Happy New Year from ErrorTools.com!!!

As we are on the last day of 2021, our team here at errortools.com would like to express their great gratitude to you all for being with us all this time and would also want to wish you error-free 2022!!!

Thank you for being part of this community, we wish you all the best in the upcoming 2022 and hope that we will see you again

From all members of errotools, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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Remove ChatZum from Windows

ChatZum is a Potentially Unwanted Program that installs a Toolbar into your browser. This program allegedly allows users to zoom in on photos without clicking on them, however, upon further research, it was discovered that this function does not work on the latest version of browsers.

From the Author: ChatZum is a Browser add-on (toolbar) that enables its users to hover over images in Major Social network's websites and view a larger version of an image.

While installing this toolbar will track user web browsing sessions and will record website visits, clicks, and sometimes even personal information. This information is later used to display targeted ads to the user. To allow easier user tracking, the program changes the browser home page and default search engine to Nation Search Advanced, which injects additional advertisements and tracks user activity.

Several anti-virus applications have marked this program as Potentially Unwanted, and it is not recommended to keep it on your computer, especially considering the fact it will most likely not work on your browser.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

If you have ever installed a free application or shareware, chances are high that the computer will get installed with a bunch of unwanted applications. A Potentially Unwanted Program, also called PUP, in short, is actually software that contains adware, installs toolbars, or has got other hidden objectives. These types of programs are generally bundled up with a free application that you download from the internet or may also be bundled inside the custom installers of many download websites. PUPs aren’t always viewed as “pure” malware in the strictest sense. A fundamental difference between PUP and malware is distribution. Malware is normally dropped by silent installation vectors like drive-by downloads while PUP gets installed with the consent of the computer user, who knowingly or unknowingly approves the PUP installation on their computer system. But, there is no doubt that PUPs remain bad news for PC users as it could be quite dangerous to your computer in many ways.

The damage PUPs can do

The unwanted programs after installation display numerous annoying pop-up ads, trigger fake alerts, and sometimes even forces a computer owner to pay for the software. PUPs that come as browser add-ons and toolbars are commonly recognizable. These toolbars alter your homepage and your search engine in the installed web browser, track your web activities, modify your search results with redirects and sponsored links, and eventually slow down your browser and diminish your browsing experience. Potentially unwanted programs use aggressive distribution methods to get onto your computer. The worst part of setting up a PUP is the adware, spyware, and keystroke loggers that could lurk inside. Even if the PUPs really aren’t inherently malicious, these applications still do practically nothing good on your PC – they’ll take valuable system resources, slow down your PC, weaken your computer security, making your PC more vulnerable to malware.

How to avoid ‘crapware’

• Read the EULA thoroughly. Look for clauses that state that you have to accept advertising and pop-ups or bundled applications from the company. • Always opt for the custom if you’re offered an option between “Custom” and “Recommended” Installations – never ever click Next, Next, Next thoughtlessly. • Use a good anti-malware application. Try Safebytes Anti-malware which can find PUPs and treat them as malware by flagging them for deletion. • Be alert if you download and install freeware, open-source applications, or shareware. Do not ever install software applications that seem shady or malicious. • Always download applications from the original website. The majority of PUPs find their way onto your laptop or computer is via download portals, so steer clear of it altogether. Remember the fact that even though PUPs could potentially cause damage and hinder the proper functioning of the PC, they can’t enter into your system without your consent, so be alert not to provide them with it.

How One Can Get rid of Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Malware could potentially cause many kinds of damage to PCs, networks, and data. Some malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your computer, especially antivirus software. If you’re reading this article, odds are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your PC. Even though this sort of problem can be tougher to circumvent, there are some steps you can take.

Make use of Safe Mode to resolve the issue

If the malware is set to run automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, stepping into safe mode could block the attempt. Just minimal required programs and services are loaded when you boot your computer in Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, do as instructed below. 1) Tap the F8 key repeatedly as soon as your PC boots, however, before the big Windows logo or black screen with white texts come up. This would invoke the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) When this mode loads, you should have the internet. Now, obtain the malware removal program you want by utilizing the web browser. To install the program, follow the guidelines in the installation wizard. 4) Right after installation, do a full scan and allow the software program to get rid of the threats it detects.

