Razer Iskur gaming chair for healthy gaming

HDMI which stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface is an audio/video interface that can be used to interconnect various multimedia devices. One of the common use for HDMI is when a CPU is connected to a monitor and a projector. Aside from that, it can also be used in connecting Blu-ray players and laptops to televisions as well as monitors. One of the main advantages of using HDMI is that it can transmit both audio and video at high qualities such as 4K using only a single connection. However, you may also experience some issues in using it every now and then and one of them is when you find that after connecting the devices using the HDMI port, the screen appears to be black and there is no audio output. In such cases, there are a variety of hardware malfunctions that could be causing the problem with the HDMI connectivity. Although there a lot of potential causes, there are also potential fixes you can try to fix the problem. Before you troubleshoot the HDMI Port problem, you might want to perform System Restore first as it might help you in fixing the problem. It could be that you’ve made some changes in some of the settings in your computer that triggered the problem. Thus, you can try run System Restore to undo them, refer to these steps:

• First, press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the Stop error is fixed or not.

If the problem still persists after System Restore, then follow the given options below to further troubleshoot the problem.

Option 1 – Try to physically check the hardware of your computer

The first thing you can do is to check the physical status of the hardware in your computer. You can clean the dust off the hardware components like the Network Card or Graphics Card of the computer. You might want to use a small blower or you could also use a soft cloth and run the components gently. Make sure that you don’t damage any parts with moisture or cause harm to any circuits while you carry out this task.

Option 2 – Run the Video Playback troubleshooter

You might also want to run the Video Playback troubleshooter. To do so, refer to these steps:

• First, open the Windows settings app.
• Then navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• From there, scroll down until you see the Video Playback section and click on it.
• After that, you’ll see the Run the troubleshooter button, click on it to run the Video Playback troubleshooter, and follow the next on-screen instructions.

On other hand, you can also run the Hardware and Device troubleshooter if the Video Playback troubleshooter wasn’t able to fix the problem. You can run it from the same page that you run the Video Playback troubleshooter.

Option 3 – Try to rollback, update, or disable the Graphics card drivers

To fix the problem with the HDMI port, you can either roll back, update or disable them depending on your preference in order to resolve the problem.

• First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
• After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
• After that, right-click on each entry under the Display Adapters. Note that the rollback option is only available if the update was recent. So if it isn’t there, just click on the Update Driver option.
• From there, Windows will automatically check for problems and update the Graphics card drivers.
• Now restart your computer.
• After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.

Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it.

Option 4 – Try to reset the Monitor

You could also try resetting the monitor or television using its hardware keys and see if it can resolve the problem. You can just refer to your TV or monitor’s guide for more information on how to reset them.

Option 5 – Try some miscellaneous fixes

Apart from the four given options above, you can also check out some miscellaneous fixes to fix the HDMI connectivity issue and here they are:

• You can try to plug out the HDMI cord/cable from both source and destination and then plug it back in after a couple of minutes.
• You can also check if the HDMI cable you are using is still in working condition.
• You can also try to change the source and the destination of the video and see if either one of them is in a non-workable state.
• Try checking if your settings are how they should be as intended in the “Project my screen” option by tapping the Win + P key combination on your keyboard.

If you are visiting a single folder many times during the day it might be beneficial to place its shortcut on the desktop for easy access. But did you know that you can also set a keyboard shortcut for that same folder shortcut making it available simply by clicking desired key combination? In order to make a keyboard shortcut for the desired folder know that it is available only when you have a shortcut of the desired folder, it cannot be done on the folder itself, only on its shortcut. Now folder shortcut does not need to reside on desktop, you can place it anywhere you like, but it must be a shortcut. So the first step is of course to make a shortcut of the folder that you wish to have access via keyboard key combination and place it where you wish. Once you have done this step, right-click on it and choose properties. Inside properties at the top click on the Shortcut tab and then inside Shortcut Key, press the key combination that you wish to associate with this folder. Confirm with OK and start using fast folder access with your desired key combination.

