Settings:

  • We fixed an issue making Settings crash on launch periodically.
  • Using the volume mixer sliders in Sound Settings should be more responsive now, as well as the page responsiveness as a whole.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Disk and Volumes Settings’ change size option being clipped.
  • There was a non-functional verify link under Backup Settings – this has been fixed.
  • The Power and Battery Settings page should no longer be reporting that the battery saver is engaged if it’s not.
  • The Power and Battery Settings page should also now not crash when launched from Quick Settings.
  • We fixed a grammatical error in the Sign-in Settings text.
  • The “I forgot my PIN” link was unexpectedly missing in Sign-in Settings when a PIN was set up and has now been returned.
  • The issue where the Move option under Apps & Features in Settings wasn’t working reliably should be addressed in this build.
  • We’ve mitigated a problem where some of the colors in Settings weren’t updating after switching between dark and light mode, leaving the unreadable text.
  • We’ve done some work to help improve the performance of Settings when switching between light and dark mode.
  • We addressed an issue where some of the elements of the Themes page in Settings would end up crowded together when the window size was small.
  • We resolved an issue where the Pen menu toggle under Taskbar Settings was not in sync with the actual state of the feature.
  • Changes made to “Dismiss notification after this amount of time” in Accessibility Settings should now persist.
  • Some of the icons you could enable in Taskbar Settings were erroneously labeled Windows Explorer even though that’s not what they were – this should now be fixed.
  • The Connect text in Quick Settings has been updated to say Cast.

File Explorer:

  • Clicking the command bar button twice should now close any dropdown that appeared.
  • The new command bar should now appear when “Open folders in a separate process” is enabled under File Explorer Options > View.
  • This build addresses an issue where right-clicking a file and selecting Open With > Choose another app might launch the file in the default app rather than opening the Open With dialog.
  • Fixed an issue the desktop and File Explorer context menu would stop launching.

Search:

  • We fixed an issue where the option to verify your account in Search wasn’t working.
  • Hovering over the Search icon on a secondary monitor will now show the flyout on the correct monitor.
  • Search should now work if you open Start and start typing after having gone to the apps list and back.

Widgets:

  • When using the Outlook client with a Microsoft account, Calendar, and To-Do updates should sync faster down to the widgets.
  • We addressed an issue where if you added multiple widgets quickly from the widget's settings, it could result in some of the widgets not being visible on the board.
  • We fixed a bug where widgets could all become stuck in a loading state (blank squares in the window).
  • The traffic widget should now follow the Windows mode (light or dark).
  • The title of the sports widget should no longer mismatch with the content of the widget.

Other:

  • This build addresses an issue where ALT + Tab was getting stuck open sometimes after you released the keys and had to be manually dismissed.
  • We made a fix for an issue where Narrator's focus wasn’t ending up on the emoji panel after using the keyboard shortcut to open it.
  • Magnifier’s lens view has been updated so the lens now has rounded corners.
  • We found an issue that was noticeably impacting Start launch reliability for some Insiders, and have addressed it with this flight.
  • We’ve updated the “Most Used” text in the Start menu’s app list so it should no longer be getting clipped.
  • Using the semantic zoom in Start’s app list should no longer result in the list being pushed down and to the right off the edge of the window.
  • We fixed an issue where if you pressed ⊞ WIN + Z you would need to press Tab before you could use the arrow key to navigate through the snap layouts.
  • We addressed an issue where an acrylic area could get left on the screen after repeatedly snapping and unsnapping a window with touch.
  • We’ve done some work to mitigate an unexpected flash when moving a snapped window with touch.
  • We made a change to help window borders have a little more contrast when “Show accent color on title bars and windows borders” was turned off.

Known issues in Windows 11 repaired

Start:

  • In some cases, you might be unable to enter text when using Search from Start or the Taskbar. If you experience the issue, press ⊞ WIN + R on the keyboard to launch the Run dialog box, then close it.
  • Based on feedback, we are working on adding access keys to ⊞ WIN + X so that you can do things like “⊞ WIN + X M” to launch Device Manager. Insiders may see this functionality in this build, however, we are currently investigating an issue in which sometimes the option is unexpectedly unavailable.