Switch to an alternate internet browser

Some malware mainly targets certain browsers. If this is your situation, employ another internet browser as it might circumvent the computer virus. When you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by a trojan or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the best thing to do is to switch over to an alternate internet browser such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari to download your chosen security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Create a portable USB antivirus for eliminating viruses

Another technique is to download and transfer an antivirus application from a clean computer to run a scan on the infected computer. Follow these steps to run the anti-malware on the affected computer. 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC. 2) Connect the flash drive to a USB slot on the clean computer. 3) Double click on the exe file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose the USB stick as the location for saving the file. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the flash drive to the infected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

Protect your PC from Malware With SafeBytes Security Suite

If you are looking to install an anti-malware program for your PC, there are lots of tools in the market to consider nonetheless, you just cannot trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is a paid or free program. A few of them are great but there are several scamware applications that pretend as authentic anti-malware programs waiting around to wreak havoc on your PC. You have to pick a company that develops industry-best anti-malware and it has earned a reputation as reliable. One of the highly recommended applications by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the safest program for Microsoft Windows. SafeBytes can be described as a highly effective, real-time antivirus application that is made to assist the average computer user in protecting their PC from malicious internet threats. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your computer against infections brought on by various kinds of malware and other internet threats, including spyware, adware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs).

There are many wonderful features you’ll get with this particular security product. Listed below are some of the features you will like in SafeBytes.

Active Protection: SafeBytes offers a completely hands-free active protection and is set to observe, block, and kill all computer threats at its very first encounter. It will check your PC for suspicious activity at all times and its unrivaled firewall shields your computer from illegal entry by the outside world. Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection which is made to catch and remove threats that are concealed deep inside your PC. Web Security: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Extremely Speed Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is among the fastest and most efficient in the industry. It's targeted scanning significantly increases the catch rate for viruses which is embedded in various computer files. Lightweight: SafeBytes is really lightweight software. It consumes an extremely small amount of processing power as it runs in the background which means you will not observe any computer performance difficulties. 24/7 Support: For any technical concerns or product assistance, you may get 24/7 expert assistance via chat and email. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware offers outstanding protection combined with an acceptable low system resources usage with both great malware detection and prevention. You now may realize that this particular tool does more than just scan and remove threats from your computer. You will get the best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes AntiMalware subscription, there’s no question about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to do the removal of ChatZum manually rather than using an automated software tool, you can follow these simple steps: Navigate to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add/Remove Programs” and there, choose the offending application to remove. In case of suspicious versions of web browser plug-ins, you can easily get rid of it through your web browser’s extension manager. You might also want to reset your home page and search providers, as well as delete browsing history, temporary files, and cookies. If you choose to manually remove the system files and Windows registry entries, use the following list to make sure you know exactly what files to remove before undertaking any actions. Please note that only advanced users should try to manually edit the system files mainly because removing any single vital registry entry results in a serious problem or even a PC crash. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its removal. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is recommended.
Files: Search And Delete: tbcore3.dll arrow_refresh.png basis.xml chatzum.dll info.txt inst.tmp loaderie.js suggestion_plugin.dll TbCommonUtils.dll tbcore3.dll tbhelper.dll TbHelper2.exe uninstall.exe uninstaller.exe update.exe Folders: C:\Program Files\ChatZum Toolbar\ C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\gb5e8gtn.default\extensions\staged\ADFA33FD-16F5-4355-8504-DF4D664CFE83 Registry: Key HKLM\SOFTWARE\ChatZum Toolbar Key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\ChatZum Toolbar
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Logitech G Cloud gaming handheld

Logitech announced the Logitech G CLOUD gaming handheld, somewhat of a STEAM Deck competitor. Somewhat, because the reason is that not like Deck this device is not packing huge power in order to run locally PC games, instead it is made with one goal in mind to connect to Cloud gaming and let you play games in that way.

Logitech G cloud gaming handheld

The device is packed with a 7-inch display featuring 1080p resolution in a 16:9 ratio with a refresh rate of 60Hz, an analog thumbstick, a D-pad, 4 action buttons, and triggers. Inside the device beats Snapdragon 720G (CPU used in most Android phones), 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM & 64GB of internal storage. As seen hardware is way less impressive than one that is packed inside the STEAM deck but as stated this handheld is not meant to run natively PC games so this hardware will suffice for its purpose.

Logitech has partnered with both Nvidia and Microsoft to add GeForce now and Xbox Cloud Gaming access to its device. If you have an account on either one of these services you can fully use them on the Logitech G Cloud gaming handheld. You can also play some Android games via the Google play store but the main goal is Cloud gaming.

The price of 350$ USD is not very impressive since STEAM Deck which is a way more capable device is running for 400$ USD, for the difference of only 50$ USD Deck has an advantage, and the price itself is a hard point for selling and if we place into this mix som retro handhelds that go as low as 100$ USD Logitech is in an awkward position. Note that Nintendo Switch is 300$ USD.

