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Best fitness trackers for your health needs

fitness trackerIf this unfortunate COVID-19 worldwide pandemic has managed to teach us, I would argue it is that our health is the most important thing. So in that spirit, we will continue in this article reviewing some of the best fitness trackers that can be found in the time of writing this article in 2021.

Now the market for fitness trackers is not small by any means and offerings are also not small, from no-name manufacturers costing only a few bucks to more serious one’s going slightly over 100 USD there is a fitness tracker for everyone.

In this particular article, we will not focus on cheap few dollars no-name ones, instead, we will be offering top ones in the field among some in the middle range simply because we can stand behind them considering quality and precision.

Fitbit Charge 4 fitness and activity tracker

Fitbit is not a pioneer company in the world of fitness trackers and it shows. Charge 4 model offers maybe the best quality, performance, and features for its price. It stands out with implemented GPS meaning that you will need your phone for tracking workouts. It also offers step tracking, sleep tracking, automatic workout-tracking, active zone minutes, etc.

It weighs 30g and has 1 inch grayscale OLED. Battery life is said to hold up to 4 days if you use built-in GPS regularly, if you decide to use GPS constantly device will last only 5 hours. Without GPS it can last up to 7 days and it is water-resistant and waterproof up to 50 meters.

Amazfit Band 5

Amazon’s offering of fitness tracker is aimed at beginners and as such, it is lacking some advanced features including an automated working tracker or GPS, also the model does not have replaceable bands so customization is not an option.

It does however offer activity and sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring and it is the only model that integrates with Alexa. The manufacturer states that the battery can last up to 15 days depending on usage which places Amazfit Band 5 as a device that has a longer life of use.

The device itself is packed with a 1.1-inch color OLED and it weights 12g. It is splash-resistant, not water-resistant.

Xiaomi Mi Band 6

Xiaomi tracker is the best budget version on this list including in it 30 sport modes like running, cycling, yoga, swimming, and more. Battery life is not bad also packing up to 14 days of life but only if the device is not used constantly.

It has activity and sleep tracking, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, customizable replicable bands and it is water-resistant up to 50m.

It comes in a 1.56 inch AMOLED color display and it weighs 63g. The device also has menstrual health tracking making it a great device for women.

Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 fitness tracker

Now we are getting into serious and little more expensive ones. Galaxy Fit 2 is among the top-notch trackers currently on the market. It of course can work along with Samsung’s smartwatches and mobile phones. Packed in the military-grade 1.1-inch casing with color AMOLED and weighing 91g with battery life up to 21 days and water resistance up to 50m this bracelet is an absolute beast.

It comes packed with features from standard sleep tracking to automated workout-tracking but it also has a connection to Samsung’s Health mobile app to choose from over 90 workouts, it monitors heart rate and stress levels making it really one of the complete solutions for serious fitness enthusiasts.

Garmin Vivosmart 4 fitness tracker

Last on our list is Garmin vivosmart 4. The device itself is not very impressive, 7 days battery life with 0.7 inch OLED display and 17g weight packed with 50m water resistance is nothing spectacular, Samsung’s model is packing better hardware and way more battery life but all of the mentioned devices fall flat if we compare software to Garvin.

Garvin’s Vivosmart 4 software is best on the list, it keeps track of your steps, sleep, calories burned, floors climbed, various exercises, and heart rate as standard features but you'll have advanced sleep tracking with REM sleep. It can also gauge blood oxygen saturation levels during the night with its wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor. In addition, a relaxation breathing timer complements the all-day stress tracking feature. Lastly, the "Body Battery" monitor helps optimize your daily activities based on your energy levels making it truly the only complete tracking solution on this list.

That's it for our review of fitness trackers of today, be sure to come back each day to find more interesting articles and tips for your everyday digital life.

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What to do if Google Drive Unable to Connect
As you know, the Google Drive service is a Backup and Synchronization service provided by Google. It was launched way back in April 2012 which provides users with the options to synchronize, store and share files by uploading them to Google’s servers where they stay until they are deleted personally by the users and can be accessed anywhere using the Google Account that’s used to upload them. Recently, a lot of users reported that they were unable to connect to Google Drive from their Windows 10 computers. This kind of problem has been noticed in the middle of the upload process and can be seen at times after the app launches. If you also experience the same issue, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing it. There are a lot of possible reasons why this kind of problem occurs. It could be that the app was not able to launch properly or the internet got disconnected when the app was about to launch. It is also possible that the Firewall has blocked the app from connecting to the internet or that the antivirus program is preventing the app from making contact with its database. Aside from that, it is possible that the account you are using on your computer is preventing Google Drive from connecting to the internet due to some configuration errors. Follow the suggestions provided below to fix the connection issue with Google Drive.

