As you know, any software needs sufficient CPU power when it downloads, updates and installs so if you encounter an error code 0x80200070 when you tried to install or update the Microsoft Edge browser on your Windows 10 computer, then read on as this post will guide you on how to fix it.
This kind of error occurs when the Edge browser installation does not get enough CPU power to update or install and the only way to fix it is to kill programs that are consuming a lot of PC resources as well as stop or remove any unnecessary programs that are running in the background. This kind of error can also be encountered in the new Microsoft Edge Chromium. For more details, follow each one of the options provided below.
Option 1 – Try to kill applications that consume high resources
Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
Go to the Performance tab and sort by CPU usage.
Next, close a few additional programs that are consuming maximum CPU power.
After that, try to update or install Microsoft Edge again and check if the error is fixed. If not, try to restart your computer and then start the installation or update again.
Option 2 – Try to remove or stop unnecessary programs and services
If the applications or processes that are consuming a lot of CPU resources reappear even after you kill them or end their processes, then you can try the following suggestions to remove or stop these unnecessary programs and processes.
The first thing you can do is to stop the Service. If the program happens to be a service, then you have the option to disable the Windows Service. All you have to do is open the Services Manager and stop the service. How? Refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Services Manager.
After that, identify which service is consuming a lot of power and then stop it temporarily.
The next thing you can do is to uninstall the problematic program. If the one that consumes a lot of resources is not a service but a program, then you can try to uninstall the program for the meantime until you’ve updated or installed the Edge browser. Once you’ve uninstalled the program, try to update or install Edge again.
You can also try booting your computer into Safe Mode and then update or install Microsoft Edge. This will make sure that all the unnecessary programs and services won’t consume a lot of CPU resources as well as memory.
The number of Hertz is the number of how many images your screen draws in one second. So monitor with a refresh rate of 60Hz will draw 60 images each second on your screen. To most users, this will look fine and enough but actually, if you would place them in front of a 120Hz screen difference will be visible right away.
Benefits of higher refresh rates
In most simple words just looking at a screen that has a higher refresh rate will produce a more natural feel of things, although some people would argue that flickering can not be seen on 60Hz monitors and that should be enough, I would argue that they never watched the movie, played the game or used high refresh rate screen when they can state something like that.
Yes, 60Hz might be enough to look at the web page or read some documents but long exposure to 60Hz can have a tiring effect on the eyes in the long run. 120Hz and above just feel more relaxed and it is far less demanding on the eyes. Watching movies also is much better on a higher refresh screen, with way much less motion blur in fast scenes giving the overall experience a greater natural feel.
Gaming is perhaps an area where a refresh rate of 120Hz and above will show its best. Having a higher refresh rate will be easier on your eyes and can even give you a competitive edge. When for example you have twice more images per second on your screen than your opponent his movement will be more fluid and predictable because of that and overall precision will be much higher when moving the cursor in the game since more frames per second means more precision and smoother movement.
The dark side of high refresh rates
After all the positive things that were said about the advantages of high refresh rates, it is just fair to look at some negatives or in this case only negative one and that is Computer power. As said in the previous section having a 120Hz refresh rate means having 120 frames displayed on the screen per single second. Having even higher monitors like 360Hz means even more frames per second and in order to actually see all of that frames you will need to have enough computer power to back it up. Having for example screen with a refresh rate of 240Hz means nothing if your GPU and rest of the computer are able only to push 150 frames per second, in this case, you will still have 150 frames in one second despite the monitor being able to go to 240.
Conclusion
Generally and with all of my heart I would recommend moving away from 60Hz monitors, yes they are cheaper and more affordable but at the end of the day if you are someone like me who spends most of his daily time in front of the computer you would be grateful to have higher refresh rate screen and save your eyes, and after all, why not enjoy some smoother and better movie and game experience as well as saving your eyesight.
WeatherGenie is a Browser Extension that allows users to check the current weather in any town at any time. This extension adds the “Weather:” search option to your new tab, and changes your default search engine to Yahoo.com. It also ads system Registry Entities that allow it to run each time the computer is restarted, several task schedulers are also added to allow it to run at various times during the day.
While installing this extension monitor browsing data from your computer. You may also see additional injected ads, sponsored links, and pop-up ads through your browser sessions.
Weather games have been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus scanners and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer. It is flagged as potentially unwanted for optional removal.
About Browser Hijackers
Browser hijacking is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser settings are altered to allow it to do things you do not intend. Browser hijackers could do a variety of things on your PC. Often, hijackers will force hits to sites of their preference either to increase targeted traffic generating higher ad earnings, or to gain a commission for every user visiting there. Even though it might seem naive, all browser hijackers are harmful and thus always regarded as security risks. As soon as the malware attacks your computer or laptop, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you might be pushed to tackle serious malware threats too.