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Fix Minecraft Won’t Launch in Windows 10
Minecraft has taken the world by the storm, it was an indie project game and it went mainstream. Dream of every game developer I guess. The dream of every gamer on the other hand is to double click on the game and to play it and not to deal with various issues, especially if they are launch issues. Luckily for all of you gamers, here at errortools we game as well and we are happy to bring you a solution on how to fix Minecraft won't launch issue. So sit back, relax and keep on reading, and hopefully enough you will be gaming again in no time. Follow the guide presented step by step, point by point how it is presented for the quickest way to get back in Minecraft. This guide also presumes that your hardware configurations meet at least the minimum system requirements for running Minecraft.
  1. Disable antivirus and firewall

    90% of the time this is the issue why Minecraft is not working, your antivirus or firewall has detected it as a false positive, and access to system internet, etc has been cut. Try disabling it and if everything is working fine add it to the antivirus or the firewall exception list.
  2. Run Minecraft as admin

    Minecraft will sometimes refuse to run if it does not has administrator privileges. To make sure this is the case locate the Minecraft executable, right-click on it and choose properties. Go to the compatibility tab and check Run as Administrator box.
  3. End Minecraft process

    It came to knowledge that even if Minecraft is not running it can have its processes active in the background. Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to open task manager Locate if Minecraft has a process running If you find the Minecraft process right-click on it and choose End Task
  4. Run Minecraft in compatibility mode

    If Minecraft still refuses to start try running it in compatibility mode in the previous Windows version Locate Minecraft executable file in its install location Right-click on it and choose properties In the properties, windows go to the compatibility tab Check run this program in compatibility mode for: Select previous version of the operating system, try Windows 8 or Windows 7
  5. Update graphic card driver

    The best bet is to go to your GPU manufacturer's website and download the latest version of the driver of your GPU.
  6. Remove mods, plugins, texture packs

    Mods, plugins, texture packs are all great but sometimes they can cause GPU overloads and other issues to see if this is the case try running Minecraft in Vannila mode without anything installed, just pure and clean Minecraft as it was just downloaded and installed.
  7. Reinstall Minecraft

    If everything else failed, reinstall Minecraft. There might be a chance that some DLL file was deleted or corrupted by mistake or that some crucial files are missing. Clean reinstallation will fix all of these issues.
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Blu-ray player does not recognize the disc
So, you just made some popcorns, dimmed light, relaxed in from of the TV, pressed play on your application and Blu-ray drive can not read your movie. Your movie night failed sadly, but there is hope and in this article, we are going to explore and offer you solutions on what to do when something like this happens so you do not miss another movie night and some hard-earned relaxation. Please note that in this article we are assuming that you are using a Blu-ray player on your PC, so some of the solutions presented are meant only for this case. So the first thing that you are supposed to do is to check the disc itself. You can turn the disc around and visually check the disc for fingerprints and scratches which can be fatal for disc playing, alternatively, you can try to play the same disc on another device and if it fails there also it is not the disc, it is your drive. So if it is no issue with the disc let's see that seems to be a problem with the drive. The common thing that could stop disc reading are cables, check all connections and cables in the back of your device to be sure that everything is plugged in correctly and nicely. After checking cables if the issue persists lens cleaning is the next step. Over time lens from the Blu-ray, the device becomes dirty and dust accumulates on it, there are special cleaning discs on market made especially for this purpose, to clean the dirty lens of optical devices. If you have one put it in and clean your lens. After lens cleaning with a specialty disc, a good idea would be to use compressed air in a can to reduce the dust inside so no excess dust will accumulate quickly again on the lens itself.

So the device is cleaned and checked and still no disc playing?

Update firmware first. In order to accomplish this visit your device manufacturer's website and follow instructions there on how to upgrade firmware. If this did not helped also update or reinstall device drivers. Go to device manager and update drivers for your device by right-clicking on it and choosing update driver. If none of the things helped, go to command prompt as administrator and type in SFC /scannow, leave the process to finish, and reboot.
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Fix 0x80071AC3, Volume is dirty error message
If you are trying to copy a folder or a file but encountered an error that says, “An unexpected error is keeping you from copying the folder. If you continue to receive this error, you can use the error code to search for help with this problem”, read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix this error. This kind of error is a CHKDSK error. It is the “Volume is dirty” error message with error code 0x80071AC3 which indicates that the CHKDSK operation on your computer did not go through due to some corrupted sector of your hard drive, data corruption, corrupted system files, malware infection, as well as improper installation of an application that left some residual folders and files and many more. To fix the Error 0x80071AC3, here are some potential fixes you can check out to resolve it:

Option 1 – Run the Check Disk utility

You can also run the Check Disk utility to fix the error when you connect your USB or external device.
  • In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk /r /f <PARTITION LETTER>
  • The command you entered will start to check for errors and fix them automatically. Else, it will throw an error message saying, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like the schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”.
  • Tap the Y key to schedule Disk Check the next time your computer restarts.