Option 1 – Configure the Firewall

As mentioned, the Windows Firewall might be blocking the app from contacting its database so, in this option, you have to allow Google Drive through the Firewall. To do so, follow these steps:
  • In the Windows Start Search, type “firewall” and click on the “Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall” option from the search results.
  • After that, you will see a list of apps, and here, click on the “Change Settings” button.
  • Next, scroll down and make sure to check both the “Public” and “Private” options for Google Drive.
  • Now click on Ok to save the changes made and then try to launch Google Drive again.

Option 2 – Try to launch Google Drive again

Google Drive might have not launched properly that’s why it can’t connect to its servers so you can try to launch it again and see if it helps.
  • Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
  • Next, go to the Processes tab and click on the “View” option located at the top.
  • After that, uncheck the “Group by Type” option and click on the “Google Drive Sync” from the list of processes.
  • Then click on the “End Task” option and close the Task Manager.
  • Launch Google Drive again and see if the issue is now resolved.

Option 3 – Temporarily disable third-party antivirus

Aside from Firewall, antivirus programs, especially the third party ones, are also known to block files applications the instant it detects a threat to the system. Thus, your antivirus program might be the reason why you can’t download anything on your Windows 10 computer. To fix this, you can try to disable the antivirus program on your computer in the meantime and then try to launch Google Drive again. Do not forget to enable them again as disabling them can leave your computer vulnerable to cyber threats.

Option 4 – Try to create a new account

There are times when a certain configuration for a user account might be blocking some elements of the Google Drive app. In such cases, you can try to create a new account to fix the problem.
  • Click on the Windows key and then click on the icon for Settings.
  • From there, click on the Accounts button and select the “Family & Other People” option from the left pane.
  • Next, click the “Add someone else to this PC” option.
  • After that, click on the “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” option and select the “Add a user without a Microsoft Account” setting.
  • Type in the credentials for the new account you are creating and click on Next.
  • After the account is created, click on the account and then select the “Change account type” option.
  • Click on the drop-down menu and select the “Administrator” option and then click on OK.
  • Now sign out of the current account and sign in to the new one and then open Google Drive again.
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A Quick Guide to Fixing Error 2046

Error 2046 - What is it?

Error 2046 is an error code related to Adobe Flash Player. It usually occurs while watching movies or videos on the web browser. This error code may interrupt video display and hamper you from watching your favorite movies and videos.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Narrowing down the reason for the occurrence of this error code is quite difficult virtually because it may trigger due to several reasons such as:
  • There might be issues with Adobe Flash Player settings
  • Ad-blocking products
  • Windows not updated
  • Registry issues
  • Malware infection
  • Flash Player Add on not properly installed

Further Information and Manual Repair

The good news is that the error 2046 is not fatal. It is easy to fix. In fact, it is so easy to repair that you can do it all by yourself even if you are not a computer whiz. You don’t have to hire a professional and spend hundreds of dollars on repairs. Here are some of the many manual solutions that you can try to fix this issue on your computer screen:

Reinstall Adobe Flash Player

Since this error code is largely related to Adobe Flash Player, it is advisable to start by reinstalling the Flash Player. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you work through it.
  1. First, click start and then select the control panel.
  2. Now click on programs and then uninstall Flash Player from the program list.
  3. After that’s done, reboot your computer.
  4. Now download Adobe Flash Player from a reliable website and run it.
If it works perfectly, then the issue is resolved. If not, then try other methods given below.

Re-Enable Flash Player Add-on

Adobe Flash Player add-on is basically installed in IE (Internet Explorer) which is loaded each time you load IE. Sometimes the problem with this add-on can also generate error 2046.
  1. To resolve this, open Internet Explorer and press Alt-Key.
  2. Select tools and then manage add-ons.
  3. Now select Adobe Flash Player Active X and then click disable tab.
Once that’s done, restart the web browser and repeat the same steps but this time click enable button. This will hopefully resolve the issue.

Unblock Ad Blocking Products

Sometimes error 2046 may pop up on your screen if you use ad-blocking products like AdBlock Plus. If so, then try uninstalling ad-blocking products installed on your PC to fix the issue.