How you can know whether the web browser is hijacked?
Symptoms that an internet browser is hi-jacked include:
1. you notice unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page2. bookmark and the new tab are also changed3. the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or insecure sites are put into the trusted sites list4. you’re getting new toolbars you have never witnessed before5. you’ll notice random pop-ups start showing on a regular basis6. web pages load slowly and at times incomplete7. you can’t navigate to particular web pages, such as security software-related websites.
How does a PC get infected with a browser hijacker?
There are a number of ways your PC can become infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive by way of spam e-mail, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by download. They can be included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plugins, or browser extensions. Other times you might have mistakenly accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software bundle (generally freeware or shareware). A good example of some popular browser hijackers includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing.
The existence of any browser hijacker on your system might substantially diminish the browsing experience, record your internet activities that lead to critical privacy concerns, diminish overall system performance and cause software instability as well.
The best ways to get rid of browser hijackers
Some browser hijacking can be simply reversed by identifying and eliminating the corresponding malware software from your control panel. But, many hijackers are harder to find or eliminate as they could get themselves connected with certain crucial computer files which allow them to operate as a necessary operating-system process. Besides, browser hijackers could modify the Computer registry so it could be very tough to repair manually, especially if you’re not a very tech-savvy individual.
You can go for automatic browser hijacker removal by just installing and running a reliable anti-malware application. SafeBytes Anti-Malware discovers all kinds of hijackers – such as WeatherGenie – and eliminates every trace quickly and efficiently. Utilize a pc optimizer together with your antivirus software to repair various registry issues, remove system vulnerabilities, and improve your computer performance.
How To Get Rid Of Malware That Is Blocking Anti-Malware Installation?
Practically all malware is detrimental and the effects of the damage may vary based on the specific type of malware. Some malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your PC, particularly anti-virus software programs. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Refer to the instructions below to get rid of malware through alternative ways.
Remove malware in Safe Mode
Safe Mode is actually a special, basic version of Windows where only bare minimum services are loaded to stop viruses and also other problematic programs from loading. In the event the malware is blocking internet access and affecting your computer, starting it in Safe Mode enables you to download anti-malware and run a scan whilst limiting possible damage. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSConfig and locate the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you’re in Safe Mode, you can attempt to install your anti-malware software without the hindrance of the malware. After installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of most standard infections.
Switch to an alternative internet browser
Some malware mainly targets specific internet browsers. If this is your situation, use another internet browser as it can circumvent the computer virus. The best solution to avoid this problem is to opt for a web browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you safe online.
Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive
Here’s yet another solution which is using a portable USB anti-virus software that can scan your system for malware without needing installation. Follow these steps to employ a USB flash drive to clean your corrupted computer system.
1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC.2) Insert the USB drive on the same computer.3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard.4) Choose the flash drive as the location for saving the file. Follow the instructions to complete the installation process.5) Now, transfer the flash drive to the infected computer.6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the flash drive by double-clicking the icon.7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.
Top Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware
Today an anti-malware tool can protect your computer or laptop from various forms of online threats. But how do choose the best one amongst several malware protection software that is available in the market? Perhaps you might be aware, there are several anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few of them are great but there are many scamware applications that pretend as genuine anti-malware software waiting to wreak havoc on the computer. When searching for an anti-malware tool, pick one which provides dependable, efficient, and complete protection against all known computer viruses and malware. One of the highly recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes carries a superb history of excellent service, and customers are happy with it.
Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions companies, which offer this comprehensive anti-malware tool. When you have installed this software, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will ensure that absolutely no viruses or malware can seep through your computer.
SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. The following are a few of the great ones:
Active Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your PC. It will inspect your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and shields your personal computer from illegal access.
Robust Anti-malware Protection: Safebytes is based on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines can find and eliminate threats even during the early stages of a malware outbreak.
Fast Scan: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine reduces scanning times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it’ll effectively identify and remove infected computer files or any online threat.
Internet Security: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety ranking to every website you visit and block access to web pages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software.
Very Low CPU and Memory Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight tool. It consumes a very small amount of processing power as it runs in the background so you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you would like.
Premium Support: For any technical issues or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and email.
To conclude, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is pretty great for securing your laptop or computer against all sorts of malware threats. Malware problems will become a thing of the past when you put this software program to use. So if you’re looking for a comprehensive antivirus program that’s still easy to use, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is exactly what you will need!
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
To remove WeatherGenie manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the program you want to remove. For internet browser extensions, go to your browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the plug-in you wish to disable or remove. You’ll probably also want to reset your browser to its default configuration settings.
