Completely Remove MapsGalaxy Malware Removal Tutorial

MapsGalaxy is a Browser Extension developed by MindSpark Inc. witch usually comes bundled with other software. This extension claims it allows users to search the web, open maps, and check out fasters routes to a destination.

While active, it monitors your browser activity. The links you visit, the searches you make, the websites you use, and even personal information is sent back to MindSpark Inc. to later be sold/used to deliver ads to your browser.

While this extension is active you may see additional unwanted ads, sponsored links, and pop-up ads displayed in your search results and browser. It also changes your default search engine to MyWay, ensuring its ads are displayed. Several anti-virus scanners have marked this extension as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your PC.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a form of unwanted software program, usually a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in browser settings. Practically all browser hijackers are made for marketing or advertising purposes. Typically, it will drive users to predetermined websites that are looking to increase their advertising campaign revenue. Many people believe that such websites are legitimate and harmless but that is not true. Almost every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is vital to classify them under privacy risks. They do not just screw up your internet browsers, but browser hijackers can also modify the computer registry to make your computer or laptop vulnerable to various other malware attacks.

How to know if your internet browser has been hijacked

Below are some symptoms that indicate you have been hijacked:
1. your web browser’s homepage is suddenly different
2. you observe new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, usually directed to ad-filled or pornography websites
3. The default search page of your web browser is modified
4. discover new toolbars that you didn’t add
5. you’ll notice random pop-ups start occurring frequently
6. websites load very slowly and sometimes incomplete
7. Inability to navigate to certain websites, especially anti-malware and other security software sites.

Exactly how they infect computer systems

There are many ways your PC can get infected by a browser hijacker. They typically arrive by way of spam email, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by download. They could also be deployed via the installation of a web browser toolbar, extension, or add-on. A browser hijacker could also be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware, and pirated programs. Well-known examples of browser hijackers include Conduit, CoolWebSearch, RocketTab, OneWebSearch, Coupon Server, Searchult.com, Snap.do, and Delta Search.

Browser hijackers might record user keystrokes to collect potentially invaluable information leading to privacy concerns, cause instability on computers, significantly disrupt the user experience, and eventually slow down the PC to a point where it will become unusable.

How to fix a browser hijack

The one thing you can try to get rid of a browser hijacker is to locate the malicious software in the “Add or Remove Programs” list in the Windows Control Panel. It may or may not be there. When it is, try to uninstall it. Having said that, most hijackers are quite tenacious and need specialized tools to remove them. Inexperienced PC users should not attempt the manual form of removal methods, since it requires in-depth computer knowledge to do fixes on the system registry and HOSTS file.

Find Out How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected Computer system

Practically all malware is inherently unsafe, but certain kinds of malicious software do more damage to your PC than others. Some malware variants alter web browser settings by adding a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS configurations. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all internet sites, and therefore unable to download or install the required security software to eliminate the infection. If you’re reading this article now, you have perhaps recognized that virus infection is the cause of your blocked web connectivity. So how to proceed when you want to download and install an antivirus application such as Safebytes? There are some options you could try to get around with this problem.

Get rid of viruses in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a special, basic version of Microsoft Windows in which just a bare minimum of services are loaded to prevent viruses as well as other problematic applications from loading. In the event, the malicious software is set to load immediately when the computer boots, switching into this particular mode could prevent it from doing so. In order to get into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the computer is booting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you’re in Safe Mode, you can attempt to download and install your anti-malware program without the hindrance of the malware. At this point, you are able to run the anti-virus scan to remove computer viruses and malware without hindrance from another malicious application.

Utilize an alternate web browser to download the anti-malware application

Malicious code could exploit vulnerabilities in a specific browser and block access to all anti-virus software sites. If you seem to have a trojan attached to Internet Explorer, then switch to a different browser with built-in safety features, such as Chrome or Firefox, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.

Install and run anti-virus from your flash drive

Here’s another solution which is utilizing a portable USB anti-malware software package that can scan your computer for malicious software without the need for installation. Adopt these measures to run the anti-virus on the infected computer.
1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer.
2) Plug the pen drive into the uninfected computer.
3) Double-click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard.
4) Select the drive letter of the pen drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the antivirus. Do as instructed on the screen to finish up the installation process.
5) Unplug the USB drive. You may now utilize this portable anti-malware on the infected computer.
6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the flash drive to run the software.
7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all types of malware.

Features and Benefits of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to download an anti-malware application for your computer, there are plenty of tools in the market to consider nonetheless, you should not trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is a paid or free program. Some are worth your money, but many aren’t. You need to pick one that is trustworthy, practical, and has a strong reputation for its malware source protection. On the list of the recommended tools by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the most dependable program for Windows computers.

SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, very effective protection tool created to assist users of all levels of computer literacy in detecting and removing harmful threats from their personal computers. This software program can easily identify, eliminate, and protect your PC from the most advanced malware threats such as spyware, adware, trojan horses, ransomware, worms, PUPs, along with other possibly damaging software programs.

SafeBytes carries a plethora of amazing features which can help you protect your laptop or computer from malware attack and damage. Let’s look into some of them below:

Live Protection: SafeBytes provides real-time active checking and protection from all known computer viruses and malware. It will regularly monitor your pc for hacker activity and also provides end-users with sophisticated firewall protection.

Optimum AntiMalware Protection: With its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can detect and remove the malware threats hiding in your computer system effectively.

Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes inspects the hyperlinks present on a web page for possible threats and notifies you if the website is safe to check out or not, through its unique safety rating system.

Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is among the quickest and most efficient within the industry. It's targeted scanning drastically increases the catch rate for viruses that are embedded in various PC files.

Lightweight: The program is lightweight and can run silently in the background, and will not impact your PC efficiency.

24/7 On-line Tech Support: Support service is available for 24 x 7 x 365 days via email and chats to answer your queries.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you want to manually get rid of MapsGalaxy without the use of an automated tool, it might be actually 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’ll likely also want to reset your internet browser.

If you choose to manually delete the system files and registry entries, make use of the following list to make sure you know exactly what files to remove before undertaking any actions. But bear in mind, this can be a difficult task and only computer experts could accomplish it safely. Additionally, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. It is highly recommended that you carry out the removal process in Safe Mode.