Install Window Update

Microsoft releases new updates every now and then. These updates are made with the objective of solving bugs and run-time errors like error 2046. Therefore if the error code is related to Windows updates then to resolve it is it advisable to launch the Windows update program and update your operating system. For this, click Start, All Programs, and then click Windows Update. Now click the Check for updates button and download and install the new updates. Once that is complete, restart your PC to bring changes into effect.

Scan for Malware and Look For Registry issues

Whether the issue is related to malware or the registry, it is recommended to download Restoro. This is a next-generation and a multi-functional PC Fixer embedded with a powerful antivirus and a registry cleaner. Run it on your PC and scan for viruses and registry issues and click repair to resolve. It is user-friendly and compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro to resolve error 2046.
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Fixing “Could not find this item. This is no longer located in [Path]. Verify the item’s location and try again” Error in Windows 10
If you are trying to access a particular file on your Windows 10 computer either to open, rename or delete it, and you suddenly encounter an error stating, “Could not find this item. This is no longer located in [Path]. Verify the item’s location and try again”, read on for this post will help you out in resolving this issue. If you are able to find and view a file on your computer, you should have clear access to it. And since you are seeing an error message when you try to do something about this file, you are not able to do anything with the file. There are times when this error pops up with the files created by third-party services and that the file’s extension is not defined properly. On the other hand, there are also other obscure causes for this error. To fix it, here are some suggestions you can try.

Option 1 – Delete the file using Command Prompt

If you wish to delete the problematic file and weren’t to, you can use Command Prompt.
  • In the Start menu, type in “Command Prompt” to search for it or you could also click the search button right next to the Start menu and then right-click on the related result and select the option “Run as administrator”.
  • Once you’ve opened Command Prompt, copy and paste the command given below and tap Entre after you do so. You also have to make sure that you key in the correct path where the file is located as well as its name.
rd /s \?X:badfolderpath Note: In the command above, “X” is the placeholder letter so you must input the letter that corresponds to the drive’s letter where the file is located.
  • After that, you will see the “Operation completed successfully” message on your screen. If you don’t, check if you’ve really inputted the correct location of the file or its name.

Option 2 – Use a Command Prompt tweak to rename the file

If you don’t want to delete the file and only want to rename it, you can apply some tweaks using the Command Prompt. Make sure to follow the steps carefully.
  • In the Start menu, type in “Command Prompt” to search for it or you could also click the search button right next to the Start menu and then right-click on the related result and select the option “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in “cd” followed by the path where the file is located with this format – “C:\Folder1\Folder2\Folder3”. However, you have to omit the problematic file this time. To put it simply, the last folder in the command must be the folder where the file is located.
  • After inputting the command, tap Enter on your keyboard and then use the set of commands given below. Note that each command is a new line so you need to tap Enter after copying each line.
    • DIR /A /X /P
    • RENAME (the current name of the problematic file) (a non-problematic name)
    • EXIT
Note: Make sure that you only input the current name and the new name separated by a space. You must not write the brackets in the command. If everything goes well, you will now be able to operate the file like you used to before.

Option 3 – Use Command Prompt to delete the file without any extension

This option applies to cases where the affected file does not have any viable extension which means that Windows does not really know what to do with it and it only displays the “Could not find this item. This is no longer located in [Path]. Verify the item’s location and try again” error message. It usually occurs with the files created by browser plugins that are mostly from Mozilla Firefox. To delete these kinds of files, here’s what you have to do:
  • Follow the first two steps from the previous option above so you can navigate to the location of the file accurately just be careful in inputting the folders.
  • Don’t forget to tap Enter right after each command and then use the next command below so you can delete the affected file which has no extension:
del *.*
  • After you’re done, open the File Explorer and then check if the file is now deleted or not.

Option 4 – Try using another workaround without using Command Prompt

This option is a lot like a workaround but it definitely gets the job done for you. It’s ideal for you if you do not want to deal with Command Prompt and only want to do everything in a graphical environment. To get started, follow the steps below.
  • Look for the affected file or folder on your PC using File Explorer. Once you found it, right-click on it and select the “Add to archive” option from the context menu.
  • Once the archiving options window pops up, look for the “Delete files after archiving” option and make sure that you select it then click OK to start archiving the folder or file. After that, you should now notice the file no longer exists.
  • After that, delete the archive file as well.
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Fix Chrome ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT
The Google Chrome browser checks the SSL Security Certificate of the website that you are trying to open. However, if Chrome is not able to check the certificate then you might encounter an error related to the SSL Certificates which you might face when browsing the web. This particular error is the ERR BAD SSL CLIENT AUTH CERT error which is caused by many factors such as the computer’s Time, Cached Data is corrupt, Date is out of sync, as well as third party software installed in your computer is the one that’s blocking the site and many more. The ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error might also be coming from the website’s end. It could be that the server is rejecting the certificate the client website is sending. The certificate might have already expired or the server may not trust its issuer – whichever the case may be, here are some options you can check out to fix the error.