Afraid of the growing threats online? As you should be. But we’re here to show you what kinds of malware are out there and what you can do to keep them at bay.

Malware definition

Malware comes from the term malicious software. It’s software designed to attack and exploit devices and networks to the advantage of the hacker who made it.

Malware can be transmitted in different ways. Most commonly this happens via infected USB drives, downloadable files or malicious websites. Depending on the type and ultimate goal, the consequences of a malware attack can range from negligible to catastrophic.

What kinds of malware are there?

1. Virus

A virus is typically spread via infected files, websites or links. It’s one of the oldest malware types and one of the most difficult to get rid of. That’s because, once activated, it replicates itself - hence the name. 

It can perform different kinds of attacks, depending on what the creator wants to achieve. The main characteristic of a virus is that it really doesn’t show itself until you activate the host. So that’s a scary thought for sure.

2. Adware

Sometimes an ad blocker isn’t enough to fight off unwanted ads. And some of them can, unfortunately, be malicious. They may redirect you to infected sites or prompt downloads of risky files. Even just opening a malicious site can lead to data theft.

So, definitely be careful when clicking around. Even if an ad seems completely legitimate, you can never be too sure.

3. Ransomware

Through ransomware, cybercriminals gain access to a user’s data and use it to extort them for money. Basically, the user is threatened with data deletion or even exposure if a ransom isn’t paid by a specific deadline.

This is a particularly nerve-wracking type of malware. If it targets an individual, it preys upon their sense of anxiety, fear, guilt and even shame. If it targets a business (which is a lot more common), it preys upon not only that business’s profit but also every single one of their customers and their data.

4. Trojans

This type of malware disguises itself very well as a legitimate-looking program. Once you download it, hackers can get full access and control of your device, data and network. They can even be hidden in games, apps and attachments. They cannot self-replicate, though, so we guess that’s… good news?

5. Worms

Worms can replicate, just like viruses, but you don’t need to actually activate the infected program for them to get going. They can be used for various purposes, ranging from data deletion to file encryption to support a ransomware attack.

6. Spyware

Spyware refers to malicious software that stays hidden on your computer and monitors your activity. The best-known type is keyloggers. This can be used to steal sensitive data like passwords and banking information.

7. Rootkits

Rootkits are among the most dangerous types of malware. They allow administrative access and full control of a device, which lets hackers continue hijacking all your data and monitoring your activity without your knowledge.

8. Botnets

Botnets are networks made up of bots - computers that cybercriminals have infected with malicious software. Bots and botnets give hackers remote access to users’ devices and allow them to spy on your camera, take screenshots, memorize passwords and launch Distributed Denial of Service attacks. This one truly makes your hair stand on end.

What can you do about it?

You know the old adage - better safe than sorry. And trust us, malware attacks are such a pain in the you-know-what that you really don’t want to be sorry.

Luckily, there are simple solutions that can shield you from most digital threats these days. What you want to be looking at is a solid antivirus program. Well, technically, you need an antimalware program, but since the latter evolved from the former, we still mostly refer to them as antivirus software.
The majority of antimalware programs these days don’t just shield you from potential risks online, but include additional features as well. For example, some Bitdefender antivirus packages also include parental control and a VPN. And Bitdefender is not just for PCs either - it offers protection for your beloved iPhone or Android as well. You can throw in a password manager in there too, for an additional layer of security.

If you aren’t too concerned about all these various threats or feel like you don’t need extra security, you can at least take a step to protect your information from being exposed to lurking cybercriminals as you’re browsing. This can be done through a good VPN like Surfshark, which hides your identity in the digital space and prevents your data from being tracked.

Choosing the right protective software is especially important if you have children with access to the Internet, since they’re unfortunately even more vulnerable to malicious attacks. If you aren’t sure what the right kind of antimalware program is right for you, you can reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help keep your entire household or office digitally secure.