Files:
%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%Maps4PC_0cbar.bin%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%Maps4PC_0cbar.bin%#MANIFEST#%cbrmon.exe 26,576 682c1b3de757f8d44c49aa01fff940ab
%PROGRAMFILES%Maps4PC_0cbar.bin%#MANIFEST#%cbarsvc.exe 34,864 2114e46c4564da66ac9026e9c848504d
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39bar.binbarsvc.exe 87,264 6b0c56f3192873cddf2bda0c6615118d
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsmjkonbafhhjkakmgejhidcnkkidokinm
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionseejjfjgkdnjfeflpeeopjobjjldcmlfi
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsggjmakejeechofmkhjljemfepbhppbbh
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionslkfkgnbjmeminilhckfckamlbkdgeaik
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsijjnmdphpnlnelhbhefnfmimenjgbfcn
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39EIMapsGalaxy_39EIInstallr.binEIPlug.dll 55,784 59a25ac6974b6c98bfd4d11d4b2653f8
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39EIMapsGalaxy_39EIInstallr.binEzSetp.DLL 739,816 8e7674f70d21bbc0703000ce5c72398a
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39EIMapsGalaxy_39EIInstallr.binNP39EISb.DLL 31,216 fa7fbc48b84026c2a0dcb611e0e04bf9
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsdcahllpkcnofkhpacpajmibjfjccajlj
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionshfnlkbpoacofighnabkdomkfdbpjeomm
%LOCALAPPDATA%MapsGalaxy Installer(00ef2c80).exe

Registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAppDataLowHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMapsGalaxy_39
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMapsGalaxy_39
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy6818868a-1b3d-4e35-a561-fa964a96cd3b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy79e57afa-bc05-4636-9457-fbc0abb3576b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy9193e23b-4182-493f-a38e-682307a7c463
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicyae0f4663-eae3-437f-be60-9ec9b745dbfa
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicye1f80eb5-8af4-410d-87c1-4f3e2776822a
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar, value: 364ea597-e728-4ce4-bb4a-ed846ef47970
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objects1e91a655-bb4b-4693-a05e-2edebc4c9d89
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objects71c1d63a-c944-428a-a5bd-ba513190e5d2
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved3ED5E5EC-0965-4DD3-B7D8-DBC48A1172B9
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved4b7d0b0c-cff3-49c5-9bc3-ffabc031c822
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved8f0b76e1-4e46-427b-b55b-b90593468ac6
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproveda35ff019-6dbe-4044-b080-6f3fa78a947f
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApprovede045df14-bf1d-405c-a37b-a75c1551ad17
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun, value: MapsGalaxy Search Scope Monitor
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallMapsGalaxy_39bar Uninstall Firefox
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallMapsGalaxy_39bar Uninstall Internet Explorer
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy1241cebd-9777-4bc6-aae5-2a77e25db246
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy6818868a-1b3d-4e35-a561-fa964a96cd3b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy79e57afa-bc05-4636-9457-fbc0abb3576b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy9193e23b-4182-493f-a38e-682307a7c463
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicyae0f4663-eae3-437f-be60-9ec9b745dbfa
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicye1f80eb5-8af4-410d-87c1-4f3e2776822a
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar, value: 364ea597-e728-4ce4-bb4a-ed846ef47970
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved1796ec91-d094-4a5f-b681-e16015d1ceac
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved3ED5E5EC-0965-4DD3-B7D8-DBC48A1172B9
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved4b7d0b0c-cff3-49c5-9bc3-ffabc031c822
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved8f0b76e1-4e46-427b-b55b-b90593468ac6
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproveda35ff019-6dbe-4044-b080-6f3fa78a947f
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApprovede045df14-bf1d-405c-a37b-a75c1551ad17
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun, value: MapsGalaxy Search Scope Monitor
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce, value: MapsGalaxy_39bar Uninstall
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicybf75b5a2-8403-4f70-88a6-488e3bea0d7b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMapsGalaxy_39
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicybf75b5a2-8403-4f70-88a6-488e3bea0d7b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: 71C1D63A-C944-428A-A5BD-BA513190E5D2
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings364EA597-E728-4CE4-BB4A-ED846EF47970
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats1E91A655-BB4B-4693-A05E-2EDEBC4C9D89
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats364EA597-E728-4CE4-BB4A-ED846EF47970
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats71C1D63A-C944-428A-A5BD-BA513190E5D2
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragesearch.myway.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchScopesb0441a0e-a49a-4e16-afc1-74ecced1921f
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragemapsgalaxy.dl.myway.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchScopesb0441a0e-a49a-4e16-afc1-74ecced1921f
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMapsGalaxy
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMapsGalaxy
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLowRegistryDOMStoragewww.mapsgalaxy.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLowRegistryDOMStoragemapsgalaxy.dl.myway.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLowRegistryDOMStoragemapsgalaxy.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerStartupApprovedRun32, value: MapsGalaxy EPM Support
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun, value: MapsGalaxy EPM Support
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTracingMapsGalaxy_RASMANCS
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftTracingMapsGalaxy_RASMANCS
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftTracingMapsGalaxy_RASAPI32
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTracingMapsGalaxy_RASAPI32
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLowRegistryDOMStoragemapsgalaxy.dl.tb.ask.com
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware[APPLICATION]MicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall..Uninstallercbrmon.exe 26,576 682c1b3de757f8d44c49aa01fff940ab
%PROGRAMFILES%Maps4PC_0cbar.bin%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%Maps4PC_0cbar.bin%#MANIFEST#%cbrmon.exe 26,576 682c1b3de757f8d44c49aa01fff940ab
%PROGRAMFILES%Maps4PC_0cbar.bin%#MANIFEST#%cbarsvc.exe 34,864 2114e46c4564da66ac9026e9c848504d
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39bar.binbarsvc.exe 87,264 6b0c56f3192873cddf2bda0c6615118d
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsmjkonbafhhjkakmgejhidcnkkidokinm
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionseejjfjgkdnjfeflpeeopjobjjldcmlfi
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsggjmakejeechofmkhjljemfepbhppbbh
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionslkfkgnbjmeminilhckfckamlbkdgeaik
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsijjnmdphpnlnelhbhefnfmimenjgbfcn
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39EIMapsGalaxy_39EIInstallr.binEIPlug.dll 55,784 59a25ac6974b6c98bfd4d11d4b2653f8
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39EIMapsGalaxy_39EIInstallr.binEzSetp.DLL 739,816 8e7674f70d21bbc0703000ce5c72398a
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39EIMapsGalaxy_39EIInstallr.binNP39EISb.DLL 31,216 fa7fbc48b84026c2a0dcb611e0e04bf9
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsdcahllpkcnofkhpacpajmibjfjccajlj
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionshfnlkbpoacofighnabkdomkfdbpjeomm
%LOCALAPPDATA%MapsGalaxy Installer(00ef2c80).exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAppDataLowHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMapsGalaxy_39
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMapsGalaxy_39
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy6818868a-1b3d-4e35-a561-fa964a96cd3b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy79e57afa-bc05-4636-9457-fbc0abb3576b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy9193e23b-4182-493f-a38e-682307a7c463
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicyae0f4663-eae3-437f-be60-9ec9b745dbfa
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicye1f80eb5-8af4-410d-87c1-4f3e2776822a
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar, value: 364ea597-e728-4ce4-bb4a-ed846ef47970
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objects1e91a655-bb4b-4693-a05e-2edebc4c9d89
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objects71c1d63a-c944-428a-a5bd-ba513190e5d2
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved3ED5E5EC-0965-4DD3-B7D8-DBC48A1172B9
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved4b7d0b0c-cff3-49c5-9bc3-ffabc031c822
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved8f0b76e1-4e46-427b-b55b-b90593468ac6
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproveda35ff019-6dbe-4044-b080-6f3fa78a947f
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApprovede045df14-bf1d-405c-a37b-a75c1551ad17
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun, value: MapsGalaxy Search Scope Monitor
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallMapsGalaxy_39bar Uninstall Firefox
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallMapsGalaxy_39bar Uninstall Internet Explorer
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy1241cebd-9777-4bc6-aae5-2a77e25db246
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy6818868a-1b3d-4e35-a561-fa964a96cd3b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy79e57afa-bc05-4636-9457-fbc0abb3576b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy9193e23b-4182-493f-a38e-682307a7c463
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicyae0f4663-eae3-437f-be60-9ec9b745dbfa
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicye1f80eb5-8af4-410d-87c1-4f3e2776822a
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar, value: 364ea597-e728-4ce4-bb4a-ed846ef47970
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved1796ec91-d094-4a5f-b681-e16015d1ceac
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved3ED5E5EC-0965-4DD3-B7D8-DBC48A1172B9
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved4b7d0b0c-cff3-49c5-9bc3-ffabc031c822
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved8f0b76e1-4e46-427b-b55b-b90593468ac6
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproveda35ff019-6dbe-4044-b080-6f3fa78a947f
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApprovede045df14-bf1d-405c-a37b-a75c1551ad17
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun, value: MapsGalaxy Search Scope Monitor
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce, value: MapsGalaxy_39bar Uninstall
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicybf75b5a2-8403-4f70-88a6-488e3bea0d7b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMapsGalaxy_39
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicybf75b5a2-8403-4f70-88a6-488e3bea0d7b
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: 71C1D63A-C944-428A-A5BD-BA513190E5D2
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings364EA597-E728-4CE4-BB4A-ED846EF47970
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats1E91A655-BB4B-4693-A05E-2EDEBC4C9D89
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats364EA597-E728-4CE4-BB4A-ED846EF47970
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats71C1D63A-C944-428A-A5BD-BA513190E5D2
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragesearch.myway.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchScopesb0441a0e-a49a-4e16-afc1-74ecced1921f
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragemapsgalaxy.dl.myway.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchScopesb0441a0e-a49a-4e16-afc1-74ecced1921f
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMapsGalaxy
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMapsGalaxy
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLowRegistryDOMStoragewww.mapsgalaxy.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLowRegistryDOMStoragemapsgalaxy.dl.myway.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLowRegistryDOMStoragemapsgalaxy.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerStartupApprovedRun32, value: MapsGalaxy EPM Support
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun, value: MapsGalaxy EPM Support
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTracingMapsGalaxy_RASMANCS
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftTracingMapsGalaxy_RASMANCS
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftTracingMapsGalaxy_RASAPI32
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTracingMapsGalaxy_RASAPI32
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLowRegistryDOMStoragemapsgalaxy.dl.tb.ask.com
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware[APPLICATION]MicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall..Uninstallercbarsvc.exe 34,864 2114e46c4564da66ac9026e9c848504d
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39bar.binbarsvc.exe 87,264 6b0c56f3192873cddf2bda0c6615118d
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsmjkonbafhhjkakmgejhidcnkkidokinm
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionseejjfjgkdnjfeflpeeopjobjjldcmlfi
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsggjmakejeechofmkhjljemfepbhppbbh
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionslkfkgnbjmeminilhckfckamlbkdgeaik
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsijjnmdphpnlnelhbhefnfmimenjgbfcn
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39EIMapsGalaxy_39EIInstallr.binEIPlug.dll 55,784 59a25ac6974b6c98bfd4d11d4b2653f8
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39EIMapsGalaxy_39EIInstallr.binEzSetp.DLL 739,816 8e7674f70d21bbc0703000ce5c72398a
%PROGRAMFILES%MapsGalaxy_39EIMapsGalaxy_39EIInstallr.binNP39EISb.DLL 31,216 fa7fbc48b84026c2a0dcb611e0e04bf9
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsdcahllpkcnofkhpacpajmibjfjccajlj
%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionshfnlkbpoacofighnabkdomkfdbpjeomm
%LOCALAPPDATA%MapsGalaxy Installer(00ef2c80).exe

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Nearby Sharing is not working in Windows

Windows 10 has a lot of several useful features and one of them is the Nearby Sharing feature. You can access this feature by going to Start > Settings > System > Shared experiences. From there, switch on the Nearby Sharing option and select the folder where you want to download the files to. This feature is really useful as it allows you to share files. However, there were reports from a number of users recently stating that Nearby Sharing is not working on their Windows 10 computers. If you are one of the users facing this problem, you might want to try checking if the Windows 10 v1803 Update is installed on your computer or not. You could also try to check if Bluetooth supports low energy mode or you could also try bringing the device closer or check if the adapter has Bluetooth version 4.0 or later. For more information, refer to each one of the given options below.