Option 2 – Try to check if a particular volume is dirty and exclude it

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to check if the particular volume is dirty and exclude it. To do so, follow these steps:
  • In the Start Search, type “command prompt” in the field and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results, and then select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, execute this command: fsutil dirty query <PARTITION LETTER>
  • After that, you will see either of the following results of the command you just executed:
    • “Volume <PARTITION LETTER> is dirty”
    • “Volume <PARTITION LETTER> is not dirty”
  • If you see the “Volume <PARTITION LETTER> is dirty” message, then you can just skip checking the drive for errors by executing this command: CHKNTFS /X <PARTITION LETTER>

Option 3 – Try to format the destination drive

If the first two options above didn’t work, then you might want to try formatting the drive can also help you resolve the error. To format it, follow these steps:
  • To get started formatting your drive, tap the Win + E keys and then go to the access page of the drive.
  • Next, right-click on the drive and select Format.
  • After that, uncheck the “Quick Format” option and then format your drive properly.
  • Now once the formatting process is finished, unplug the drive and plug it back in afterward.
  • Check if the error is already fixed. If the drive is not initialized, tap the Win + R keys and hit Enter.
  • After opening the Run dialog box, type “diskmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Disk Management.
  • From there, right-click on the drive volume and select initialize disk.
  • Next, select the correct partition type and proceed.
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How to use Control Panel in Windows 11
Windows 11 has brought us a new and revamped settings application that will cover most personalization and overall settings for your operating system. But as much as the new settings app is tweaked and modified there are still some things that can be modified only inside Control Panel. windows 11 control panelSince the Control Panel icon itself is somewhat not right away once clicked on the start button we are presenting you a couple of ways to open it so you can change each detail you want.

Via Start menu

The most straightforward and easiest way to reach and open the control panel is via the Start menu. In order to do it just click on the Start menu and type in the control panel. Then click on Control Panel Icon in the results.

Pin Control panel icon to the taskbar

In order to actually pin the control panel to Taskbar, you will need to open it first. Use the previous simple and fast steps in order to quickly open it then in the taskbar right-click on its icon. Choose Pin to Taskbar and close control panel. Now you can open the control panel quickly just by clicking it on its icon in the Taskbar.

Add Desktop icon

If you liked the idea to have an icon that you can click in order to fast open the control panel but you are not very fond of the icon being located in your Taskbar then let's place it on Desktop instead. In order to place a special control panel icon on the desktop, we will use Windows setting app. Open settings app with ⊞ WINDOWS + I and go to Personalization tab. Inside the personalization tab, go to Themes and click on Desktop Icon Settings. Check the box beside Control Panel and click on OK. The Control Panel icon will appear now on your Desktop and you can double click on it to launch it.

Run Control Panel from the Run dialog box

Same as in the previous version of Windows you can also open the Control Panel via Windows built-in run menu. This is mostly the preferred way to gain access to it by system administrators. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog. Inside dialog type in control and press ENTER. Control Panel will open right away.
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Step by Step Guide for Removing MyFunCardsToolbar

MyFunCards Toolbar is a browser hijacking extension for Google Chrome made by Mindspark Interactive. This extension installs a toolbar for your browser, changes your default search engine, and lowers the general performance of your browser. This extension has access to your personal information, injects your search results with potentially dangerous ads, and possibly breaks some of the browser functions. Since this extension injects its code into too many files and has access to all your browser details, upon removing it you will lose all your browser settings, themes, and login information. MyFunCards is considered a potentially unwanted application, and as a result, is flagged for optional removal by many anti-malware programs.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is amongst the web’s constant problems that target internet browsers. It is a type of malware program that alters your web browser’s settings so that you are redirected to internet sites or pages that you had no intention of checking out. There are many reasons why you may have a browser hijack; however commercial, marketing, and advertising are the main reasons for their creation. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and injects advertisements on the browser that assists its developer to generate revenue. Even though it may seem naive, these tools were created by vicious people who always look to take advantage of you, so that they can easily earn money from your naivety and distraction. They not only mess up your browsers, but browser hijackers can also modify the computer registry to make your PC susceptible to various other types of attacks.