The bottom line

The truth is that there’s no way to be 100% protected in the online world. Hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to infiltrate our devices. But malware-battling software evolves along with them and there’s still plenty you can do to keep risks away. Stay safe!

Error Code 0x8024a000 – What is it?

The error code 0x8024a000 is related to Windows Update. You might see this error when you try to update Windows from the Microsoft site to use the latest and new features and technologies. A connection interruption between your computer and the Windows Update server may be the cause of this error. Operating system overload or corrupt registry may also cause this error. Check your modem, router, cable, etc. to be sure that these components are working well. Common symptoms

• You are trying to update Windows and its components such as system driver. The process suddenly stops and shows the error code 0x8024a000.
• Your PC frequently crashes with Error 0x8024A000 when running the same program.
• Windows runs sluggishly and responds slowly to mouse or keyboard input.
• You cannot connect to the Windows update server and the update will not start.
• You may also receive the error message saying that some files could not be updated.

Solution

Error Causes

There may be various causes for this error. Some of which are:

• No Internet connection
• Windows operating system is overloaded with invalid system references
• Corrupt download or incomplete installation of Windows Update software.
• Faulty cable, router or modem
• Windows update services are missing
• The system is infected with malicious programs
• Corrupted or deleted system registry files. PC registry errors occur over time because of constant writing, editing, moving, and deleting of information and files from your computer's registry time as programs are installed, modified, and removed.

Further Information and Manual Repair

We are going to discuss some easiest ways to fix up such issues and get your PC working so that you can install new updates.

Method 1:

1. Press the Windows button + W on your keyboard
2. In the search box type “troubleshooting”
3. In the troubleshooting box, select the View all tab
4. Run the troubleshooter for these services, and then try installing updates

Method 2:

Since most of the installation-related errors can be fixed by System File Checker System File Checker is a very efficient way to fix errors. Most of the installation-related errors can be fixed by a System File Checker. To use this tool follow instructions below: Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. If you are using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner, move the pointer down, and then click Search. OR On the keyboard, press the Windows + W key. A search box will appear. Type cmd in the search box.

1. On the command prompt, type sfc/scannow
2. This will scan the system files and fix any error
3. Reboot the computer and try to install updates

OR

In the command prompt type sfc/scannow.

This will scan the system files and fix any errors. Reboot the computer and try to install updates.

Method 3:

1. Press Windows + R
2. A run dialog box will appear
3. type services.msc and press OK
4. Then in Services window, look for Background Intelligent Transfer Service. Click on it.
5. If it is the Services issue, then it will stop the service. Click on Start in the window below, and then click Apply and OK.
6. Reboot your machine and retry installing updates.

Method 4:

1. Click Start or open search box
2. Type cmd
3. Right-click on cmd in start menu and select ‘Run as Administrator’
4. Type net stop wuauserv
5. Hit Enter
6. Type ren c:windowsSoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.old
7. Hit Enter
8. Type Exit
9. Hit Enter

Method 5:

Your PC is always accumulating junk files from normal web surfing and computer usage. If these junk files aren’t occasionally cleaned, it can cause Windows Update to respond slowly and display an error message 0x8024A000, possibly due to conflict with files or an overloaded hard drive. Cleaning up these temporary files will not only solve this problem, but it will also speed up PC performance. Follow the steps below to clean up this junk:

1. Click Start
2. Type "command" in the search box and DO NOT hit ENTER yet!
3. While holding CTRL-Shift on your keyboard, hit ENTER.
4. You will be prompted with a permission dialog box.
5. Click Yes.
6. A black box will open with a blinking cursor.
7. Type "cleanmgr" and hit ENTER.
8. Disk Cleanup will begin calculating how much occupied space you can get back.
9. The Disk Cleanup dialog box will show a series of checkboxes to select. In most cases, the "Temporary Files" category will occupy the most disk space.
10. Check the boxes of the categories you want to clean and click OK.