Option 1 – Try checking if Windows 10 v1803 Update is installed

To check if the Windows 10 v1803 Update is installed on your computer, go to Start > Settings > System > About. From there, scroll down to the Windows specifications and check the Version. If it is 1803 or above, then the Nearby Sharing feature should be active on your computer. However, if you find that Windows 10 v1803 Update is not installed yet, then you need to update your computer to its latest version and then see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 2 – Verify if Bluetooth supports low energy mode

Although low energy mode is not really necessary in using Nearby Sharing, there are some Bluetooth terminals that support low energy mode which makes a lot of difference. Thus, you need to check if Bluetooth in your computer supports low energy mode by following these steps:

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Device Manager.
After that, expand the list of Bluetooth adapters, and then right-click on your adapter and select Properties.
Go to the Details tab and select Bluetooth radio supports Low Energy Central Role from the drop-down menu and if its value says “<true>”, it means that your Bluetooth supports low energy mode, otherwise, it doesn’t.
If your Bluetooth does not support low energy mode, then you might want to consider purchasing an external one.

Option 3 – Try bringing the devices closer

Nearby Sharing might not work if your devices are not close enough. Thus, you need to bring your devices closer together and see if it fixes the problem. And when you do, make sure that Network Sharing is switched on for all the concerned devices.

Option 4 – Make sure that you’re using Bluetooth version 4.0 or later

For you to use the Nearby Sharing feature, you have to make sure that the adapter for all the concerned devices is using Bluetooth version 4.0 or later. So if one of the devices or if all the devices are not using this version or later versions, then you must buy an external Bluetooth adapter for you to enjoy the Nearby Sharing feature.

MyScrapNook Complete Removal Tutorial

MyScrapNook is a browser extension for Google Chrome that allows users to easily find scrapbook templates, layouts, and graphics. This extension requires the use of Adobe Flash Player and does not work with Chrome’s built-in flash player.

When installed MyScrapNook will change your home page and default search engine to MyWebSearch.com. It will also inject unwanted ads and sponsored links into your search queries. This extension has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus applications and is recommended to remove it from your PC.

From the Author:

FREE scrapbooking templates, layouts, and graphics! Get creative with tons of FREE scrapbooking features. With MyScrapNook, you can make beautiful, custom scrapbooks — with just a few clicks. Let us help you capture the memories with FREE scrapbook templates. The MyScrapNook extension offers convenient web search and features from the Chrome New Tab page.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijack is a common type of internet fraud where your web browser configurations are altered to make it do things you don’t intend. Basically, nearly all browser hijackers are created for marketing or advertising purposes. These are generally used to force visitors to predetermined sites, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. Many people assume that such websites are legitimate and harmless but that is not the case. Nearly all browser hijacker pose an existent threat to your on-line safety and it is important to classify them under privacy dangers. Browser hijackers can even allow other vicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your computer.

How to know whether the web browser is hijacked?

There are numerous signs of browser hijacking. Below are some of them: the browser’s home page is changed; bookmark and the new tab are likewise modified; the default online search engine has been changed and your browser security settings have been cut down without your knowledge; you notice many toolbars on the web browser; numerous pop-up ads show up and/or your browser popup blocker is disabled; your web browser gets slow, buggy, crashes often; You cannot access particular websites, especially anti-virus sites.

Exactly how browser hijacker infects PCs

There are several ways your computer can become infected by a browser hijacker. They typically arrive through spam e-mail, via file-sharing websites, or by a drive-by-download. They also come from add-on application, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions or toolbars. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker within your PC through the “bundling” technique. An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Anyprotect, Conduit, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, Delta Search, and RocketTab, however, the names are constantly changing. Browser hijackers can interrupt the user’s web browsing experience greatly, track the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause problems in connecting to the net, and then finally create stability problems, causing applications and system to freeze.

Removing browser hijackers

Some hijackers can be removed by deleting the free software they came with or by eliminating any extension you have recently added to your browser. Sometimes, it could be a difficult job to discover and remove the malicious component because the associated file could be running as part of the operating system process. And there is no denying the very fact that the manual fixes and removal methods can certainly be a difficult job for an amateur computer user. On top of that, there are plenty of risks associated with fiddling around with the system registry files. Experts always recommend users get rid of any malicious software including browser hijacker by using an automatic malware removal tool, which is easier, safer, and faster than the manual removal process. If you’d like to eliminate persistent hijackers effectively, install the top-rated, award-winning anti-malware software Safebytes Anti-Malware. Together with the anti-virus tool, a system optimizer, like SafeBytes’s Total System Care, will help you in deleting all linked files and modifications in the computer registry automatically.

Learn How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected PC

All malware is bad and the degree of the damage can vary greatly with regards to the type of infection. Some malware sits in between your computer and the internet connection and blocks a few or all internet sites that you want to visit. It might also block you from installing anything on your computer, especially the antivirus program. If you’re reading this, you may have infected by malware that prevents you from installing security software such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are some steps you can take to get around this issue.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

In the event the malware is set to run at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should prevent it. Since only the bare minimum programs and services start-up in “Safe Mode”, there are rarely any reasons for issues to take place. Here are the steps you have to follow to boot into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista or 7 computers (go to Microsoft site for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) Press the F8 key repeatedly as soon as your computer boots, however, before the big Windows logo or black screen with white texts shows up. This will invoke the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and press ENTER. 3) As soon as this mode loads, you should have the internet. Now, utilize your browser to download and install Safebytes Anti-malware. 4) Immediately after installation, run a complete scan and allow the software program to delete the threats it finds.

Switch to some other internet browser

Malicious code could exploit vulnerabilities in a specific browser and block access to all anti-virus software sites. If you seem to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to an alternate browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.

Install and run anti-malware from your flash drive

Another solution is to store and run an antivirus program completely from a USB drive. Abide by these steps to run the anti-malware on the affected computer. 1) Make use of another virus-free computer to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Connect the USB flash drive to a USB port on the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Pick a thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you want to install the software. Follow activation instructions. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the uninfected computer to the infected PC. 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 Destroy Viruses With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Want to download the very best anti-malware software program for your desktop? You can find many applications on the market that comes in free and paid versions for Windows computers. A few are really worth your money, but most aren’t. You have to be very careful not to select the wrong product, particularly if you purchase a paid software. One of the highly recommended software by industry experts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a popular security application for Windows computers. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only protects your computer system completely but is also very user friendly for people of all ability levels. Once you’ve got installed this software program, SafeBytes superior protection system will ensure that absolutely no viruses or malware can seep through your personal computer.