Key symptoms that an internet browser has been hijacked

When your web browser is hijacked, the following might happen: 1. the home page of the browser is changed all of a sudden 2. your internet browser is constantly being redirected to adult sites 3. the default search engine has been changed and the web browser security settings have been cut down without your knowledge 4. unwanted new toolbars are added to your browser 5. your browser will display endless pop-up ads 6. your internet browser has become unstable or starts running slowly 7. You cannot access certain websites, in particular anti-malware sites.

How browser hijacker finds its way onto your computer system

A browser hijacker could be installed on your PC if you visit an infected site, click an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing website. They could also be deployed via the installation of a web browser toolbar, add-on, or extension. A browser hijacker can be installed as a part of freeware, demoware, shareware, and fake programs. Common examples of browser hijackers include Conduit, CoolWebSearch, Coupon Server, OneWebSearch, RocketTab, Snap.do, Delta Search, and Searchult.com. Browser hijacking can cause severe privacy issues and even identity theft, disrupt your web browsing experience by taking control of outgoing traffic, significantly slows down your personal computer by depleting lots of resources and result in system instability as well.

Browser hijacker removal methods

Certain hijackers can be removed by just uninstalling the corresponding freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows control panel. Having said that, the majority of hijackers are quite tenacious and require specialized applications to eradicate them. Moreover, browser hijackers can modify the Computer registry therefore it can be quite hard to repair manually, especially when you’re not a tech-savvy individual.

Malware Blocking Internet And All Antivirus Software? Do This!

All malware is inherently dangerous, but certain kinds of malicious software do more damage to your computer than others. Some malware goes to great lengths to prevent you from installing anything on your computer system, especially anti-virus software programs. If you’re reading this article, you may have got affected by malware that prevents you from downloading a security program such as Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. There are a few options you can try to get around with this particular obstacle.

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

If any malware is set to load immediately when Windows starts, stepping into Safe Mode could block the attempt. Just bare minimum required applications and services are loaded when you start your personal computer in Safe Mode. You will have to do the following to eliminate malware in Safe mode. 1) After switching on the computer, press the F8 key before the Windows splash screen begins to load. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and hit ENTER. 3) As soon as this mode loads, you will have an internet connection. Now, make use of your browser normally and go to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) As soon as the software is installed, allow the scan run to eliminate viruses and other threats automatically.

Use an alternate web browser to download security application

Malicious program code might exploit vulnerabilities on a specific web browser and block access to all antivirus software websites. If you are not able to download the anti-malware application using Internet Explorer, it means malware could be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch over to a different web browser like Firefox or Chrome to download Safebytes software.

Make a bootable USB antivirus drive

Another option is to create a portable antivirus program on your USB stick. Adopt these measures to employ a USB flash drive to clean your corrupted computer system. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer system. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with an .exe file format. 4) Select the USB flash drive as the location for saving the software file. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. 5) Now, plug the USB drive into the corrupted system. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the thumb drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and get rid of all kinds of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Lightweight Malware Protection for Windows Computer

Nowadays, anti-malware software can protect your computer from various forms of online threats. But exactly how to select the best one among numerous malware protection application that is available in the market? You may be aware, there are lots of anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. Some of them are great and some are scamware applications that pretend as authentic anti-malware software waiting around to wreak havoc on your computer. While looking for an anti-malware program, pick one which gives dependable, efficient, and total protection against all known computer viruses and malware. One of the strongly recommended software is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. SafeBytes has a really good history of excellent service, and customers are happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection application created to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and removing harmful threats from their PC. Using its outstanding protection system, this utility will easily detect and remove most of the security threats, which include viruses, adware, browser hijackers, PUPs, trojans, worms, and ransomware. SafeBytes has great features when compared with various other anti-malware programs. Below are a few of the best ones: Active Protection: SafeBytes provides a completely hands-free live protection that is set to monitor, prevent and destroy all computer threats at its very first encounter. They are very effective in screening and eliminating different threats because they’re continuously revised with new updates and alerts. Anti-Malware Protection: With its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can identify and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your PC effectively. SuperSpeed Scanning: This application has one of the fastest and most effective virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are extremely accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Safe Web Browsing: Safebytes allots all websites with a unique safety ranking that helps you to have an idea of whether the website you’re about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Lightweight: SafeBytes gives you total protection from internet threats at a fraction of the CPU load because of its advanced detection engine and algorithms. 24/7 Premium Support: Skilled technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will quickly resolve any technical issues you might be encountering with your security software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