In order to ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard drive and Windows registry for all of the following and eliminate or reset the values as needed. Please keep in mind that only experienced users should attempt to manually edit the registry because deleting any single critical system file results in a serious problem or even a system crash. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. It is advisable that you do the removal process in Safe Mode.
Today we will be solving the Device not found 3F0 error which is a common error, especially among HP (HP Pavilion G6), Lenovo, Acer, and Dell laptops/desktops. This error occurs when the computer is turned ON and when the system is about to boot. It can happen on windows 7, 8, or 10. When a mentioned error occurs one of the following messages will be displayed on your screen:
“No bootable device – insert boot disk and press any key”
“No Boot Device Found. Press any key to reboot the machine”
“Boot Device Not Found. Please install an operating system on your hard disk. Hard Disk (3FO)”
“No boot device is available”
The most common reasons for 3F0 error to occur is:
Using the unbootable device or disk to boot from.
If the bootable hard drive you are using might have corrupted or damaged somehow.
MBR or boot sector is damaged on the bootable hard drive.
If your system has gone through a virus or malware attack.
The wrong boot order in the BIOS.
Hard disk connection problem.
System files or boot files unknowingly damaged.
Corrupt hard drive partitions.
Now all of these being said let us go through some of the solutions and fix this dreaded error in order to get your computer back in working order:
1: Change Boot Order
This is well, the most simple solution and the easiest one, try to change the boot sequence in the BIOS settings of your motherboard. Sometimes most easier solutions can provide great results and solve our problems. If sadly this fails and the issue persists move to the next solution.
2: Perform a Hard Reset
Performing hard reset can often solve issues, to perform a hard reset do the following:
Turn off the computer and unplug the power adapter. If there is a removable battery, it should also be removed.
Then disconnect all peripherals, including the removable hard drive, etc.
then
Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds to drain all remaining power.
Insert the battery, and then re-plug the AC adapter into the laptop.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Once the computer starts up properly and the startup menu appears, use the arrow keys to select “Start Windows normally” and then press Enter.
Reconnect everything back of your peripherals.
If by any chance problem still persists follow the next step:
3: Test Hard Drive Using HP Diagnostic Tool
Use the built-in tool in the Hp device to solve the issue:
Turn on your computer and keep pressing the Esc key until the menu appears on the screen.
Next, press the F2 key.
Choose the Components Tests option from the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics menu.
Select Hard Drive from the Component Tests menu.
Click on the Quick Test, then click on the Run once button.
If there are still any issues with your hard drive, then run the Extensive Test.
4: Restore BIOS Default Settings
Press the Power button to start the computer, and immediately after this, repeatedly press the F10 key to enter the BIOS setup menu.
To load and restore BIOS Setup Default settings, press F9 on the BIOS setup menu.
Once loaded, press F10 to Save and Exit.
Select yes, and then press Enter when it says Exit Saving Changes.
5: Reconnect Your Hard Drive
Turn the computer off and remove the power cable.
If you have a removable battery, take it out
Disconnect your hard drive and then connect it back.
Reassemble your computer and turn the computer on to see if it fixed the issue.
6: Fix and Rebuild Damaged MBR
Boot from the original installation DVD (or the recovery USB)
At the Welcome screen, click Repair your computer.
Choose Troubleshoot.
Choose Command Prompt.
When the Command Prompt loads, type the following commands: bootrec /FixMbr bootrec /FixBoot bootrec /ScanOs bootrec /RebuildBcd.
7: Fix Operating System
Prepare a Windows installation disc, CD/DVD or USB flash drive and connect it to your PC.
During the installation process, launch Command Prompt.
In Windows 7, under the System Recovery Options tab, click Startup Repair.
In Windows 8 and Windows 10, click Repair your computer, then select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Automatic Repair (Windows 8) or Startup Repair (Windows 10).
Over time Applications change, some for the better some for worse. Some of them even stop receiving updates and are old and vulnerable. Sometimes standards change and some file types are not used anymore. Software evolves along with technology and that is good.
Keeping old and useless applications inside your Windows is not so good. From various exploits to simply taking up space, maybe even slowing down OS it is always wise and good to clean your Windows from unwanted old applications.
In this article, we will be mentioning some relics of old and providing you with an explanation of why you should remove them from your system if by any chance you still have them on it.
Silverlight
Silverlight was meant to be a competitor for Adobe Flash, it is a WEB framework that enables rich media content inside your WEB browser. The issue is that it is not developed anymore and today's browsers do not support it.
The only browser that actually can support it is internet explorer which itself is not supported and how there is practically 0 content on today's modern WEB that will require Silverlight, it is safe and recommended to remove it.
Adobe Flash
Speaking of Adobe Flash, you should remove it as well. Flash has stopped receiving support as of January 2021 and browsers have dropped support for it and even blocked it due to security issues.