Taskbar:

  • There is an issue in this build where Explorer.exe will crash when the date and time button on the Taskbar is clicked to access new notifications with Focus Assist turned off. The workaround for this is to enable Focus assist to priority or alarms mode. Note that when focus assist is turned on, notification popups won’t appear, but they will be in the notification center when opened.
  • The Taskbar will sometimes flicker when switching input methods.
  • Taskbar previews may draw partially offscreen.

Settings:

  • When launching the Settings app, a brief green flash may appear.
  • When using Quick Settings to modify Accessibility settings, the settings UI may not save the selected state.
  • The button to rename your PC doesn’t work in this build. If needed, this can be done using sysdm.cpl.
  • Settings will crash when clicking “Facial recognition (Windows Hello)” under Sign-in Settings if Windows Hello is already set up.
  • Reset this PC and Go back buttons in Settings > System > Recovery does not function. Reset and rollback can be accessed from the Windows Recovery Environment by selecting System > Recovery > Advanced startup, and pressing Restart now. Once in Windows Recovery, choose Troubleshoot.
  • Choose Reset this PC to perform a reset.
  • Choose Advanced options > Uninstall Updates > Uninstall latest feature update to perform a rollback.

File Explorer:

  • exe crashes in a loop for Insiders using the Turkish display language when the battery charge is at 100%.
  • When right-clicking the desktop or File Explorer, the resulting context menu and submenus may appear partially off-screen.
  • Clicking a desktop icon or context menu entry may result in the wrong item being selected.

Search:

  • After clicking the Search icon on the Taskbar, the Search panel may not open. If this occurs, restart the “Windows Explorer” process, and open the search panel again.
  • When you hover your mouse over the Search icon on the Taskbar, recent searches may not be displayed. To work around the issue, restart your PC.
  • The search panel might appear black and not display any content below the search box.

Widgets:

  • Widgets board may appear empty. To work around the issue, you can sign out and then sign back in again.
  • Launching links from the widgets board may not invoke apps to the foreground.
  • Widgets may be displayed in the wrong size on external monitors. If you encounter this, you can launch the widgets via touch or WIN + W shortcut on your actual PC display first and then launch on your secondary monitors.

Store:

  • The install button might not be functional yet in some limited scenarios.
  • Rating and reviews are not available for some apps.

Windows Security:

  • Device Security is unexpectedly saying “Standard hardware security not supported” for Insiders with supported hardware.
  • “Automatic sample submission” is unexpectedly turned off when you restart your PC.

Localization:

  • There is an issue where some Insiders may be missing some translations from their user experience for a small subset of languages running the latest Insider Preview builds. To confirm if you have been impacted, please visit this Answers forum post and follow the steps for remediation.
That's is so far, the latest update information on Windows 11 insider build. Stay tuned for more information when it comes as it comes.
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Some update files aren’t signed, 0x800b0109
Windows Updates are checked for their validity every time they are downloaded from Microsoft servers just like how browsers check websites for a valid certificate. And so if you got an error message saying, “ Some update files aren’t signed correctly, error code 0x800b0109 ” while trying to update your computer, it indicates that the Windows service was unable to verify the validity of the Windows Update. To fix this error, you can try out the options prepared in this post.

Option 1 – Reboot your computer and try again

Save your work and reboot your computer and then try checking for updates again. In some cases, all you need is a restart to fix errors like error code 0x800b0109.

Option 2 – Try to update Windows after an hour or so

There are times when the issue is from Microsoft’s end. It could be that there’s some issue with Microsoft’s server so it would be better if you give it an hour or so before trying to run Windows Update again.

Option 3 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like Error 0x8007001E. 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. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 4 – Delete the contents in the Temporary folder

You can also try deleting the contents in the Temporary folder – all the downloaded, pending, or failed Windows 10 updates. You can do that using the simple and easy steps below.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “%temp%” in the field and press Enter to open the Temporary folder.
  • After that, select all the folders and files within the Temp folder and delete all of them.

Option 5 – Clear the contents in the Software distribution and Catroot2 folders

  • 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 start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
  • After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
  • Next, go 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.
After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:
  • Type each one of the following commands.
net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
  • After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer, and then try to run Windows Update once more.