There are many great features you will get with this particular security product. Here are a few popular features found in this computer software:

Anti-Malware Protection: With a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection that is intended to catch and get rid of threats that are concealed deep inside your computer’s operating system. Live Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC limiting malware intrusions in real-time. This software will always keep track of your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat situation. “Fast Scan” Features: This software program has got one of the fastest and most efficient virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are extremely accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes inspects the links present on a web page for possible threats and tells you whether the site is safe to view or not, through its unique safety ranking system. Light-weight: This software program is not “heavy” on the computer’s resources, so you’ll not see any performance troubles when SafeBytes is operating in the background. 24/7 Premium Support: You can obtain high levels of support 24/7 if you’re using their paid version. SafeBytes has created a wonderful anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. Malware trouble will become a thing of the past once you put this tool to use. If you’re seeking the very best malware removal tool out there, and if you don’t mind paying out some dollars for it, go for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to manually remove MyScrapNook without the use of an automated tool, it might be actually possible to do so by deleting the application from the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser plug-ins, going to the browser’s AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. It’s also advised to reset your browser settings to their default state. If you opt to manually delete the system files and Windows registry entries, use the following list to ensure that you know precisely what files to remove before executing any actions. Please be aware that this is for professional users only and may be challenging, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware keeps replicating which makes it difficult to get rid of. Doing this in Safe Mode is recommended.

Folders: %LOCALAPPDATTA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lbapdklahcjljfincdglncfpdgfhckcf %LOCALAPPDATTA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\lbapdklahcjljfincdglncfpdgfhckcf %LOCALAPPDATTA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\lbapdklahcjljfincdglncfpdgfhckcf %LOCALAPPDATTA%\My Scrap NookTooltab Registry: key My Scrap Nook at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ key My Scrap NookTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\

Error Code 0x6d9 - The Causes & The Fix!

What is the Error Code 0x6d9?

If you have a firewall installed on your system, you may come across the error code 0x6d9. This error occurs when opening Windows Firewall with advanced security. The error code 0x9d9 is displayed as:

“There was an error opening the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security snap-in. The Windows Firewall with Advanced Security snap-in failed to load. Restart the Windows Firewall service on the computer you are managing. Error code: 0x6D9”

This occurs when the Windows Firewall service is missing. The service doesn’t start due to permission errors on various registry keys. It is a critical blue screen of death error code that turns the computer screen blue and causes the Windows to shut down. If this error code is not fixed it may start appearing more and more frequently resulting in total system corruption.

Solution

Error Causes

Virtually, the underlying cause for Windows Firewall error code 0x6d9 is a damaged registry. The registry is the database of the system that saves all the activities including web browsing and programs installed and uninstalled and junk files on the PC. The registry saves all the information in the RAM, your hard disk. As the disk gets filled with files, it then requires more power to run which impacts the performance of the PC and slows it down. Simultaneously, since the hard disk is overloaded with data, it exposes the registry to file damages, fragmentation, and corruption which then eventually causes hindrance in running calling programs and running them on your system because files are either corrupt or missing. Other than cluttered disk issues, registry errors also occur due to viral and malware attacks. If the Firewall is inaccessible, your system is prone to malware.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix the error code 0x6d9 on your system, you don’t have to be a computer programmer or hire a professional. You can fix it all by yourself with Restoro. Restoro is an advanced, intuitive, user-friendly, and multi-functional repair tool with a comprehensive suite of powerful PC fixing utilities, all in one. From registry errors like the blue screen of death error codes including 0x6d9 to viral infection and system slowdowns, Restoro is your one-stop solution for all PC errors. With this software, you don’t need any technical expertise. You don’t have to get into the nitty-gritty of finding the deep-rooted cause for the error code 0x6d9 and then searching and installing a PC tool designed to solve that specific cause for the error. Restoro has an intuitive and sophisticated interface combined with an automated algorithm that enables it to detect, scan and identify all the underlying and deep-rooted causes for errors on your PC in seconds and resolves them all. All you have to do is hit the scan button and the Restoro takes care of the rest.

Restoro features

Restoro is also easy to use and has simple navigation making it easy for all levels of users including beginners and intermediates to use. This PC Fixer is both a high-functional registry cleaner and a powerful anti-virus. This means whether the error code 0x6d9 occurs due to disk overload or viral infection this helper can be used to fix the error in both scenarios. Its in-built registry cleaner cleans and clears up the hard disk in a few seconds. It removes all the unnecessary and obsolete files cluttering the system and repairs the damaged registry. For data safety during repair, it has a built-in back feature. This feature allows you to save and create backup copies of all your files. Its smart privacy error detector feature checks for viruses, spyware, adware, and malware invasion on your system. Such malicious software if not removed from your PC can expose you to data security risks. Such software allows easy access to hackers. And since error code 0x6d9 hampers you in using Firewall, your system will have higher chances of getting infected by viruses and data security dangers. Nonetheless, by running Restoro on your system, you can easily remove this malicious software and resolve the error code 0x6d9. Unlike other repair tools, Restoro is compatible with all Windows versions.

How to get Restoro

So, what are you waiting for? It will take just 3 steps. To get started all you need to do is:

Click here to install Restoro
Run it to Scan for errors
Hit the repair button to resolve

To prevent the error code 0x6d9 from reoccurring on your PC for a while proper PC maintenance is advisable to run Restoro on a weekly basis on your system so that the registry is not cluttered and your system is not exposed to viruses. Timely detection of errors and repair is the best way to keep your system performing smoothly and at its optimum speed.

Downloads folder loads slowly in Windows

If you are frequently experiencing slow loading of folders in your Windows 10 computer, Downloads folder for instance, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you resolve such issue. Slow loading of folders is a common problem faced by many users even when they are using the latest hardware like SSDs. So if you experience the same thing, be it with the Downloads folder or other folders on your computer, there is a way to resolve that issue and make the folder load faster. Slow-loading means when you attempt to open the folder, it takes a couple of seconds before it displays its contents. In such cases, you’ll see a green loading address bar that says “Working on it” which can get quite annoying especially if you are in a hurry. And if you notice that this only happens in the Downloads folder, there certainly is something wrong. This kind of problem can occur on SSDs and normal hard drives. The main reason behind the occurrence of this problem is that the folder may have been optimized for viewing photos or other media formats which is why it takes quite longer than usual to load all the files and their thumbnails. However, since the Downloads folder usually contains all kinds of files like documents, zip files, audio/video files, etc. there is no need to optimize this folder for media files only because doing so is only going to make the Windows File Explorer slow in loading the folder’s contents and thumbnails which does not exist for many files.