However, there still might be some local installation of Flash itself inside Windows along with the old Shockwave player that stopped receiving support in 2019. You should remove them both.
JAVA
Now this one is tricky, by itself JAVA does not present any security issues since browsers do not support it anymore and the desktop version is not really slowing down your computer. This one has simply put just another media runtime that is not used and simply takes up space and resources.
However if you have some applications that you do use that rely on it (I can really just think of JAVA Minecraft at this point) leave it of course but in any other case, it is just purely not needed.
Quicktime
While we are at media runtime and stuff that just simply is not needed, Quicktime is one of them. Now this Apple Video player and codec is still pretty developed and active in Apple’s iOS environment, Windows version has not been updated since 2016 and it was discovered that it contains some critical vulnerabilities.
Uninstall it and if you need a player that could play MOV files, just use a VLC player that can play them without any separately installed codec.
uTorrent
This one, the same as CCleaner was once a good application, as a matter of fact, it was the best torrenting application. Sadly it has fallen from its grace very low, from getting tons of ads in its interface to findings in 2015 that code of torrent client was packed with a crypto miner that used system resources of an installed computer to mine crypto without user’s awareness.
You should uninstall this torrent client if you would like to get your PC back and not provide it for cryptocurrency mining for the company that developed it. Use qBittorrent or TIxati, open-source and free ones that have everything needed for any torrenting needs.
Toolbars and Browser extensions
There are a lot of toolbars for browsers and extensions that are malicious in nature or simply not updated providing security issues. It is very advisable to remove this as soon as possible.
WinRAR
WinRAR has gained its large popularity solely for the reason that you could download it from the official site like shareware and use it forever. The license never expired and you could use it indefinitely. Sadly not much has been improved in the application itself and it is slowly falling out in its range of what it can do.
There are better open source and free options today like 7zip, PeaZip, ZIPvare, and more that are working the same as WinRAR if not even better.
Windows and manufacturers Bloatware
Yes, applications that come bundled with Windows and with some laptops that include manufacturers made software for different tasks like its own specific media players, calculators, etc.
It is known that these applications are not better than their open-source rivals and there are too many of them including some that you will probably never use. It is the same as buying a new phone bundled with tons of applications that you do not need, did not ask for, and do not use. Delete all of them.
Considering Windows there are also some Store application like Candy Crush Saga demo and other are safe to remove if not needed.
That’s it, our advice for old and not needed applications so you can keep your PC safe and fast.
The File Explorer in Windows 10 provides several ways to organize the contents of folders and files in the system. Windows users can utilize some efficient styles to view the contents of the file system as per the user’s requirement. A user may opt to display the file picture in large size thumbnails while the other one could opt to set the icons of folder and files in a small or medium size list. On the other hand, while setting up several styles for the folder and file icons, some Windows 10 users have experienced some unusual issues where there is the Black background showing up behind folder icons. They tried refreshing the File Explorer a couple of times but it didn’t help in fixing the problem and the black squares are still visible on some folder icons.
The black squares behind the folder icons might look disturbing though it’s not really a big problem and is merely a graphical glitch that does not cause any damage or whatsoever to the content of the folder and files. The most likely cause of this glitch might have something to do with the corrupted system files or it could also be caused by outdated thumbnail caches. In addition, graphical glitches like this one could also occur if you are using out outdated graphics drivers. To fix this problem, you need to follow the options laid out below.
Option 1 – Try using the Disk Cleanup to remove Thumbnail files
The Disk Cleanup tool is one of the options you can try to fix the black squares behind the folder icons. Through this tool, you can delete all the Thumbnail files on your disk. To use it, refer to these steps:
Open the Search bar and type “disk cleanup” in the field.
After opening Disk Cleanup from the search results, then from the drop-down menu select the C: drive to clean up and click OK.
Wait for the scanning process to complete. Once it’s done, select the files you want to delete.
Ensure that you select the box labeled “Thumbnails” under the Files to Delete section then click on OK.
After that, a confirmation box will appear, just click on Delete files to delete the files permanently.
Restart your PC.
Option 2 – Try resetting the Thumbnail cache
You have the option to manually delete the Thumbnail Cache to resolve the black square background behind the folder icons issue. Follow the steps given below to reset the Thumbnail cache.
Open the File Explorer.
Next, navigate to the View tab and select the option with Hidden items to display all the hidden folders and files.
Next, go to this path: C:Users<username>AppDataLocal
In the given path, make sure that you put your actual username in the username field. Then look for a file named “IconCache.db”. Right-click on this file and click on Delete.
After that, go to this path: C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsExplorer
From there, select all the files and delete them.