Option 6 – Install the updates in a Clean Boot State

You might want to try putting your computer in a Clean Boot state and then install Windows Updates again without any trouble. During this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • After that, try to install the Windows Updates or upgrade again.
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How to remove GetCouponsFast.com from PC

The Get Coupons Fast Toolbar is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension allows quick access to the most popular coupon websites available. While this might look like a good useful idea, keep in mind that it has been classified as a Browser Hijacker by Several anti-virus applications.

When installed this extension will hijack your new tab page, changing it to a customized version of Search.MyWay.com. While active It records user browser activity, this data is later used to better target ads. While browsing the internet with this extension installed you will see additional pop-up ads, sponsored content, and injected ads into your browser search results and pages. GetCouponsFast usually comes bundled with other PUP-s or Browser Hijackers that may harm your computer and it is recommended you remove it from your PC.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious code has taken control over and altered the settings of your internet browser, without your permission. They are created to disrupt browser functions for various reasons. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and inserts ads on your internet browser that assists its developer to generate revenue. While it might seem harmless, these tools were created by malicious people who always look to take advantage of you, so that they could make money from your naivety and distraction. They did not just ruin your browsers, but browser hijackers can also modify the system registry, making your computer or laptop susceptible to various other types of attacks.

Signs of browser hijacker infection

There are plenty of signs that indicate the web browser has been highjacked: 1. you notice unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page 2. you find re-directed to internet sites you never intended to visit 3. the default browser configurations have been modified and/or your default web engine is altered 4. you’ll see many toolbars on your browser 5. you might see never-ending pop-up adverts on your computer screen 6. your browser has become unstable or starts running slowly 7. you are blocked to access the websites of antivirus solution providers.

How does a computer get infected with a browser hijacker?

Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing networks or an email attachment in order to reach a targeted computer system. They could also come from add-on applications, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions, or toolbars. Some internet browser hijackers spread in user’s computers using a deceptive software distribution method called “bundling” (often through freeware and shareware). Browser hijackers will affect the user’s web browsing experience severely, monitor the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause difficulty in connecting to the web, and eventually create stability problems, making programs and systems freeze.

Removal

Some hijackers can be simply removed by deleting the free software they were included with or by deleting any add-ons you have recently added to your browser. Unluckily, the majority of the software applications utilized to hijack an internet browser are deliberately designed to be difficult to detect or get rid of. And there is no denying the very fact that manual repairs and removal can certainly be a difficult task for a novice PC user. Moreover, there are various risks connected with tinkering around with the system registry files. Installing and running anti-malware software on the affected computer will automatically erase browser hijackers as well as other unwanted programs. In order to get rid of persistent browser hijackers effectively, install the award-winning Anti-Malware tool Safebytes Anti-Malware. Employ a pc optimizer (such as Total System Care) along with your anti-malware to repair various computer registry problems, remove computer vulnerabilities, and improve your computer performance.

How To Get Eliminate Virus That Is Blocking Antivirus Downloads?

Malware could cause all sorts of damage once they invade your computer, starting from stealing your private details to erasing data files on your computer system. Some malware is created to hinder or block things that you wish to do on your PC. It may not permit you to download anything from the net or it will prevent you from accessing a few or all of the websites, in particular the anti-virus sites. If you are reading this article right now, you may have perhaps realized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked internet connectivity. So what to do if you want to download and install an anti-virus application like Safebytes? There are some steps you can take to circumvent this problem.

Boot Windows in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is actually a unique, simplified version of Windows in which just bare minimum services are loaded to prevent malware and also other troublesome programs from loading. If the malicious software is set to load automatically when the PC starts, shifting into this mode may prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the system is booting up or run MSCONFIG and find the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you are in safe mode, you can attempt to install your anti-malware program without the hindrance of the malicious software. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to remove standard infections.

Use an alternate web browser to download security software

Web-based malware can be environment-specific, aiming for a particular browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. The best solution to avoid this issue is to choose an internet browser that is known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you secure online.