If you do not possess the technical expertise required to accomplish this yourself or do not feel comfortable doing so, download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

In every task carried out in the Windows 10 operating system, some of them don’t go smoothly and it could encounter a couple of errors along the way. One of these errors you could encounter is the Windows Update error code 0x8007000e. This particular error was reported to occur a lot when downloading and installing a Feature update via Windows Updates. And recently, it has been reported to occur a couple of times for the Windows 10 1903 May 2019 update. According to security experts, this error could be caused by a lack of memory or disk space as well as issues in the Windows Update mechanism. Whatever the cause is, troubleshooting this problem shouldn’t be hard as this post will give you some potential fixes you can check out. To fix this error, here are some options you need to consider:

Option 1 – Clear up temporary or junk files

The error could be caused by some temporary or junk files in your computer and so you need to clear them up to fix the problem. You can achieve that using the Storage Sense feature.

• Open Setting > System > Storage from the WinX Menu.
• From there, you will see a list of all the local and connected storage devices along with the details on the free space. Make sure that Storage Sense is on.
• Next, find a link that says “Free Up Space” and click it to open.
• After that, a screen which is the built-in program in Windows 10 will appear and will scan your computer for the following junk files so you can free up disk space:
  • Windows Upgrade Log Files
  • System created Windows Error Reporting Files
  • Thumbnails
  • Temporary Internet Files
  • Previous Windows Installation Files
  • Delivery Optimisation Files
  • DirectX Shader Cache
• Choose the files you want to get rid of and then click on the remove files option. Note that you’ll have an idea of the total size as you select any of the junk files listed above.
• Now go to the “Free Up Space Now” section and click the Clear Now button. This will get rid of all the temporary or junk files in your computer and should hopefully fix the Windows Update error 0x8007000e.

Option 2 – Reset the Windows Update components

If by any chance that the second option didn’t work, resetting the Windows Update components could also help you resolve the problem. How? Refer to the following steps:

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop cryptsvc
  • net stop bits
  • net stop msiserver

Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS and MSI Installer.

• After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
  • ren C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution/SoftwareDistribution.old
  • ren C:/Windows/System32/catroot2/Catroot2.old
• Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start cryptsvc
  • net start bits
  • net start msiserver
• Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.

Option 3 – Try configuring the Windows Update-related Services

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
• Next, execute the following commands. Note that you have to type and enter each the command one after the other.
  • SC config wuauserv start= auto
  • SC config bits start= auto
  • SC config cryptsvc start= auto
  • SC config trustedinstaller start= auto
• The commands you executed will make sure that the Windows Update-related services are available. Once it’s done, restart your computer and see if the Windows Update error is now fixed.

Option 4 – Try running the Windows Update troubleshooter

Windows 10 have various troubleshooters that can help you resolve many system issues. So if you’re dealing with Windows Update errors like Error 0x8007000e, you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter to resolve it. 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 to use the Media Creation tool

The Media Creation tool in Windows allows you to use the ISO installation file to make a bootable device that you can use to install Windows on your PC. Note that this is kind of different from the usual installation process as it could erase your computer’s current settings and data on the primary drive. Thus, before you proceed, you need to backup all your data into some removable drive and then use the Media Creation tool to make a bootable drive.

• After making the bootable drive, you need to plug it in your computer and then reboot.
• Next, tap the F10 or Esc key to open the boot options.
• Now set the boot priority of the removable drive the highest. Once the setup comes forth, follow the next onscreen instructions and install Windows without any problems.