Option 1 – Sync Date and Time

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 ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error. 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.
  • Right-click on the Taskbar and click on the Adjust Date and Time option.
  • Next, click on the Sync Now button to synchronize the Date and Time with the Microsoft Servers.
  • Now make sure that the Time Zone that’s set on the same page is correct.

Option 2 – Try clearing the browser data

There are times when some data in the browser is conflicting with the loading of the website and triggers errors like ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT. And so you can try to clear your browser’s data. This might be a very basic solution but oftentimes it works in fixing this kind of error in Google Chrome. Follow the steps below to clear the data in your browser.
  • Open your Google Chrome browser.
  • After that, tap the Ctrl + H keys. Doing so will open a new panel that allows you to delete the browsing history and other data in your browser.
  • Now select every checkbox that you see and click on the Clear browsing data button.
  • Then restart your Chrome browser and check if you can now open any website or not.

Option 3 – Try to check and fix any possible conflicts with third-party programs

Third-party programs like internet protection software could be interrupting the connection and causing the error. For some unknown reason, your antivirus program or firewall might be detecting the webpage you are trying to open as malicious or with less credibility which is why it is blocking the browser from opening the website. To fix that, if you have third-party programs installed like VPN, security software, or any add-on, or firewall, you can disable them temporarily and see if it fixes the problem and you’re able to pull up the website. After a while, you have to enable them back and configure their settings so that the website won’t get blocked again.

Option 4 – Try enabling SSL 3 / TLS and disable QUIC Protocol

If you were using Google Chrome when you got the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error, then you need to follow the protocol fixes for SSL3/TLS and QUIC which are usually some of the reasons that cause the SSL version / Cipher Mismatch. It also has a few fixes for Windows 10 computer where you can clear the certificates and make sure that your computer date and time is in sync with your time zone and so on. If you were using Edge or Internet Explorer when you got the error, then you have to follow the steps below.
  • Type “Internet” in the search box of your browser. After that, you should see the Internet Options from the search results.
  • Next, open the Internet Properties window and switch to the Advanced tab and then scroll down to the Security section.
  • From there, check the “Use TLS 1.1” checkbox as well as the “Use TLS 1.2” checkbox and then click OK to save the changes made.
  • Restart the browser.
On the other hand, if you were using Firefox when you go the error, here’s what you have to do.
  • Open Firefox and in the address bar, type “about:config” and hit Enter.
  • If a warning appears, just click on the “I accept the risk!” button to proceed.
  • Next, type in “TLS” in the search field and hit Enter.
  • Then look for “security.tls.version.min” and double click on it and set its integer value to 3 to force the protocol of TLS 1.3.
  • Now click OK and restart Firefox and do the same thing with SSL.

Option 5 – Try to update Google Chrome

You might also want to try updating your browser to its latest version and have it installed in your computer. After you install the update, check if you can now open the website you were trying to open earlier.

Option 6 – Get rid of any conflicting browser extensions

  • Open Chrome and press Alt + F keys.
  • Go to More tools and click Extensions to look for any suspicious browser extensions or toolbars.
  • Click the Recycle bin and select Remove.
  • Restart Chrome and press Alt + F keys again.
  • Proceed to On Startup and mark Open a specific page or set of pages.
  • To check if the browser hijacker is still active, click Set pages, if it is active, overwrite the URL.
Note: If removing the browser extensions or toolbars didn’t work, you can also try to reset your Google Chrome browser.
  • Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
  • After that, click on Settings.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
  • After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
  • Now restart Google Chrome.
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How to Fix Drwtsn32.exe Application Error

What is Drwtsn32.exe Application Error?

Drwtsn32.exe (DrWatson Postmortem Debugger) is a process file from Microsoft Corporation that runs on Microsoft Windows Operating System. This file is digitally signed from Microsoft Windows Component Publisher- Microsoft Timestamping Service. This file is a type of executable file. It is useful to debug and creates log files when an error occurs during running or program execution. The information logged by DrWatson is used by technical support personnel to diagnose a program error for a computer running Windows. It creates log files in the following location C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataMicrosoftDr Watson. However, when using Internet Explorer, MS Outlook or any other application on Windows, you can experience drwtsn32.exe application error. This error occurs when the drwtsn32.exe file crashes. The error is displayed as:
“DrWatson Postmortem Debugger has encountered a problem and needs to close” "drwtsn32.exe - DLL Initialization Failed" when shutting down

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

The ultimate reason behind ‘drwtsn32.exe application error’ is malware and viral infection. Malicious software can enter your PC through downloaded files , browsing on unsafe websites and phishing emails. These viruses can disguise themselves as DrWatson utility. Plus theymay have the same name as this process. However, the best way to detect if it is a virus is to track its location. Malicious software will usually hide in some other location instead of its standard location. However, other reasons for this error also include incompatible software and damaged system files.