Note: If a prompt appears saying, “The files are in use and cannot be deleted”, simply select the “Do this for all current items” option and then click on Try Again. If you get an error message, click on Cancel to close the window and restart your computer.
Option 3 – Try updating or reinstalling the Graphics driver
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type in devmgmt.msc and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
Expand the section for the outdated device drivers.
And then select the outdated driver(s) and right-click on it/them.
From the drop-down menu, select the Update Driver option if you wish to update the driver or select the Uninstall device if you want to uninstall the driver and then follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of the driver.
Restart your PC after the installation to allow the system to reinstall the driver.
What software are you using to keep your information and all your files and memories safe?
None? Yikes. Let’s hope no damage has been done to your data yet then. Because with how the digital world has evolved, your data might be getting leaked and you have no idea.
Why do you need to invest in security software?
There’s really no good excuse not to purchase a quality platform for PC protection. Especially since top security solutions are available at such affordable prices nowadays, your wallet would barely even notice it.
At this point, only people who barely use their PCs and have zero sensitive information on them can get away with simply using the built-in Windows 10/11 security software. But we guarantee that those people are extremely hard to find and that you’re not one of them, and here’s why.
Even if you don’t use your computer for things that are very obviously sensitive, such as internet banking, you still have some personal data at risk of being stolen. How so? Well, think about the data you enter into your social media profiles, for example. How devastating would it be if somebody got a hold of any of it? Yep, that’s what we thought.
Credit: FLY:D on Unsplash
In the hands of a skilled cybercriminal, your phone number alone could put you at risk of scams, ransomware, identity theft and more. Also think about the stuff you share in texts and social media chats. Think about the websites you visit and how many times you may have accidentally clicked on an ad, which could very well contain malicious software. Those all seem harmless until someone’s actually used them against you.
Now imagine the dangers involved when you actually store truly confidential data on your PC and browsers. Sends shivers down your spine, doesn’t it?
In the case of a successful cyberattack of whatever type (virus, phishing, worms, etc.), there’s so much that is at stake. Businesses/legal persons will suffer from financial loss and damaged reputation, at the very least. Natural persons may be threatened or exploited, get their banking or medical information and even their identity stolen, etc. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
These are our biggest reasons for investing in Windows PC protection software:
Cyberthreats are constantly evolving to the point where built-in or free software won’t cut it anymore.
Those working remotely can have peace of mind knowing both personal and business data is completely secure.
Businesses using top security solutions ensure their customers trust them.
Data breaches are a pain in the you-know-what to handle. Fighting a cyberattack and going back to normal is a demanding process, and not to mention the stress it’ll cause. We’d rather prevent all that by using trustworthy security products!
It helps parents worry a little less about their children’s safety in the online world.
Added bonus: with most products, you get an ad-free browsing experience!
Obviously, there are a lot more reasons to get your PC secured. But we think you get it. So let’s cut to the chase and take a look at our 6 favorite protection solutions and the wonders they can do for you.
*Note that in this article we’re looking at products primarily suited for households and home offices, some for small businesses. No enterprise solutions will make the list today, but stay tuned for a future article on those.
Top 6 best PC protection solutions
1. Bitdefender Total & Internet Security\
One of the biggest security product vendors out there, Bitdefender offers several awesome solutions. We want to introduce two of our favorites, Bitdefender Total Security and Bitdefender Internet Security.
Bitdefender Total Security is great for both households and smaller offices. You can choose to protect 5 or 10 devices, and not necessarily just Windows devices. It also works for macOS, Android and iOS. It offers a range of powerful features, such as:
Real-time data protection
Webcam and microphone protection
Device optimization options
Anti-phishing/-fraud/-spam technology
Ransomware protection
Anti-loss and anti-theft tools
VPN and privacy firewall
Anti-tracking technology
Parental controls
24/7 support
Bitdefender Internet Security shares almost all of these features, but there are a few important differences to note. Unlike Total Security, Internet Security has more options in terms of the number of protected devices: 1, 3, 5 or 10. However it’s only compatible with the Windows platform and it doesn’t offer device optimization tools or anti-theft options. Whether or not this is a deal-breaker depends on your needs alone - we still find it a great security tool.
Credit: Firmbee.com on Unsplash
2. ESET Internet Security
An award-winning Windows security product, ESET Internet Security is essential on this list. It has an outstanding protection rate of 99.9% and a range of amazing options you’ll definitely want to make use of. It can be installed on up to 10 devices, making it an awesome tool for your household, home office or a small business. It’s also compatible with macOS and Android.
These are ESET Internet Security’s best features:
Protection against ransomware and spyware
Protection against malware specifically designed to avoid detection
In-depth scans when the computer is not in use
Firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your PC
Anti-spam tool
Anti-phishing and botnet protection technologies
Tool to scan your router and smart devices for vulnerabilities
Special browser for secure internet banking
Parental controls
Prevention of unauthorized webcam access
If you ask us, ESET has it all!