Run anti-virus from a pen drive

Another option would be to make a portable anti-malware program onto your USB flash drive. To run anti-virus using a pen drive, follow these simple measures: 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free PC. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you wish to install the application. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Unplug the flash drive. Now you can utilize this portable anti-virus on the infected computer. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the application. 7) Click the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Overview

Want to download the best anti-malware application for your desktop? There are many applications on the market that comes in free and paid versions for Windows systems. Some are very good ones, some are ok types, while some are just fake anti-malware programs that will damage your personal computer themselves! While looking for an antimalware program, pick one that offers reliable, efficient, and total protection against all known viruses and malware. On the list of recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes has a good history of quality service, and customers appear to be happy with it. Safebytes is among the well-established PC solutions companies, which provide this all-inclusive anti-malware application. With its outstanding protection system, this tool will automatically detect and remove most of the security threats, which include adware, viruses, browser hijackers, PUPs, trojans, worms, and ransomware.

SafeBytes possesses a variety of wonderful features that can help you protect your computer from malware attacks and damage. Listed below are a few of the great ones:

Real-time Protection: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your computer restricting malware intrusions in real-time. They are very efficient in screening and getting rid of numerous threats because they’re regularly improved with new updates and alerts. Robust Anti-malware Protection: Built on a highly acclaimed antivirus engine, this malware removal tool has the capacity to find and remove various stubborn malware threats such as browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other common antivirus programs will miss. Web protection: SafeBytes checks the hyperlinks present on a webpage for possible threats and tells you if the website is safe to explore or not, through its unique safety rating system. Minimal CPU and Memory Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and simple to use antivirus and anti-malware solution. As it utilizes very low computer resources, this software leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs: with you. 24/7 Customer Service: Support service is available 24 x 7 x 365 days via chat and email to answer your queries. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program since it has lots of features and could identify and remove any potential threats. Now you may realize that this tool does more than just scan and delete threats on your computer. So when you need advanced forms of protection features and threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be well worth the dollars!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t want to use malware removal software and prefer to eliminate GetCouponsFast manually, you could do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of browser extensions, you can remove it by visiting the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. Additionally, it is advised to reset your web browser settings to their default state. Lastly, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstallation. Please keep in mind that only advanced users should attempt to manually edit the system files since deleting any single vital registry entry results in a serious problem or even a PC crash. Moreover, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its removal. It is recommended that you do the removal process in Windows Safe Mode.
Files: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\iadmakoacmnjmcacmhlcjcameijgcopj %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\iadmakoacmnjmcacmhlcjcameijgcopj %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\GetCouponsFastTooltab %LOCALAPPDATA%\GetCouponsFastTooltab Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..Uninstaller
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How to Fix Hal.dll Error Code

Hal.dll Error - What is it?

Hal.dll error is a type of dynamic link library error that is common in Windows. Hal.dll is the critical file in all Windows installations and the error occurs when this file cannot be correctly loaded. Hal is the abbreviation for ‘Hardware Abstraction Layer’. Communication between Windows and different PC hardware is facilitated with this file. The error causes inconvenience and hampers your ability to use the hardware. The error message is displayed in either one of the following formats:
  • "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: C:Windowssystem32hal.dll. Please re-install a copy of the above file."
  • "Cannot find WindowsSystem32hal.dll"
  • "C:WindowsSystem32Hal.dll missing or corrupt: Please re-install a copy of the above file."

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Hal.dll error occurs due to multiple reasons. These include:
  • BIOS are not configured properly
  • Damaged hard drive
  • Hal.dll file is missing, damaged, or corrupt
  • Viral Infection

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix and resolve the Hal.dll error code on your system, you don’t always have to hire a professional technician for the job. Though Hal.dll error is critical but easy to resolve, here are some solutions that you can try to fix it right away even if you don’t have any technical expertise.

1) Restart Your PC

Sometimes this can be a temporary error, so try restarting your PC. If the error is resolved then that’s great. However, if it still persists, then try other solutions.

2) Change the Boot Order

The underlying cause for the Hal.dll error is often not properly configured BIOS; if this is the cause, simply change the boot order of the bootable devices like your hard drive. The BIOS setup utility is used to change boot order settings. This can be done by restarting your PC. Once you restart, press F2 to enter the setup. Now go to SATA operation and change RAID AHCI to RAID ATA. Save changes and then exit. By doing so, you will be able to re-configure the BIOS and resolve the error.