If you encounter an error message saying, “The ordinal xxx could not be located in the dynamic link library C:/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft VS Code Insiderscode – insiders.exe“ and you see a reference of a missing DLL file, then this indicates that the software is trying to locate the related DLL file, however, it is missing, hence the error. The error mentioned “Ordinal” which refers to the order of a number mathematically, e.g. 1st, 2nd, etc. And in this error message, the ordinal is referring to an Xth file of an XX.DLL file which is missing which is why you’re getting this kind of error. When you get this particular error, it means that your computer is missing the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable program. As per the error message, XXX is a number that in turn is the Ordinal. There is also another common error related to Ordinal which says, “The ordinal 12404 could not be located in the dynamic link library mfc90u.dl”. The error message could be referring to any DLL in the message. And since all these DLL files are part of the package, the error changes quite a bit as the Visual Studio looks for that DLL file. To fix this error, here are some suggestions that might be of help.

Option 1 – Try installing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

As pointed out earlier, the error pops up when the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable program is missing on your computer. Thus, you need to download it from the official website of Microsoft. Once you’ve downloaded the Microsoft Visual C++ Feature Pack Redistributable Package, install it and then check if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to install OpenSSL

If you encounter the same error message but it points out that the LIBEAY32.DLL file is missing, then you have to install OpenSSL. In such a case, you will see the following error message:

“Ordinal not found. The Ordinal [Xxxx] could not be located in the Dynamic Link Library Libeay32.dll.”

 Make sure that when you install OpenSSL, you do it into the Windows system directory since the Libeay32.dll file is related to security.

Option 3 – Try to check Windows Updates

There are instances when Microsoft rolls out the framework and related updates via Windows Updates. It could be that an update related to DLL is still pending which is why you need to check Windows Updates. To do so, go to Settings > Update and Security and from there check if there is any pending update. If there is, you need to install that update and then restart your computer if needed.

In the last article, we have covered various advantages of Apple hardware over Windows PC, however, PC has their own strengths and advantages over MACs as well. Join us as we explore why would you choose Windows PC over MAC.

Hardware customization

If you like to customize and build your own hardware and customize your existing computer then MACs are out of the picture, on other hand, computers based on Windows operating system are much more flexible in terms of customization.

While Apple hardware is locked and only allows small changes to it, computers running on Windows are free and open to various upgrades and modifications so if you like to play with hardware Windows is your platform.

Gaming

There are games on MAC true but their numbers can not compare to games available for the Windows platform. On top of that, most latest and best gaming hardware is not even available on Apple platforms so if you plan to game in high resolutions and play the latest games there really is no option other than Windows.

Windows Platforms also has multiple emulators that you can use to play games from other older platforms and Microsoft since it owns Xbox has some great plans for both PC and Xbox gaming.

Software back compatibility

Since the introduction of the new MAC OS X, apple really lost a lot of application back compatibility, and a lot of old legacy software can not be run on modern Apple computers. Windows on the other hand have always tried and succeeded in keeping maximum compatibility with older and legacy software.

Also on the Windows platform, there is a lot of community support for old and legacy software so even if it is not officially supported it is backed up by the community.

Software variability

In terms of where can you find the most different software, you need to look no further than the Windows platform. How Windows itself has great backward compatibility and a lot of developers are using it to create new software thanks to Visual Studio and .NET Windows has cemented itself as a platform with the most available software.

The popularity of Windows as the home operating system and as a gaming platform has made it quite interesting in eyes of various developers and tons of small applications are made daily for it. Windows 11 has also brought native android support to it and that has just expanded its already impressive catalog of applications.

Freedom of choice

Overall Windows PC is most appealing for users that like to be able to choose everything, from hardware components to software they would like to use. No other platform will give you larger freedom of choice and better personalization options.

Windows 11 has some cool animations including fading effects which make working in it feels nice and futuristic but the cost of this is that there is a slight delay to certain actions performed. If you want the snap fast feature in Windows 11 and do not care about this eye candy there is an easy way to turn animations off inside it.

• First, open Windows Settings by pressing ⊞ Windows + I on your keyboard
• Alternatively, click on Start, search for Settings, and then click its icon.
• When Settings appears, look in the sidebar and select Accessibility.
• In Accessibility settings, click on Visual Effects.
• In Visual Effects, switch Animation Effects to Off.