Further Information and Manual Repair

a) Scan PC with an Anti-Virus

It is advisable to repair this issue right away especially if the underlying cause is a viral infection typically because viruses can expose you to privacy errors and risks such as cybercrime, identity theft, and data security issues. To resolve it, download a powerful antivirus. Scan your PC with it and remove all the viruses immediately. However, when doing so, you may have to compromise PC performance and halt other PC activities. Anti-viruses are notorious for slowing down PC speed. In addition to this, sometimes you may have to stop other activities on your PC for the antivirus to scan for viruses.

b) Repair Registry Errors with Restoro

Nonetheless, if the drwtsn32.exe application error is related to system file corruption, then this indicates registry issues where all the system data is stored. Registry issues occur if you don’t maintain your PC properly and let invalid, wasted and obsolete files accumulate on your PC. This damages and corrupts the system files and generates such error messages. To repair it, download a registry cleaner. However, the best alternative to resolve drwtsn32.exe application error in seconds whether the error is linked to registry issues or viral infection is to download Restoro. This is a multi functional PC fixer embedded with multiple utilities including a powerful antivirus, a registry cleaner and a system optimizer. It wipes out all the unnecessary files stored in the registry, repairs the damaged and corrupt system files and restores the registry. With the help of the antivirus, all privacy errors and viruses are scanned on your PC and removed immediately. And to ensure your system’s speed is not compromised, it also functions as a system optimizer and increases your PC’s speed significantly. The software is safe and efficient. It has simple navigations and a user-friendly interface which makes it very easy for all levels of users to work around. It is compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve drwtsn32.exe application error today!
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Software review series: BitWarden
BitWardenMany times we were talking and writing here on Errortools.com about security, privacy, hacking, identity theft, etc. We tried to raise important security questions and I hope I have managed to at least shed some light and change maybe some bad behaviors for some, helping them embrace better routines about their security on their PC. In this light, I will today present you with one neat and awesome piece of software, a password manager worth your time and money (if you want premium features): BitWarden.

What BitWarden offers?

The first thing that it offers is the completely free basic plan, granted BitWarden is not an open-source project nor completely free but it has an unlimited free basic plan that will cover 90% of user needs. There is also a free basic unlimited plan for Organizations letting you and one more user share files and other stuff via BitWarden making it a cool option if you need it. Premium features offer you encrypted sharing of files, two-step login, 1GB file attachments (encrypted), Bitwarden Authenticator (TOTP), Vault Health Reports, Emergency Access, and Priority Support. The cost for all of these additional features is 10 USD per year for an individual plan or 40 USD per year for organizations where you will get an increase of maximum users from 2 to 6. Yes, you read that correctly, only 10 USD per YEAR for the whole set of features. Granted if you do not need any of them, enjoy the free version forever. Besides very low premium cost BitWarden will offer you compatibility with all major browsers and devices including both Android and iOS platforms making it a great cross-platform solution to login and maintain your passwords anywhere with just one click. Once installed all you need to do is set one master password and be very careful not to lose or forget this one, if you do all of your other generated passwords will be lost forever.

Features

Secure Password Sharing

Share your encrypted data quickly and easily, and only with the users or teams who need access

Cross-Platform Accessibility

Access critical data in your Bitwarden vault from any location, browser, and device

Cloud-Based or Self-Host

Get up and running in minutes in the cloud or you can self-host Bitwarden for complete data control

Security Audit & Compliance

Open source and third-party audited, Bitwarden complies with Privacy Shield, GDPR, CCPA regulations

Vault Health Reports

Access insightful reports to reveal weak, reused passwords, and other helpful data security metrics

Directory Sync

Our powerful Directory Connector streamlines user and group onboarding and keeps them in sync

Always-On Support

Our Customer Success agents are available to support you around the clock

Detailed Event Logs

Bitwarden creates audit trails to help you keep track of user and group access to sensitive data