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

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

Files: C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DLL C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DL_ C:Program Files C:Program FilesFunWebProducts C:PROGRA~1FUNWEB~1Installr.binF3EZSETP.DL_ C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DLL Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareFunWebProductsInstaller HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoft HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoft HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExt HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start.1 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start.1CLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.StartCLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.StartCurVer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProgID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBVersionIndependentProgID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProgrammable HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBInprocServer32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBControl HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBMiscStatus HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBMiscStatus HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftOLEAUT HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0FLAGS HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DLL C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DL_ C:Program Files C:Program FilesFunWebProducts C:PROGRA~1FUNWEB~1Installr.binF3EZSETP.DL_ C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DLL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareFunWebProductsInstaller HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoft HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoft HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExt HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start.1 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start.1CLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.StartCLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.StartCurVer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProgID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBVersionIndependentProgID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProgrammable HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBInprocServer32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBControl HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBMiscStatus HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBMiscStatus HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftOLEAUT HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0FLAGS HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0%#MANIFEST#% HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0%#MANIFEST#%win32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0HELPDIR HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKLMSOFTWAREMyFunCards_5m HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.SkinLauncher HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.SettingsPlugin HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.ScriptButton HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.Radio HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.PseudoTransparentPlugin HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.MultipleButton HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.HTMLPanel HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.HTMLMenu HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.FeedManager HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.DynamicBarButton HKLMSOFTWAREClassesCLSID4bdd2be-51e9-4031-a7a7-b882b3abea12 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DLL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareFunWebProductsInstaller HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoft HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoft HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExt HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start.1 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start.1CLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.StartCLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.StartCurVer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProgID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBVersionIndependentProgID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProgrammable HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBInprocServer32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBControl HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBMiscStatus HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBMiscStatus HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftOLEAUT HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0FLAGS HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0%#MANIFEST#% HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0%#MANIFEST#%win32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0HELPDIR HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKLMSOFTWAREMyFunCards_5m HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.SkinLauncher HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.SettingsPlugin HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.ScriptButton HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.Radio HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.PseudoTransparentPlugin HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.MultipleButton HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.HTMLPanel HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.HTMLMenu HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.FeedManager HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.DynamicBarButton HKLMSOFTWAREClassesCLSID4bdd2be-51e9-4031-a7a7-b882b3abea12win32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0HELPDIR HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D1-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProxyStubClsid32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface1D4DB7D3-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKLMSOFTWAREMyFunCards_5m HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.SkinLauncher HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.SettingsPlugin HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.ScriptButton HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.Radio HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.PseudoTransparentPlugin HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.MultipleButton HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.HTMLPanel HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.HTMLMenu HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.FeedManager HKLMSOFTWAREClassesMyFunCards_5m.DynamicBarButton HKLMSOFTWAREClassesCLSID4bdd2be-51e9-4031-a7a7-b882b3abea12
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Fix DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE error
There are times when you suddenly encounter a Blue Screen error like DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE error when resuming from Sleep or right after you shut down or restart as well as switch from Hibernate mode. This kind of Blue Screen error is due to some issue with the driver state. Moreover, the bug check “0x0000009F” in the error also indicates that a driver is in an inconsistent or invalid power state. The DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE Blue Screen error usually occurs during events that involve power state transitions like shutting down, moving in or out of standby mode, or hibernate mode. To resolve this error, you can check out the suggestions given below.

Option 1 – Update the Device drivers

The device driver installed in your computer might be incompatible with your operating system which is the reason why the DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE Blue Screen error occurs. To fix that, you have to update your device drivers.
  • Reboot your computer into Safe Mode with networking support.
  • Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  • After that, type “msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • After opening the Device Manager, update all the outdated Device drivers on your computer.
  • Next, right-click on all the driver entries that are appropriately labeled, and then click the Update driver option.
  • Now restart your PC and check if the BSOD error is fixed or not.

Option 2 – Uninstall any faulty device drivers

  • Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  • After that, type “msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • From there, look for any device driver which has a yellow exclamation mark which indicates that something is wrong with them.
  • And then right-click on each one of them and click on Uninstall.
  • Once you’re done uninstalling the faulty drivers, restart your computer and allow your computer to reinstall the drivers you just uninstalled.

Option 3 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like rtwlane.sys Blue Screen error. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
  • Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  • From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

Option 4 – Try to remove external hardware

If there is any external hardware plugged into your computer especially the new ones, you can try removing it and then check if the Blue Screen error persists. If the problem gets solved, you might want to update the driver of that particular hardware. On the other hand, if you’re still getting the error, then proceed to the next given options below.