3) Use BOOTMGR

Another way to resolve is to update the volume boot code to use BOOTMGR. To do this, access advanced startup options, open the command prompt and type bootsect command and then press Enter. Run the command and then you’ll get the following message: C: (\?Volume{37a450c8-2331-11e0-9019-806e6f6e6963}) Successfully updated NTFS filesystem bootcode. Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes. After that close the command prompt. This is most likely to resolve the error.

4) Repair Registry With Restoro.

In case the error is still not fixed, then this means that the problem is bigger than you thought. It may be due to hard drive failure, viral infection, or sometimes because of hal.dll file corruption. In the event of these error causes, it is recommended to download Restoro. Restoro is an advanced, next-generation, and multi-functional PC repair tool embedded with numerous utilities like a registry cleaner, an antivirus, and a system optimizer. The registry cleaner utility:
  • Scans for all registry issues
  • Wipes out the unnecessary files saved in the hard drive like the junk files, cookies, internet history, and temporary files
  • Cleans the disk
  • Repairs damaged and corrupt files
  • Restores the registry
The antivirus utility scans and removes all malicious software from your PC including viruses, Trojans, malware, adware, and spyware. Simultaneously, it also boosts the speed of your system. It is safe and efficient PC repair software. It has simple navigation and a user-friendly interface. Whether you are using Windows 7, 8 or Vista, it is compatible with all. It can also be used on Windows XP. Click here to download Restoro and resolve the Hal.dll error today!
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Custom widgets in Windows 11 later
windows custom widgetsOriginally Microsoft has imagined its widgets menu as Microsoft-only widgets but it seems that they have changed their mind. Due to the latest leak, it seems that Microsoft will open the widgets menu to 3rd party developers as well but at launch, it will be only official widgets. It was hinted that later widgets menu will be open to developers who want to bring their own stuff into it. Distribution, date, and technology that will need to be used in order to create your widget have not been discussed nor leaked at a given time but in some way, I am very glad that at least some customization will be in Windows 11. It is funny and amusing how some things that were in Windows Vista are getting back like glass design, round corners, and widgets. Let’s just hope Windows 11 will be a better Windows than Vista was.
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Fix Could not find the Recovery Environment
If you suddenly find the Windows Recovery Environment not working and you see an error message saying, “Could not find the recovery environment”, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how you can fix it. In times when you can’t boot into the Windows Recovery Environment, there could be several reasons behind it. However, have you ever wondered where exactly the Windows Recovery Environment is in your computer? Windows initially places the Windows RE Image file in the installation partition during Windows Setup so if you have installed Windows in the C drive, you can find the Windows RE at the C:/Windows/System32/Recovery or C:/Recovery folder. Keep in mind that this folder is hidden and later on, the system copies the image file into the recovery tools partition to make sure that one can boot into recovery if there are any issues with the drive partition. The “Could not find the recovery environment” error mostly occurs if the Windows Recovery Environment is disabled or if the “Winre.wim” file is corrupted. Thus, to fix this error, you need to refer to the given suggestions below.

Option 1 – Try to enable Windows Recovery Environment

  • In the Windows Start Search, type “PowerShell” and from the search results that appear, right-click on Windows PowerShell and then select the “Run as administrator” option to open it with admin privileges.
  • Next, type the “reagentc /info” command and tap Enter to execute it.
  • After that, if the output states that Status is enabled, then you’re all set.
  • Now type the “reagentc /enable” command and tap Enter to enable the Windows Recovery Environment. You will see a success message at the end signifying that Windows RE is available.

Option 2 – Try to fix the corrupted or missing “Winre.wim” file

If the Winre.wim file is either corrupted or missing, you need to get a new copy of this file from another computer where the Windows RE is working. Once you’re able to get a new copy of the Winre.wim file, you have to set the image path to a new location. For more details, refer to these steps:
  • First, type “Powershell” in Windows Start Search and right-click on Windows PowerShell from the results, and select Run as administrator.
  • Next, execute the given command below to change the path of the WIM file to the new location. Note that the steps should be used when the file path of the Windows Recovery Environment is different from the usual spot.
Reagentc /setreimage /path C:RecoveryWindowsRE
  • As mentioned, if the file is corrupted, you just have to get a new copy from another PC but before you do that, make sure that the WINRE on that computer is disabled (just enable it later on) and then place it in the C:/Recovery path and then set its path again using the command given above and then verify its path by executing the following command.
reagentc /info command
Note: Since the Recovery folder is hidden as well as the WINRE folder in it and you won’t be able to access them using the Windows File Explorer, you need to use the Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt so that you can access them.