Credit: rupixen.com on Unsplash
3. Kaspersky Total & Internet Security
Having a deja vu? Didn’t you just read Total Security and Internet Security somewhere? Oh, that’s right - the first entry on our list! But here we’re talking about Kaspersky, a vendor you’ve also definitely heard about before.
Just like Bitdefender, Kaspersky is another one of those renowned names in the cybersecurity world that always make it to every ‘best of’ list. And for good reason - its products really fulfill their purpose. So let’s take a closer look at the two we chose.
These are the features both Kaspersky Total Security and Kaspersky Internet Security have in common:
Real-time virus and spyware blocking
Webcam protection
Wi-Fi security notifications
Advanced identity theft protection
Free technical support on several channels
Remote security management
Multiple devices (up to 10)
The main difference between Kaspersky Total Security and Internet Security is that the former offers more capabilities. These are the features KTS offers that KIS does not:
System cleanup
File shredding
Password management
Data backup and encryption
Both are excellent security tools, though we do prefer KTS a little more because of these additional options.
4. Norton 360 Deluxe
Of course one of the industry-leading solutions makes the list. Norton 360 Deluxe can protect up to 5 devices, be it Windows, iOS, macOS or Android. It’s worth noting that its features are best developed for Windows. Here’s what you get with Norton 360 Deluxe:
Protection against viruses, hackers, malware
100% virus protection promise
VPN included for all devices
Unlimited VPN on Windows
Password manager
Parental controls
So is there anything aside from these standard protection features that makes it such a favorite among us techies? Let us tell you! Norton added a little bit of spice here with two really powerful capabilities. The Deluxe product offers 50GB of cloud backup and dark web monitoring. The latter means the software notifies you if any of your personal information is found on the dark web, which helps protect you against identity theft.
Credit: Luke Peters on Unsplash
5. McAfee Antivirus
Don’t be misled by the name of this product. Antivirus software may have started as protection against viruses only, but it’s developed quite a lot. The name simply stuck. All that to say that McAfee Antivirus - another award-winning security solution - protects you against several different threats.
The basic and essential plan allow 1 and 5 devices respectively, while McAfee+ Premium and Advanced work on an unlimited number of devices. The latter two also offer more capabilities, as you can imagine. Here’s what you can expect from all of them:
Secure unlimited VPN
File shredder to delete sensitive files completely
Ultimate safety while browsing
Protection against hackers
100% virus protection promise
Advanced firewall to block dangerous traffic
Online support from specialists
Protection score (shows how safe you are and detects vulnerabilities)
Identity monitoring (notifies you if any of your information is on the dark web)
Password management
Unlike the previous products, McAfee Antivirus does not offer parental controls. Otherwise it’s a pretty strong and comprehensive protection tool and might just be the right choice for you!
6. Trend Micro Maximum Security
Last but definitely not least, we’ve got Maximum Security by Trend Micro. And yes, you guessed it, Trend Micro is also an award winner in terms of cybersecurity. Its products have been recognized as industry-leading security solutions by AV-Test since 2003. Among all its fantastic solutions, our favorite for households or small offices is Maximum Security.
You can use Trend Micro Maximum Security to protect 3-5 devices for a year or two years before needing to renew your license. Aside from Windows, it’s compatible with iOS, Android, Mac and Chromebook devices. Here’s what you can expect from this protection software:
Powerful malware protection
Phishing detection and prevention (email)
Password management and protection
Maximum security for online banking and shopping
System optimization
Social media privacy protection
Parental controls
24/7 technical support
No notifications during gaming
It’s truly one of the most effective platforms out there dedicated to protecting your digital life. Using this product, ransomware, identity thieves and malicious websites don’t stand a chance.
The bottom line
If you’ve made it all the way here, congratulations, you’ve made the right choice: to invest in securing your valuable data! Now the question is: which one of these 6 awesome antivirus/antimalware products to select?
The paradox of choice is a very real thing - we feel you. As mentioned, it comes down to what your specific needs are. So before you go ahead and purchase your security software, make sure to explore all options.
And if you really can’t handle the decision-making anxiety, feel free to reach out. We’ll happily assist you in finding the right product to keep your digital life secure!
There are times when the Windows Search doesn’t work and you wouldn’t have a clue as to why it happened since it does not give any error codes. In such cases, you have to check the error logs in the Event Viewer to find out more about the problem. From there, look for an error with the Event ID 3104 in the Windows error logs and if you see an error message that says, “Enumerating user sessions to generate filter pools failed”, read on as this post will guide you in fixing the problem. Apart from the error message, you might also see more information in the details section of the log that says, “(HRESULT: 0x80040210) (0x80040210)”.