Option 1 – Configure the Downloads folder

Right-click on the Downloads folder or the folder you’re having trouble opening.
Then click on Properties and go to the Customize tab.
After that, click on the “Optimize this folder for” option in the drop-down menu.
Next, select General items from the drop-down which might have been set by default to Pictures or Video.
You also have the option to apply this template to all the subfolders, that is if your folder has any subfolders.
Now apply the settings and restart Windows Explorer.

Note: Once you’ve completed the steps above, it should now make the folder content display a lot faster than before. Now try to open the Downloads folder which would not take much time as you will see the changes right away.

Option 2 – Run CHKDSK to check your disk for errors

When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. This error check utility can help with several issues in the system including File System Error -2147219196.

Tap the Win + S keys to open the Search box.
Then type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
After opening an elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /r /f

Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your PC, just tap Y and reboot your PC.
If CHKDSK is not able to find any errors, tap the Win + E keys and navigate the access window. From there, right-click on the concerned drive and click on Properties.
After opening Properties, click on the tab Tools and then click on the “Check” button under the Error-checking section.
Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.
Once your computer has restarted, try accessing the file and check if the error persists.

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.

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.

TPM 2.0 and Windows 11, all you need to know

TPM or Trusted Platform Module version 2.0 is a must-have if you plan on upgrading your system to Windows 11. So what exactly is TPM and do you have it?

What exactly is TPM?

TPM is a tamper-resistant hardware technology tasked with generating and storing encryption keys inside it for better PC security. It can be remotely used to authenticate hardware and software by utilizing a unique endorsement key placed into the hardware itself. This technology can be used for example in BitLocker inside Windows in order to have data on a hard drive encrypted so if the mentioned drive is connected to another computer it would not be able to be accessed since the encryption key is stored in the TPM module. Microsoft is pushing its agenda that Windows 11 must be and must feel like safety first OS which will protect user data and user information and requiring TPM means that each Windows 11 will be secure so no additional software patches will be required for an extra layer of security. Windows 11 will assume that each user has TPM encryption enabled and will be built upon that.

Do you have TPM on your computer?

If your computer or hardware has been purchased in 2016 or later there are very high chances that you already have the required technology to run Windows 11. Unfortunately, many gaming motherboards have not been placing TPM in their boards and you might not have it. Also, there is the option of you having it but it is turned off in motherboard settings making Windows unable to detect it. As you can clearly see there are a lot of scenarios around required tech and honestly it is a complete mess. But lucky for you there are ways to find out do you possess the needed module in order to make an upgrade. On your current computer on which you would like to make an upgrade in your current Windows OS press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog. Inside run dialog type in TPM.msc and press ENTER to open Trusted Platform Module Management on Local Computer. You will immediately receive information do you have the required module. If everything is fine, you are good to go, however, if it says that compatible TPM cannot be found there is a chance that either you do not have needed hardware or it might be turned off inside motherboard settings.

Check motherboard UEFI

If you have a newer motherboard but Windows utility cannot detect TPM there is a chance that it might be turned off directly on your board. In order to check this, you will have to boot up your PC into UEFI either by pressing the corresponding key when it is turned ON or from Windows reboot options. Once you are inside UEFI you need to find security options and see if there is an option to turn ON or enable TPM. Since every motherboard is different and has different UEFI software we cannot cover all of the permutations and the best we can do is hope that provided information is enough. You can also visit your motherboard manufacturer to see instructions for your specific case.

Conclusion

TPM itself is generally an OK idea and I can surely see good sides of it but there is this lurking feeling that generally, Microsoft is not really concerned about the security of our data and that the real requirement for this is trying to battle software piracy. I simply cannot trust company which introduced tons of telemetry tracking through ages and which has done everything in their power to battle non-legal use of their software. I do not promote piracy but I support free choice and besides, who can tell me what will happen if TPM malfunctions, will I lose all of my data forever? It is not so uncommon that TPM has malfunctioned in the past and it is only logical to presume it can do it again in the future but this time we will not have the choice not to use it, we will be forced into it.

How to Fix the AVFoundationCF.dll Error on Your PC

AVFoundationCF.dll is a type of Dynamic Link Library file. This DLL file is associated with AVFoundationCF and is developed by Apple Computer Inc. for Windows PC. This file functions similarly to any other DLL files. It comprises of small programs. This DLL file is typically needed to load and start the Apple iTunes utility. The inability to call this file or the files to load triggers the AVFoundationCF.dll error message on your system. The error message can be displayed in either of the formats on your PC:

“The program can’t start because AVFoundationCF.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.” "This application failed to start because avfoundationcf.dll was not found.” "Cannot find %COMMONFILES%AppleApple Application Supportavfoundationcf.dll." "Cannot start AVFoundationCF. A required component is missing: avfoundationcf.dll.” “Avfoundationcf.dll Access Violation." "Cannot register avfoundationcf.dll."

Solution

Error Causes

AVFoundationCF.dll error can occur due to numerous reasons. However, the most common reasons for this error code include:

Viral infection
Corrupt or invalid registry entries
Apple Computer Inc. hardware failure such as bad hard drive
Missing or deleted Avfoundationcf.dll file

It is recommended to resolve the error as soon as you experience it virtually because if the error code is related to viral infection on your system, it can expose your PC to privacy errors and data security risk. And if the error is triggered by registry issues, it can lead to serious threats like system crash, failure, and data loss. Therefore, the AVFoundationCF.dll error not only hampers your ability to access and start Apple iTunes program but it also puts your PC at serious risk.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix the error AVFoundationCF.dll on your PC, here are some of the best and easy to do solutions that you can try:

Check your Recycle Bin

Since dll files are shared files, there is a possibility that this file accidentally got deleted when you were uninstalling some other program on your system. If you experience missing AVFoundationCF dll file error message after performing any program on your PC, then chances are that it got deleted and maybe in your recycle bin. So, first, check your recycle bin and search for the dll file. If you find it, restore it to fix the error.

Update Device Driver

To resolve the issue, try performing a driver update. This can be done by downloading the latest drivers from the hardware manufacturer’s website. Now open Device Manager from the Control Panel and locate the hardware device that you want to update the driver for. Once you find the hardware you are updating the driver for, right-click on the hardware icon and choose properties. In the properties windows, click the driver tab. Now click the update driver button. To activate changes, restart your PC. To automatically update your computer's drivers when necessary, download and install DriverFIX.