Flexible Integrations

Unite your existing systems with Bitwarden using SSO authentication, Directory services, or powerful APIs

Conclusion

There are many password managers out there but via recommendation I have tried BitWarden and truth to be told, I really never felt the need to try anything else, it is great at what it does and it is moving forward with features and it is constantly updated and maintained.
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Remove CalendarSpark Browser Hijacker

CalendarSpark is a browser extension developed by MindSpark. This extension allows an easy way to print or view calendar templates and make schedulers for a day/week/month/year. This browser extension hijacks your browser home page and search engine, changing them to MyWay.com. While the extension is installed it monitors your browsing activity and collets visited websites, clicked links, and sometimes even personal information, which it later uses to display targeted unwanted ads through your browsing sessions.

While browsing the internet with this extension installed you will see additional sponsored links, ads, and sometimes even pop-up ads on websites that are not supposed to have any of these. Several anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a Browser Hijacker, and due to its data collecting behavior, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a kind of malware that modifies web browser configuration settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or permission. These kinds of hijacks are raising at an alarming rate across the world, and they could be truly nefarious and sometimes harmful too. Browser hijacker malware is created for a number of reasons. These are generally used to force hits to a specific site, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. However, it’s not that harmless. Your online safety is jeopardized and it is also extremely irritating. In a worst-case scenario, your browser could be hijacked to open up your computer system to a host of additional attacks.

Indications of browser hijack

When your browser is hi-jacked, the following could happen: your home page is reset to some unknown webpage; you get redirected to sites you never intended to visit; The default search page of the web browser is changed; unwanted new toolbars are added to your internet browser; you’ll find random pop-ups start showing on a regular basis; your internet browser starts running slowly or exhibits frequent errors; Inability to navigate to certain websites, particularly antivirus as well as other security software sites.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way onto your PC

Browser hijackers can enter a PC by some means or other, including via file sharing, downloads, and e-mail as well. They could also be deployed via the installation of an internet browser toolbar, add-on, or extension. A browser hijacker can be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware, and pirated programs. An example of some well-known browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing. Browser hijackers could interrupt the user’s web surfing experience significantly, track the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause problems in connecting to the net, and then finally create stability issues, causing programs and computers to freeze.

Removal

Some kinds of browser hijackers can be quickly removed from the computer by deleting malicious applications or any other recently added freeware. Regrettably, most of the software applications used to hijack an internet browser are intentionally designed to be difficult to remove or detect. Furthermore, manual removals require in-depth system knowledge and therefore can be an extremely difficult job for novice computer users.

What you can do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Antivirus?

Practically all malware is inherently dangerous, but certain types of malware do much more damage to your computer than others. Some malware sits in between your computer and your internet connection and blocks a few or all websites that you would like to check out. It will also block you from the installation of anything on your PC, especially antivirus applications. If you’re reading this article now, you might have perhaps realized that virus infection is the real cause of your blocked net connectivity. So how to proceed when you want to download and install an antivirus application like Safebytes? Although this sort of problem can be tougher to circumvent, there are some steps you can take.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

In Safe Mode, you may change Windows settings, un-install or install some program, and eliminate hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In case the virus is set to load immediately when the PC starts, switching to this mode can prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, press “F8” key on the keyboard just before Windows logo screen appears; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over Safe Boot under Boot tab, and then click Apply. After you reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you can run the anti-malware scan to eliminate viruses and malware without hindrance from another application.

Obtain the antivirus program using an alternate web browser

Some malware only targets particular internet browsers. If this sounds like your situation, utilize another browser as it may circumvent the virus. The best way to avoid this problem is to choose a browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox has built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you safe online.

Install and run anti-malware from the Thumb drive

Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB antivirus software package that can check your system for malicious software without the need for installation. To run anti-virus from a USB drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Use another virus-free PC to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the flash drive to a USB slot on the clean computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Follow activation instructions. 5) Unplug the flash drive. You may now use this portable anti-malware on the affected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the flash drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all types of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Benefits