Option 3 – Try checking and fixing the WinRE Reference in the Windows Boot Loader

The Windows Boot Loader is the one that determines if it has to load the Windows Recovery Environment. It could be that the boot loader is pointing to an incorrect location which is why you’re getting the error. To resolve it, you have to check and fix the WinRE Reference in the boot loader. How? Follow these steps:
  • In the Windows Start Search, type “PowerShell” and from the search results that appear, right-click on Windows PowerShell and then select the “Run as administrator” option to open it with admin privileges.
  • After that, execute the “bcdedit /enum all” command.
  • Next, look for an entry in the Windows Boot Loader identifier set as Current and look for “recoverysequence” in that section and take note of the GUID.
  • Ensure that the device and the osdevice items show the path for the Winre.wim file and that they are the same. If not, you need to point the current identifier to the one which has the same.
  • Once you’ve found the new GUID, execute this command: bcdedit /set {current} recoverysequence {GUID_which_has_same_path_of_device_and_device}
  • Now check if the error in the Recovery Environment is fixed or not.

Option 4 – Try creating a Recovery Media

You could also try creating a Recovery Media to resolve the error in the Windows RE. All you have to do is download the Windows 10 ISO file using the Media Creation tool and then create a recovery drive. Once you’re done, check if it fixes the problem or not.
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Fix Windows doesn’t have a network profile
A number of users reported that they encountered an error that says, “Windows doesn’t have a network profile for this device” while they tried to connect Network devices such as printers and speakers to their Windows 10 computers. On the other hand, this kind of issue is reported for non-network devices as well. This kind of error might be due to incompatibility between the device and your operating system or it could be that the network drivers in your computer need to be updated in order to recognize the new device. Whatever the cause is here are a couple of suggestions you can try to resolve the “Windows doesn’t have a network profile for this device” error.

Option 1 – Check if the network device is compatible with your operating system

As mentioned, the error could be due to incompatibility between the device and the system. To verify, just go to the website of the device’s manufacturer since you can find all the information about the device there.

Option 2 – Make sure that your computer is discoverable

  • Click on the Start button.
  • Then click on the gear-like icon to open Settings.
  • After that, select Network & Internet >> Wi-Fi.
  • Next, change the Network Profile to Private.
  • Now restart your computer and then connect the device again and see if the error is gone or not.

Option 3 – Try to update or rollback or uninstall the Network drivers

You might also want to update or roll back or disable your Network drivers to fix the “This operation failed as no adapter is in the state permissible for this operation” error.
  • 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 depending on your preference, you can either select “Update driver”, “Disable device” or “Uninstall device”.
  • After that, restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the “Windows doesn’t have a network profile for this device” error.

Option 4 – Try to check the SNMP status

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “services.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Service Manager window.
  • After opening the Service Manager, look for the SNMP Service from the list of services.
  • Once you’ve found the SNMP Service, make sure that its Service Status is set to “Running”. If the service is not running, just right-click on it and select Properties.
  • From there, change the Service Status to Automatic and then click on the Apply and OK buttons.
  • After that, click on the Start button again and check if the error is now fixed.
Note: If your printer is the one that triggers the error, refer to these steps:
  • You have to go to Control Panel > Devices & Printers.
  • From there, right-click on the printer which is the one that causes the error, and then select Printer Properties.
  • Next, click the Configure Port button under the Ports tab and select SNMP Status Enabled.
  • Now click the OK button and check if it fixes the error or not.

Option 5 – Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooters

You could also run this troubleshooter to fix the “Windows doesn’t have a network profile for this device” error.
  • The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
  • After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
  • From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
  • Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
  • After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the advanced guide given below.
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