Try Re-installing Apple iTunes Program

To do this, simply go to the control panel, select programs and then uninstall a program and then select iTunes. Uninstall it and then repeat the same program and install the Apple iTunes program again on your PC by downloading the program from Apple’s official website.

Scan for Viruses

If the error still persists, then it is advisable to scan your PC for viruses. This can be easily done by running a powerful antivirus on your PC. However, please note anti-viruses are notorious for slowing down PC performance. So, may have to compromise on the speed of your system.

Clean and Repair the Registry

If the error is caused by invalid and corrupt registry entries and damaged Avfoundationcf dll file, then the best way to resolve is to download a powerful registry cleaner. We advise you to install Restoro on your PC. This is an advanced and a multi-functional PC Fixer integrated with multiple powerful utilities including a high functional registry cleaner, an antivirus and a system optimizer. The registry cleaning utility scans all the registry issues and removes all errors triggered by the registry immediately. It cleans the registry by wiping out all the unnecessary, obsolete and redundant files including invalid entries and bad registry keys. Furthermore, it also fixes the damaged and corrupt dll files including Avfoundationcf dll file. Thereby resolving the error right away. Furthermore, the antivirus deployed in this software scans for all types of malicious codes like viruses, Trojans, spyware, and malware and removes them. To ensure you don’t compromise on your PC performance, it is deployed with a system optimizer utility that boosts the speed of your computer dramatically. This tool is bug free, has a user-friendly interface and compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve Avfoundationcf.dll error on your PC today!

Windows SmartScreen can’t be reached right now

SmartScreen is a cloud-based anti-phishing and anti-malware component that’s come packed in all Windows 8 (8.1) and Windows 10 versions. This security component is also used in several browsers and programs like Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge and Outlook.com. Although this program is quite useful, there’ve been reports that SmartScreen is apparently blocking Microsoft’s own apps from opening. According to some users, they only get the “Windows SmartScreen can’t be reached right now” error message every time they try to open apps from the built-in Windows suite like Photos, Mail, Alarms, Maps, etc. Whenever Windows SmartScreen is either down or unreachable on an end-user PC, your computer won’t be able to download anything in both official and unofficial channels. This error might be due to a corrupted Windows account, or it could be that SmartScreen is disabled from the Windows Defender Security Center or it might be down due to an MS issue. In addition, the error might also be caused by a proxy entry.

Option 1 – Make sure that SmartScreen is enabled

Before anything else, the first thing you must do is to check if SmartScreen is even enabled as it might be the reason why you’re getting the error. You can verify this by simply going to the Windows Defender Security Center. To do so, follow the steps below.

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “ms-settings:windowsdefender” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Defender Security Center.
After that, click on the Open Windows Defender Security Center button located under Windows Security.
Then click on App & browser control.
From there, make sure that the Check apps and files toggle is set to Warn and then check the same thing for Microsoft Edge and SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps.
If it turns out that SmartScreen is indeed disabled, you have to restart your computer after making some changes and then check if the issue is fixed upon the next startup.

Option 2 – Check if SmartScreen is down for maintenance

Another possible reason why SmartScreen is not working is that it might be scheduled for maintenance. When SmartScreen is scheduled for maintenance, it will become unreachable for a lot of users at the same time and so before you go over unnecessary troubleshooting steps, you need to verify if SmartScreen is down for maintenance or not.

Option 3 – Try to disable the proxy server

If applicable, you can try to disable the proxy server to fix SmartScreen. There are some users who reported that they’ve fixed the problem after they’ve disabled the use of a proxy server using the built-in way. In some instances, certain proxy servers can interfere with the SmartScreen component and cause it to become unusable. However, if you are not using a proxy server, just skip this option and proceed to the next one, otherwise, follow the steps below to disable the proxy server.

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “ms-settings:network-proxy” in the field and hit Enter to open the Proxy tab under Settings.
After that, scroll down to the Manual proxy setup and make sure that the toggle button of the “Use a proxy server” option is turned off.
Now restart your PC and check if the problem is fixed upon the next startup.

Option 4 – Try to create a new Windows user account

There are some users who were able to fix the problem by simply creating a new Windows user account. Although this solution will make you lose a couple of settings enforced through your user account, it’s actually effective in circumventing the “Windows SmartScreen can’t be reached right now” error. To create a new Windows user account, here’s what you have to do:

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
And then type “ms-settings:otherusers” in the field and hit Enter to open the Family & other people tab under the Accounts menu.
After that, click on the “Add someone else to this PC” option and then click on “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
Next, insert the user credentials like emails, password, birth date, etc., and then click Next. Take note that if you want to create a new local user account, just click on Add a user without a Microsoft account.
After you’re done creating the new Windows user account, click the start icon and then click the account icon and choose to Sign out.
After you’re logged in, check if SmartScreen now works properly or not.

Fix MS Store Error 0x80131500 in Windows

One of the essential parts of the Windows 10 operating system is the Microsoft Store as it is the distribution hub of numerous applications such as Netflix, Facebook, and many more. In fact, Microsoft is planning to make it a hub not just for UWP applications but also Windows Classic applications. Microsoft has already built a bridge with the power of Project Centennial which allows developers to migrate and upload their Windows Classic applications to the Microsoft Store. Although the Microsoft Store has been constantly improving, there are still times when you might face an error while using it. One of these errors is error 0x80131500. When you encounter this error, you will get the following error message on your screen:

“Try that again, Something happened at our end, Waiting a bit might help, The error code is 0x80131500 in case you need it.”

To fix this error, you can try changing your internet connection, toggle the date & time settings, change DNS, create a new user account, run the Microsoft Store Apps troubleshooter or reset the Microsoft Store as well re-register it using Windows PowerShell.

Option 1 – Try changing your internet connection

The first thing you can do is to change your internet connection. If you are using Ethernet, you can try to connect to a Wi-Fi connection instead and see if it helps.

Option 2 – Try to toggle the Date and Time settings

The first thing you can try is to sync the Date and Time of your computer as the wrong Date and Time settings are one of the most common causes of connection problems like the error 0x80131500. This is because of the incompatibility between the SSL Certificate validation date and the System Clock. Thus, you have to sync your System Clock. Refer to the steps below to do so.