If you are looking to install anti-malware software for your PC, there are numerous tools on the market to consider but you cannot trust blindly to anyone, irrespective of whether it is free or paid software. A few of them are great, some are decent, while some will harm your computer themselves! You need to select one that is dependable, practical, and has a strong reputation for its malware protection. While thinking about the dependable software programs, Safebytes AntiMalware is certainly the strongly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trusted tool that not only protects your computer system permanently but is also very user-friendly for people of all ability levels. Once you’ve got installed this software, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your personal computer. SafeBytes has a plethora of amazing features that can help you protect your PC from malware attacks and damage. Listed below are some of the great features included in the tool. Optimum AntiMalware Protection: Using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes provides multilayered protection that is designed to find and eliminate viruses and malware that are concealed deep in your computer’s operating system. Live Protection: SafeBytes offers a completely hands-free real-time protection that is set to observe, block, and wipe out all computer threats at its very first encounter. It will inspect your computer for suspicious activity regularly and its unparalleled firewall shields your computer from illegal entry by the outside world. Faster Scan: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has got a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5 times faster than any other protection software. Website Filtering: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety ranking to each and every site you visit and block access to webpages known to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malware. Light-weight: The program is light-weight and will work silently in the background, and will not impact your computer efficiency. Premium Support: For any technical inquiries or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and email.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To get rid of CalendarSpark manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and select the program you want to get rid of. For browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you intend to remove or disable. You will probably also want to reset your internet browser. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard disk and computer registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. But bear in mind, this is a tricky task and only computer professionals can carry it out safely. In addition, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its deletion. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.
Files: calendarspark.dl.myway[1].xml %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\CalendarSparkTooltab chrome-extension_apfkjcjglfhoemadfobgcacfkdhapiab_0.localstorage-journal %LOCALAPPDATA%\CalendarSparkTooltab http_calendarspark.dl.tb.ask.com_0.localstorage-journal http_calendarspark.dl.tb.ask.com_0.localstorage Calendarspark.exe 310,048 602097e5efa71f01dca1ad60ba108730 %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lacjhcgjigifchcapcccoippjdnkbagj %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lacjhcgjigifchcapcccoippjdnkbagj www.calendarspark[1].xml %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\lacjhcgjigifchcapcccoippjdnkbagj Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CalendarSpark HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\calendarspark.com HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\calendarspark.dl.myway.com HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\CalendarSpark HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings, value: lacjhcgjigifchcapcccoippjdnkbagj HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..Uninstaller CalendarSparkTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
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How to Fix Error Code 0x80073afc

Error Code 0x80073afc - What is it?

Error code 0x80073afc deals with an antivirus program first built into Windows 8/8.1 This error occurs when Windows Defender, the built-in anti-virus software in Windows 8/8.1 and higher, does not start automatically and users attempt to manually start the program. During the initialization period of the program start-up, something goes wrong and users get a 0x80073afc Error message. The error message states there was a problem with the initialization of the program. Windows Defender provides protection of your computer and it is advised by the Microsoft Corporation that you ensure it starts up automatically on every start-up.

Solution

Restoro box imageFurther Information and Manual Repair

Users have found several manual repairs that have fixed the problem without needing to contact technicians for extra help. While the methods below should solve your problem easily, if this is the first time you have encountered the issue you may want to do a simple restart. This has fixed the problem for some users and is the easiest first troubleshooting move. If it doesn’t work move on to the methods listed below, which are easily completed without extra help.

Before trying any of these methods, please make sure that you are logged into a profile that is listed as the administrator of the computer of his administrative powers enabled. If this is not the case you will not be able to complete the following methods. Please log out and log back in on the administrator profile.

Method 1:

First, check to see if you have a third-party anti-virus program installed on your computer. Some users believe that the built-in Windows Defender program is not powerful enough to handle the safety of their computer so they usually download a third-party program. However, that program may have caused a conflict with Windows Defender and may not allow it to open. If you do have a third-party program installed, try uninstalling it then manually starting Windows Defender.

Method 2:

If method one does not work, you may be infected by malware or a virus that has tampered with the settings on your computer and will not allow Windows Defender to start automatically or manually.

First, open Run by holding the “Win” key and pressing the “R” key. Then type “Regedit”. The program will ask for permission to follow through with this action. Click on “Yes” and the Open Registry Editor will open.

Find the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionImage File Execution Option and check to see if there are any files similar to MSASCui.exe or MpCmdRun.exe. If there are any file entries that resemble that, you will want to right-click on them before selecting the “Delete” option. If you do not see any entries that match, this is not the issue with your Windows Defender and you will want to try another method.

The Registry on your computer is very important. It helps tell your computer what programs are safe to run, what programs should be run, and what programs should not be run. If it is tampered with by a virus or Malware, multiple system operations can be affected.

However, if you did find similar file names, and you deleted them, try to start Windows Defender manually. If it does not work again, move on to the next method. 

Method 3:

If the first two methods do not work for your issue, and you are still receiving error code 0x80073afc when attempting to start Windows Defender, this step should solve the problem if you have Restore Point installed on your computer, which you most likely do.