Option 5 – Try resetting Windows 10

To fix this BSOD error, you can try resetting Windows 10. Doing so won’t get rid of any file in your system – instead of erasing all your media files and documents, this reset option resets all the system settings and files.

Option 6 – Try running the System File Checker Scan

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE Blue Screen error. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
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Why You Need Antivirus Software & How to Select the Right One

Anxiety from all these digital threats lurking everywhere? An antivirus program can help put your mind at ease.

What can a virus do to your device?

A virus is malicious software that can affect pretty much any device and does so in a variety of ways. Be it your computer, your phone or your smart lightbulb - as long as there’s access to the internet, malware can get to it.

How exactly does this kind of attack manifest itself? Well, there’s a wide variety of effects ranging from mild to severe. Among other things, they depend on which type of malware attacks your device - a virus, spyware, ransomware, adware or something else.

These are some of the things you can expect to happen:

  • Slow performance
  • System crashes
  • Theft of data and sensitive information
  • Connectivity issues
  • Constant browser redirects
  • Strange messages sent to your contacts 
  • Interference with files

It really can be the stuff of nightmares. So, if you want to sleep peacefully knowing that your devices are completely safe, you should definitely consider getting an antivirus.

P.S. don’t let its name fool you - an antivirus does indeed protect your devices against more than just viruses.

What is antivirus software exactly?

Antivirus software is designed to help you battle and ward off malware. Basically, it scans your device to detect any suspicious activity and offers tools to get rid of the culprit. 

At first, antiviruses were developed to fight against viruses only, but nowadays they cover a lot more ground. Here are some of the biggest benefits of getting yourself a powerful defender.

Advantages of antivirus software

1. It fights those pesky ads

Look, constant ads that pop up everywhere aren’t the absolute worst thing that can happen on your computer. If anything, they are annoying, like when you’re trying to sleep but that one fly in your room just won’t stop buzzing.

Now, there’s a free, well-established solution for that - installing an ad blocker. And we’re about a hundred and ten percent sure you’ve already done that on each and every browser you use.

However, “if I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist” isn’t the most ideal approach for your online safety. Ad blockers can’t block everything and they won’t protect you from potential adware. An antivirus on the other hand offers that layer of protection against malware snuck into pop-ups and spammy websites.

2. It protects you from hackers

Hackers don’t target government institutions only. They’ll target regular people too if they have something to gain.

Antivirus can protect you from hackers
Credit: Clint Patteron (Unsplash)

There are different types of hacking, such as phishing e-mails, transmission of malicious programs, credential reuse, denial of service and more. In any case, they take control of your device and hijack your data.

The good thing is that, as threats evolve, antiviruses evolve too and there are tons of quality programs on the market that can keep you secure for an affordable price.

3. It keeps your files and data safe

When malware enters your device, it can target pretty much any file and get access to any and all data.

Installing an antivirus program will make sure that every single file, new or old, is monitored at all times, warning you against threats immediately. That way, you can make sure to react before your other files become infected and data is lost or stolen.

Another great thing for data protection is that the best antivirus software normally comes with a password manager, so no one can use malware to steal your passwords.

4. It blocks all kinds of malware

As we already stated, malicious attacks can be performed in many ways and malware comes in in different shapes an sizes, such as:

  • Trojan horse
  • Spyware
  • Ransomware
  • Adware
  • Rootkit
  • RAT (remote access Trojan)
  • Keyloggers
  • Worms
  • Botnets
Illustration of a computer worm
Credit: Growtika (Unsplash)

Nowadays, antivirus software is designed to fight against all of these types. That’s why more often than not we hear the term 'antivirus' used interchangeably with 'anti-malware,' like in this article.

5. It keeps your children protected

You can’t keep your eyes on your kid every second of the day and you can’t protect them from everything. But at least you can limit their exposure to the threats they can encounter at every corner of the digital world.

An antivirus program will block harmful or suspicious websites and ads, which is great both for you and your children. To take it a step further, though, many such programs come with special parental controls and offer monitoring as well. It’s a great solution for keeping your kids safe online without sounding like the irritating, overbearing, controlling parent who “just doesn’t get it!”

How to pick one

There are definitely lots of different antivirus programs out there, both free and paid. We recommend you look for a paid option, since free ones are unfortunately a lot more susceptible to being compromised through malicious attacks.