That’s it, changes will be applied automatically, you can close settings and continue working inside Windows 11 without animations and fades. You can always switch animations back On via settings if you change your mind.

If you got an error message saying, The INF file you selected does not support this method of installation while trying to install a driver using the “Install” option in the right-click context menu, read on as this post will guide you in fixing the problem. The INF file mentioned in the error message is a text file that’s divided into different types of formatted sections. Each one of the sections is designed for a particular purpose. For instance, one section is designed to copy files or to add entries to the registry. INF files are used to install drivers. However, if something is wrong, you might encounter this error while installing a driver on your Windows 10 computer. To resolve this problem, you can try to download the driver again from the official manufacturer website or check if the driver is compatible with your computer’s operating system architecture or you can also try installing the driver from the Device Manager. For more details, follow the given options below.

Option 1 – Try downloading the driver again from the official website of the manufacturer

Usually, you shouldn’t encounter this kind of issue no matter what installation method you used on your Windows 10 PC. However, there are times when the driver itself is corrupted for some reason which is why you are unable to complete the installation and receive an error message instead.

Option 2 – Try checking if the driver is compatible with the OS architecture

It is possible that you’re getting this error if you have a driver that is compatible with a 32-bit system and you are trying to install it on a 64-bit system and vice versa. Thus, you need to check if the driver you are trying to install is compatible with your operating system if you haven’t done it when you’ve downloaded the driver from the website of the manufacturer. To check the system architecture, in the Start Search, type “msinfo32” in the field and hit Enter to open the System Information window. From there, you should see all the information about your operating system. In addition, you can also search “system information” in the Cortana search box and look for the System Type entry and open it.

Option 3 – Try installing the driver from the Device Manager

If you have the driver files on your PC and you have to update a driver, refer to the steps given below to be guided on how to install the driver from the Device Manager.

• First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
• Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
• From there, look for the driver you want to update, and then right-click on each one of them and select the Update Driver from the menu.
• After that, click on the “Browse my computer for driver software” option.
• Next, select the “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer” option and then click the Next button.
• On the next screen, you should see the “Have Disk” option. Click on this option and then click on the Browse button to go to the location of the file. After that, you shouldn’t have any problem installing the INF file.

Option 4 – 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 “The INF file you selected does not support this method of installation” 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 with 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.

 Now restart your computer.

PrivacyAssistant is a browser extension developed by SearchAssistant.net. These extensions allegedly offer users a safer way to browse the internet and some other tools to customize the home page with background wallpapers and one-click links that can be added. While all this may sound appealing, PrivacyAssistant also monitors your browser activity, search quarries, clicks, visits, and possibly personal information.

This extension changes your default home page to SearchAssistant.com and rerouting all searches through its search portal, displaying sponsored links instead of your typical search results. While active you may see unwanted ads and even pop-up ads appearing while browsing the internet.

Several anti-virus programs have classified this extension as a Browser Hijacker, and are, therefore, for security reasons, not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is amongst the web’s constant risks that target internet browsers. It’s a kind of malicious software that alters your internet browser’s configuration settings and redirects you to websites or pages that you had no intention of checking out. They are created to disrupt browser functions for many different reasons. Usually, hijackers will force hits to internet sites of their choice either to increase traffic producing higher advertisement earnings, or to gain a commission for each and every user visiting there. Most people believe that these kinds of websites are legitimate and harmless but that is not the case. Almost every browser hijacker poses an existent threat to your online safety and it’s important to categorize them under privacy dangers. When the program attacks your PC, it starts to mess things up a whole that slows your computer down to a crawl. In the worst-case scenario, you might be forced to deal with serious malware threats as well.

How one can recognize a browser hijack

There are numerous symptoms that point to a browser hijacking: your browser’s home page is suddenly different; you get re-directed to sites you never meant to visit; the default web engine has been changed and your web browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge; find new toolbars that you simply did not add; you might find many pop-up ads on your computer screen; your web browser starts running slowly or displays frequent errors; you have prohibited entry to certain web pages, for example, the website of an antivirus software developer like SafeBytes.