For this method, we will be restoring your computer to a previous Restore Point. First, just like in method two, hold the “Win” key and press the “R” key. This will open run. Next type “Rstrui.exe” and click “ok”. After some time, you will see System Restore Windows. Click “Next” and select the restore point that you would like to go back to. After your computer has restored to the point you selected, check to ensure that Windows Defender has started correctly.

If the above methods aren't able to rectify the issue, you might have to download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

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Disk Cleanup is stuck on Update Cleanup
There is a built-in tool in Windows 10 the Disk Cleanup Utility which can help you restore hard disk space by removing temporary files, Thumbnails, old Windows files, Windows Upgrade logs, Delivery optimization files, and many more. However, from time to time, this built-in tool also experiences some issues. One of these issues is when it gets stuck on Windows Update Cleanup. Read on to find out what you can do in such a case. When the Disk Cleanup Utility is stuck on the Windows Update Cleanup, the process could be slow and take a long time to complete when purging the files. If this happens, click on Cancel to close the dialog box. After that, try running the Disk Cleanup Tool again as administrator and check if the files that you want to clean is still there or not. If it isn’t there, then this means that the cleanup has been done, otherwise, you need to refer to the options given below.

Option 1 – Try to manually delete the contents in the SoftwareDistribution folder

  • Open the WinX Menu.
  • From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
  • Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
  • After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
  • Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:
  • Type each one of the following commands.
net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
  • After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer and then try to run Windows Update once more.

Option 2 – Try to manually delete the contents of the Windows.old folder

The Windows.old folder is the one that holds the older version of Windows when you upgrade. It comes really useful when you want to revert to the previous version of Windows 10. Thus, you can delete the Windows.old files in case the cleanup tool is stuck.

Option 3 – Try running Disk Cleanup in a Clean Boot State or Safe Mode

Another thing you can try is to restart your computer in a Clean Boot State or Safe Mode. Chances are, there are some programs that are preventing the Disk Cleanup Utility tool to run properly. After you restart your computer in a Clean Boot State or Safe Mode, try to run the Disk Cleanup tool again and then see if it now works or not.

Option 4 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing this issue. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 5 – Run the DISM tool to fix the corruption in the Component Store

You can try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool to fix the Wdf01000.sys Blue Screen error. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.
  • Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  • Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
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Fix Windows Sandbox failed to start 0x80070015
As of late, many users reported getting an error in Windows Sandbox that has an error code of 0x80070015. According to users, they encountered this error when they tried to start Windows Sandbox. Based on the error code, it seems that there are some problems with the supporting services of Windows Sandbox that trigger the error. It is possible that these services are misconfigured or that they are outdated and have to be updated. Here’s the complete message of the error:
“Windows Sandbox failed to start. Error 0x80070015. The device is not ready. Would you like to submit feedback about this issue?”
If you are one of the users who encountered this kind of error in Windows Sandbox, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you sort this problem out. All you have to do is follow each one of the options provided below.

Option 1 – Make sure that all the supporting processes and services of Windows Sandbox are running properly

If running Windows Sandbox as an administrator didn’t fix the error, you have to ensure that all related processes for Windows Sandbox are running properly. To do that, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
  • Next, from the list of services, look for the following services in the given order:
    • Network Virtualization Service: (Startup type: Manual)
    • Virtual Disk: (Startup type: Manual)
    • Hyper – V Virtual Machine: (Startup type: Manual)
    • Hyper – V Host Compute Service: (Startup type: Manual)
    • Container Manager Services: (Startup type: Automatic)
  • After you find the aforementioned services, restart each one of them.
  • Once done, try to open the Windows Sandbox again and see if the error is fixed or not.

Option 2 – Try to install any pending Windows Updates

If the second option still didn’t work, then you might want to check Windows Updates on your computer and see if there are any pending Windows Updates you have to install. All you have to do is go to the Windows 10 Settings app and then go to the Windows Updates section and click on the “Check for updates” button to check if there are any pending updates that are needed to be installed. This could fix the Windows Sandbox Error 0x80070015.

Option 3 – Try to run Windows Sandbox as an admin

  • In the Start Menu, scroll down until you see the entry for the Windows Sandbox.
  • Then right-click on it and select More and then select the “Run as administrator” option to open it with admin privileges.
  • Next, if a User Account Control or UAC prompt pops up, just click on Yes to proceed.
  • You should now be able to open the Windows Sandbox without the error. However, if the error persists, proceed to the next given option below.
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