Start by tapping the Win + I keys to open the Windows Settings.
Next, go to Time & Language > Date & time.
From there, turn the toggle on for the “Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically” option on the right-side panel.
After that, click on Region & language located on the left side panel and make sure that the Country or region on the right-side panel is set to the country you live in.
Now close the Settings app and restart your computer and see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 3 – Try to change the DNS Server

In this option, you can try changing your current DNS settings to the Google Public DNS as it could also help in fixing error 0x80131500. To do so, follow the steps below.

The first thing you have to do is right-click on the network icon in the Taskbar and select Network and Sharing Center.
Next, click on the “Change Adapter Settings” option.
After that, search for the network connection that you are using to connect to the internet. Note that the option might be “Wireless Connection” or “Local Area Connection”.
Right-click on your network connection and click on Properties.
Then select the new window to choose the “Internet Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
After that, click on the Properties button and click the checkbox in the new window for the option “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
Type in “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” and click OK and exit.

Option 4 – Try to create a new Administrator User account

If you have a standard account, you can try creating a new account but this time, you create an administrator user account and then see if the error is fixed or not. Note that you have to sign in with your main account before you can create an admin account.

Option 5 – Run the Microsoft Store Apps troubleshooter

The Microsoft Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the error 0x80131500. This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app installation issues. So this is worth a try to solve the problem. This built-in tool also helps you fix the Windows 10 Store if it isn’t working. To use the Windows Store Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.

Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
On your right-hand side, scroll down to find the Windows Store Apps and then click on the Run the troubleshooter option and see if it fixes the problem.

Option 6 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache

Just like browsers, Microsoft Store also caches as you view apps and games so it is most likely that the cache is no longer valid and must be removed. To do so, follow the steps below.

Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
Next, type in the command, “exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again and then try to install your app or update your computer again.

Option 7 – Try to re-register the Microsoft Store app via PowerShell

Tap the Win + X key combination or right-click on the Start button and click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed and open the Windows PowerShell window.
Next, type in or copy-paste the following command to re-register the Microsoft Store app and tap Enter:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRootWinStoreAppxManifest.xml

Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Software review series:CodeTwo QR Code Desktop

What is a QR Code

QR code or if you want to be more technical Quick Response code is a two-dimensional code made of square dots creating a pattern that can be scanned via QR scanner and then interpreted. Usually, they are present on product packaging, on business cards, websites, etc. When you decode a QR code you can get a link to a website or link to a file or whatever, you can get text, image, email, contact information, etc.

QR Code Desktop Reader & Generator sample code

How to decode a QR Code? You can scan it with your mobile devices like iPhone, iPad, Android or Blackberry equipped with additional software for scanning QR Codes. You might want to check out tools like Barcode Scanner or Red Laser. If you don’t have a mobile device or you need to scan a barcode on your PC, simply use CodeTwo QR Code Desktop Reader & Generator.

How this program works

QR Code reading

CodeTwo QR Code Desktop Reader & Generator is a free tool that will let you quickly scan any QR Code from your screen – be it a part of the website, email, banner, or document. Simply run the program and hit From the screen on the top menu. Your standard mouse cursor will change into a cross to help you make a selection on your screen. Simply select an area with a QR Code and the program will automatically scan it. You can scan QR codes from websites, documents, movie files – you name it. You can also select an image file that contains a QR Code and the program will locate it automatically and decode it. To do that, simply click From file on the top menu of the program and select the desired image from your hard drive. If you have a file copied to your clipboard, or if you make a screenshot of a QR Code, QR Code Desktop Reader & Generator will let you decode those QR codes in one click. Just click From clipboard and the program will automatically locate and decode the QR code for you. That is not all, you can also use your camera to scan QR codes. If you have more than one camera, the program will let you choose which one to use. To use this option, simply click From webcam, and you will be able to scan QR codes with your recording device.

QR Code generation

CodeTwo QR Code Desktop Reader & Generator also acts as a QR code generator. Creating QR codes is as easy as reading them. Here is how to generate a QR code:
In the top menu, click Generate mode on and enter the text you want to translate into QR Code
Choose if you want to copy it to the clipboard or save it in a file. The QR Code will be scaled automatically, but you can resize it in the Size settings tab.
The resulting QR code can be used however you like. To name just a few options, you can:
Upload it to your blog/website which is especially useful for mobile users.
Print it on a poster, providing easily accessible links with more information on your event.
Send it in newsletters, or include it in your email signature.

QR Codes in email signatures

Inserting QR codes in email signatures lets mobile users quickly grab your contact details, or provides them with links so that they can get more information on your company or topic you were discussing. You can also provide your recipients with a link to QR Code Desktop Reader & Generator. This will help them easily decode QR codes when they open your email on a PC.

QR code

If you want to include a QR code automatically in email signatures throughout a whole organization, try CodeTwo central email signature management solution. It is a very useful tool, which enables you to unify email signatures on Exchange Server and Office 365 (Microsoft 365).

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Utilize an alternate web browser to download the anti-malware application

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Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

Do You Need Help with Your Device?

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Option 1 – Try checking if Windows 10 v1803 Update is installed

Option 2 – Verify if Bluetooth supports low energy mode

Option 3 – Try bringing the devices closer

Option 4 – Make sure that you’re using Bluetooth version 4.0 or later

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How to know whether the web browser is hijacked?

Exactly how browser hijacker infects PCs

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Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

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There are many great features you will get with this particular security product. Here are a few popular features found in this computer software:

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

What is the Error Code 0x6d9?

Solution

Error Causes

Further Information and Manual Repair

Restoro features

How to get Restoro

Option 1 – Configure the Downloads folder

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ProxyShell wide abuse

Hive

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Conclusion

Solution

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Further Information and Manual Repair

Check your Recycle Bin

Update Device Driver

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Option 1 – Make sure that SmartScreen is enabled

Option 2 – Check if SmartScreen is down for maintenance

Option 3 – Try to disable the proxy server

Option 4 – Try to create a new Windows user account

Option 1 – Try changing your internet connection

Option 2 – Try to toggle the Date and Time settings

Option 3 – Try to change the DNS Server

Option 4 – Try to create a new Administrator User account

Option 5 – Run the Microsoft Store Apps troubleshooter

Option 6 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache

Option 7 – Try to re-register the Microsoft Store app via PowerShell

What is a QR Code

QR Code Desktop Reader & Generator sample code

How this program works

QR Code reading

QR Code generation

QR Codes in email signatures

QR code