This kind of error is most likely caused by something that prohibits the search function from initializing. A lot of users assumed that it could be due to Cortana but it’s actually not. While some users also reported that they encounter the issue after they restarted their computers. This error was also reported with the same event ID 3104 on the Windows Server. According to security researchers, this error could be caused by problems in the Registry entry of Windows search. It could also be due to an issue with the SYSTEM account where it hasn’t been added to the DCOM Security. It is also possible that the Windows Search function has not been initialized.
To fix this error, you can try to rebuild the Search Index manually or run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter. You can also check the startup type of the Windows Search service or try some registry tweak.
Option 1 – Try to rebuild the Search Index manually
The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to manually rebuild the Search Index. You can do that by going to Control Panel > Indexing Options and from there, click on Advanced. After that, go to the Index Settings tab and then click on Rebuild > OK. Once you’re done, check if it fixed the problem.
Option 2 – Try running the Search and Indexing troubleshooter
You could also run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter in Windows 10 as it checks whether the settings are in place and automatically corrects any issues with the Windows 10 search function. To run this troubleshooter, just click on the Start button and select Settings > Updates and Security > Troubleshoot. From there, select the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter. Once the troubleshooter is done, restart your computer and see if it fixed the error.
Option 3 – Try checking the startup type of the Windows Search Service
In this option, you have to check the startup type of the Windows Search service since the service won’t start. To do so, refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Services Manager.
Next, from the list of services, look for the Windows Search Service or WSearch. Once you find it, right-click on it and select Properties.
After that, change the Startup type to Automatic and click on the Start button if the service is in the Stop state.
Now click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and then restart your computer.
Option 4 – Try changing the Registry entry for Windows Search
Before you apply some registry tweak, you need to create a System Restore point first. Once you have that covered, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
If a User Account Control prompt appears, just click Yes to proceed.
After opening the Registry Editor, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows Search
From there, click on Windows Search and look for the key named “SetupCompletedSuccessfully” and change its value to “0”. Just right-click on it and select Modify.
Then input “0” as its value data and click on OK to save the changes made.
Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Now check if the Enumerating user sessions to generate filter pools failed is fixed or not.
Caching is used to enhance the performance of applications in Windows and other operating systems. It helps applications to load faster but there are times when the cache can get damaged or corrupted and as a result, you might encounter some issues. One of them is in the Firefox browser where the “Your Firefox profile cannot be loaded, It may be missing or inaccessible” error message may appear.
You could also encounter this kind of error when Firefox is unable to access or find the profile folder. In case you don’t know what the profile folder is, it is where Firefox stores your user data and settings by default. Firefox pulls information from this folder each time you choose to open it. You can find this default Firefox profile folder under the %APPDATA%MozillaFirefoxProfiles folder.
If you experience issues when trying to access the Profile Manager, you have the option to create a new default Firefox profile folder. This will fix the “Your Firefox profile cannot be loaded, It may be missing or inaccessible” error. How? Simply follow the given steps below.
Step 1: Tap the Win key or click the Windows Start button to open the Start menu.
Step 2: Next, type “%appdata%” in the field and hit Enter to open the hidden AppDataRoaming folder.
Step 3: Now double click the Mozilla folder as well as the Firefox folder.
Step 4: From there, look for the “profiles.ini” file and delete it. Make sure that you don’t delete the Profiles folder which should have the icon of a file folder.
Note: Keep in mind that the .ini file extension is identified as the file that features a gear icon beside the “Configuration settings” or “Application settings”.
Step 5: Once you open Firefox, a new profile will be created.
On the other hand, if you know where your profile exists, you can try the following steps below to help Firefox locate it.
First, you need to move the profile folder back to its original location.
Next, restore the profile folder’s original name if you have modified it.
Then create a new profile using the Profile Manager and give it an appropriate name.
Now click on the Choose Folder button and select the profile folder you have moved or renamed before you exit the Create a new profile wizard.
Error 550 is an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) outgoing server error code.
It usually occurs when you try to send emails through your Outlook account and the email message encounters a relay error. The email returns back without being delivered with a 550 error message.
The error message is prompted as either of the following:
"550 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable" "550 5 2 1 mail from refused spam site"
In other words, the error code 550 means that your SMTP server was not able to deliver the sent email to the user.
Solution
Error Causes
There are multiple reasons for this error message including:
The email address was typed incorrectly
Incorrect SMTP Server settings
ISP placing restrictions for outgoing mails on the email server
System infected by virus or malware
Further Information and Manual Repair
Regardless of what the reason may be for the error 550 code occurrence, it is advisable to repair and fix the issue quickly to avoid inconvenience.