Now, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the right software. If you use your PC for basic things then a basic antivirus will suffice. However, the more complex your use and the more sensitive the data you deal with, the stronger it needs to be.

It’s also crucial that you take into account the features it includes. As we already mentioned, some programs have additional security options. For example, depending on the package you select, Bitdefender provides:

  • Webcam and mic monitoring
  • Parental control
  • Firewall
  • VPN
  • Password management
  • Identity theft protection

Some are included in plans and some are separate products, so make sure to check out all the offers.

And don’t worry if you have multiple PCs or you’re looking for protection for your smartphone or tablet as well; Bitdefender has suitable solutions for your needs. Of course, you can also just pick their classic antivirus software if you’re not in need of advanced protection.

Another important point is how regularly the software is updated and enhanced. The more frequent the updates the better, as bugs can make the program more vulnerable. Other things we advise you consider are user-friendliness, impact on performance, reputation (user reviews especially) and, of course, price.

The bottom line

Fact is: anyone can be a malware victim. Don’t let it be you.

You can’t put a price on peace and security, so don’t be reluctant to pay for yours - especially since a lot of options out there are extremely affordable. Is $159.00 a year really too much to pay for cross-platform protection for up to 10 devices? We don’t think so.

Explore your options and protect your files and data before it’s too late.

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Fix Windows Update Install Error 0x80070020
Getting a few errors here and there when updating your Windows 10 computer is not uncommon. Some of these errors won’t allow the Windows Update service to initiate while the other ones will halt the process while it’s running. So in this post, we’ll show you what you can do to fix the Windows Update error 0x80070020. The Windows Update error 0x80070020 is most likely caused by some programs installed in the system which interferes with the Windows Update process. It might be an antivirus program, an incompatible program, a potentially unwanted program, or worse, malware. In addition, corrupted or missing files might also be the culprit. Whichever the cause may be, here are some suggestions you need to check out to resolve the problem.

Option 1 – Try to reset the Windows Update components manually

  • To manually reset the Windows Update components, first, you need to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Windows Update, and the Cryptographic Services. To do so, run the following command in Command Prompt and make sure to press Enter after you enter each one of them:
    • net stop bits
    • net stop wuauserv
    • net stop cryptsvc
  • Next, delete the “qmgr*.dat” file in order to reset the Windows Update components. To do delete this file, run the following command in Command Prompt:
    • Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%Application DataMicrosoftNetworkDownloaderqmgr*.dat
  • Now you have to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders by entering the following command in Command Prompt:
    • Ren %systemroot%SoftwareDistributionSoftwareDistribution.bak
    • Ren %systemroot%system32catroot2catroot2.bak
  • Reset BITS and Windows Update service by entering the following commands in Command Prompt:
    • sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
    • sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
  • Now enter the following command:
  • cd /d %windir%system32
  • RE-register BITS and other Windows Update related files by typing each one of the following commands:
    • regsvr32.exe atl.dll
    • regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll
    • regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll
    • regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll
    • regsvr32.exe browseui.dll
    • regsvr32.exe jscript.dll
    • regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll
    • regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll
    • regsvr32.exe msxml.dll
    • regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll
    • regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll
    • regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll
    • regsvr32.exe softpub.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll
    • regsvr32.exe dssenh.dll
    • regsvr32.exe rsaenh.dll
    • regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll
    • regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll
    • regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll
    • regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll
    • regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll
    • regsvr32.exe ole32.dll
    • regsvr32.exe shell32.dll
    • regsvr32.exe initpki.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wups.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wups2.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll
    • regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll
    • regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll
    • regsvr32.exe muweb.dll
    • regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll
  • Now type each one of those commands below.
    • net start bits
    • net start wuauserv
    • net start cryptsvc

Option 2 – Install the updates in a Clean Boot State

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

Option 3 – Clear the contents of both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders

  • Open the WinX Menu.
  • From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
  • Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauserv net stop bits
  • After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
  • 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.
  • Once all the contents in the Software Distribution folder are deleted, restart your PC and then go back to Command Prompt and input the following commands again.
net start wuauserv net start bits
 Since the folder has already been flushed, it will be populated afresh the instant your restart your computer and open Windows Update.

Option 4 – Try to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update error 0x80070020. 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 – Try restarting the Windows Update Services

  • Open the Services Manager.
From there, make sure that you set the following services and Startup types:
  • Background Intelligent Transfer Service: Manual
  • Cryptographic Service: Automatic
  • Windows Update Service: Manual (Triggered)
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