So how exactly does a browser hijacker infect a PC

Browser hijackers may use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or perhaps an email attachment in order to reach a targeted computer system. They can also originate from any BHO, extension, toolbar, add-on, or plug-in with malicious intent. Other times you might have unintentionally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software program bundle (generally freeware or shareware). A good example of some popular browser hijackers includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, Delta Search, and RocketTab, however, the names are constantly changing. Browser hijacking can lead to serious privacy problems and even identity theft, disrupt your browsing experience by taking control over outgoing traffic, considerably slows down your personal computer by consuming lots of system resources, and result in system instability at the same time.

How to repair a browser hijack

Some hijackers can be removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by deleting any extension you’ve recently added to your browser. But, the majority of hijackers are extremely tenacious and require specialized applications to eradicate them. Furthermore, manual removal requires you to execute many time-consuming and tricky procedures which are hard to carry out for inexperienced computer users.

How To Get Rid Of Virus That Is Preventing Antivirus Installation?

Viruses can cause a great deal of damage to your computer system. Some malware sits in between the computer and your net connection and blocks some or all sites that you really want to visit. It will also prevent you from installing anything on your computer, especially anti-malware software. So what to do if malicious software keeps you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? Although this sort of problem can be difficult to circumvent, there are some actions you can take.

Make use of Safe Mode to resolve the problem

In Safe Mode, you can actually change Windows settings, un-install or install some software, and eliminate hard-to-delete malware. In case the malware is set to load immediately when PC boots, switching into this mode may well prevent it from doing so. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the system is starting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you’re in safe mode, you can try to install your anti-malware program without the hindrance of the malicious software. Following installation, run the malware scanner to remove most standard infections.

Switch over to some other web browser

Some malware mainly targets specific browsers. If this is your situation, use another internet browser as it can circumvent the malware. In the event you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the best approach is to switch over to a different internet browser like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari to download your favorite computer security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Run anti-virus from a USB drive

Another solution is to create a portable anti-malware program on your USB thumb drive. Try these simple actions to clean up your affected PC using a portable antivirus. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer system. 2) Plug the pen drive into the uninfected PC. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has a .exe file format. 4) Choose the flash drive as the location for saving the file. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. 5) Transfer the pen drive from the uninfected computer to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes tool from the pen drive. 7) Click “Scan Now” to run a scan on the infected computer for viruses.

A Look at the Best AntiMalware Program

If you are looking to download an anti-malware application for your computer, there are several tools out there to consider nonetheless, you cannot trust blindly anyone, no matter whether it is paid or free software. Some are really worth your money, but many aren’t. While looking for an anti-malware program, choose one that offers solid, efficient, and complete protection against all known computer viruses and malware. One of the highly recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes carries a very good track record of quality service, and customers appear to be happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, very effective protection tool created to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and eliminating malicious threats out of their PC. Once you’ve got installed this software, SafeByte's state-of-the-art protection system will make sure that no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC. SafeBytes anti-malware comes with a plethora of enhanced features which sets it aside from all others. Listed below are some of the highlighted features included in the tool. Robust Anti-malware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware software goes much deeper than most anti-virus tools to clean your computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard to remove malware that conceals deep inside your personal computer. Active Protection: SafeBytes gives round-the-clock protection for your PC limiting malware attacks in real-time. They’re extremely effective in screening and removing various threats since they’re constantly improved with the latest updates and alerts. Web protection: SafeBytes checks the links present on a web page for possible threats and alerts you whether the website is safe to explore or not, through its unique safety ranking system. Light-weight: The program is lightweight and will work quietly in the background, and that does not impact your computer efficiency. 24/7 Premium Support: Support service is readily available for 24 x 7 x 365 days through email and chats to answer your queries.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove PrivacyAssistant 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 PrivacyAssistant