You may not be able to send emails from your Outlook account if the error continues. This can cause great hassle in corresponding with others timely and may create a big communication gap.
Here are some quick and efficient ways to resolve this issue on your system:
Solution 1:
There is no need to panic when you encounter error 550. Sometimes the error message may occur because you inserted the wrong/ incorrect email address of the recipient.
In such a case, cross-check the recipient’s email address to verify if it is correct. If not, insert the correct address and try sending the email again.
Solution 2:
If the error still persists, try other methods to resolve it. Sometimes error 550 can also occur due to incorrect SMTP settings.
Fix it to resolve the error. This can be done by opening your Outlook settings Tools and Accounts option. Now go to view/change the email account for the email account you are having problems with.
After that check, the SMTP server is set to mail.yourdomain.com. Then click more settings and then click the outgoing server tab. See if the ‘My server requires authentication for the outgoing server’ is checked. If not, then check on it. Then simply save to confirm changes. Now try emailing again.
Hopefully, this will resolve the issue.
Solution 3:
Another reason for the error occurrence can be ISP blockage.
When the junk email volumes increase, network administrators (the people who are responsible for managing ISP servers) place restrictions on SMTP email servers to prevent spam on their network. If this is the reason, contact your ISP administrator to resolve the issue.
Solution 4:
Malware and viral infection can also be the cause for error 550. To remove all kinds of viruses including Trojans and spyware and fix the issue right away without compromising on the speed of your PC it is advisable to download Restoro.
This is a highly functional and advanced PC Fixer embedded with multiple utilities like a powerful antivirus and a system optimizer.
It scans your entire PC in seconds, detects and removes all kinds of viruses. Simultaneously, the system optimizer feature ensures the speed of your PC does not slow down during the scanning and virus removal process.
This feature boosts your PC speed significantly.
It is user-friendly and has easy navigations making it quite simple for even those users who are not technically sound to work around it and operate it with ease. It is compatible with all Windows versions.
Click here to download Restoro and resolve the error 550 messages today!
0x000000A5 is a stop error code also referred to as a blue screen of death error code. It is related to Advanced Configuration and Power Interface basic input/output system in Windows.
It often leads to a sudden system shut down or your system may restart unexpectedly. Blue error codes like 0x000000A5 are the most severe and dangerous types of errors Windows can encounter.
Ignoring 0x000000A5 error pop-ups and not repairing it timely can result in system crashes, valuable data loss and system failure.
Solution
Error Causes
The 0x000000A5 error code occurs particularly because of the ACPI BIOS error. This error message on your computer screen indicates that the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) BIOS of the computer is not compatible with your Windows system and is not fully compliant with the ACPI specifications.
BIOS is a set of software. Through this software, the operating system communicates with the computer’s hardware devices. The ACPI is a part of BIOS and the Windows operating system. It is the standard for the way BIOS works.
The presence of ACPI in the BIOS on a given Windows system determines whether the system can make full use of features such as Power Management or Plug and Play.
Here’s what happens: traditionally, ACPI BIOS implementation tries to manipulate hardware resources directly through BIOS code for hardware functionality nonetheless if the ACPI-based BIOS is not compliant with the ACPI standard on your system, it may not support workable communication between the operating system and the hardware.
This results in imbalance as the operations cannot be synchronized which results in system shut down, system instability, and machine failure. As a warning stop error 0x0000000A5 is displayed on the screen.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To fix the error message 0x0000005A on your PC you don’t need any professional assistance. Solving such blue screen errors in just a couple of clicks is not possible with Restoro
This is a multi-functional and feature-filled registry cleaner and system optimizer that helps PC users resolve practically every type of system instability issues and registry errors including BSoD errors like 0x000000A5.
It offers a comprehensive suite of utilities including registry cleaning, privacy issue detection and repair, system stability error identification, and Active X and Class issues detection.
This innovative and advanced PC fixer is designed to ensure and deliver optimum system performance. It scans and detects causes for 0x000000A5 error code and repairs them in seconds.
It has a neat and intuitive layout and easy navigation which makes this repair tool extremely user-friendly. Users of all levels are it novice or experienced can use it with ease and fix all types of PC-related errors like 0x000000A5 right away with no hassle. ACPI BIOS Error can be quickly resolved with this tool.
This error tool offers outstanding compatibility. It is practically compatible with all Windows versions.
Restoro download
To get started all you have to do is click here to install the Restoro on your computer. Once it is installed, run it to scan for 0x000000A5 error code. After scanning is complete, click the repair button to repair this issue immediately.
For user safety and data security, Restoro also creates backup files. This ensures that no valuable data is lost during system repair.
So, don’t delay in resolving error 0x000000A5 error code; install Restoro on your system today!