What Is Phishing And How Can You Protect Yourself From It?
Ever gotten an e-mail offer that seemed just a little bit too good to be true? Might’ve been a phishing attempt! These are everywhere and can come in many different forms.
So what’s phishing exactly, how can you detect it and how can you keep safe?
What is phishing?
Phishing (pronounced like fishing) is a type of cyberattack that tricks the user into trusting the source and revealing sensitive information. Fishing being the perfect analogy, the bait is a legitimate-looking site, e-mail or file and when you take a bite, your identity, banking information and much more can be revealed and stolen.
Credit Anne Nygård on Unsplash
Some phishing attempts are incredibly obvious, others are super elaborate. Like with most types of malware, cybercriminals have become extremely well-versed in phishing and anyone can fall for it. To help you recognize and avoid it, we’ll take you through a couple of phishing types and give you tips on what to do if faced with them.
Phishing techniques
E-mail phishing
This is actually the most common type of phishing. A cybercriminal creates an e-mail containing stuff like attractive offers, legitimate-looking attachments or links and makes it appear as though it’s coming from a trusted source.
Credit Justin Morgan on Unsplash
For example, it looks like it’s coming from your bank or your favorite retailer. The logo looks legit and the structure of the e-mail seems familiar, so you might get tricked into clicking on whatever clickable content is in it.
Unfortunately this exposes your device to malware that hands your data off to the hacker, who can decide what to do with it further.
SMS and social media phishing
Like the above example, you could be approached with lucrative offers or links via text messages or social media messages. Typically, the messages seem relevant to the user as they will be made to look like they’re related to apps or services you’re using.
Voice phishing
Voice phishing attacks are schemes that appear as though they’re coming from a credible number. Normally, you’ll get a call about something related to credit cards or taxes to get you into a state of worry, leading you to disclose personal information on the phone.
Spear phishing, whaling and BEC
Spear phishing normally targets specific individuals within a company who are likely to have access to sensitive data. Spear phishers spend time collecting information they can use to reach out to the individual looking as trustworthy as possible. They’ll typically lead with something relevant, for example mentioning an upcoming company event, and make a seemingly legitimate request.
Whaling is a more elaborate form of spear phishing, which targets people in even stronger positions such as executives or high-value individuals. The ultimate goal is to get them to transfer financial or other sensitive information that can be used to compromise the entire business.
Credit Azamat E on Unsplash
BEC, or Business e-mail compromise, is a specific spear phishing technique carried out via e-mail. While there are many ways this is done, most commonly you’ll see instances where the phisher poses as a CEO or similar executive, or as a lower-level employee in specific positions (e.g. sales managers or financial controllers).
In the first situation, the impersonator reaches out to employees requesting them to transfer certain files or pay invoices. In the second situation, the phisher takes control of the employee’s e-mail account and sends false instructions to other employees in order to obtain data and information from them.
What can you do?
There are many ways you can be aware and spot a phishing attempt. Here are some tips:
Always check the sender’s address in your e-mails, even when they seem to come from a familiar source.
In any instance where payment information is requested, be very, very careful.
If you are receiving attachments you never asked for and definitely didn’t expect, better not click on them.
Beware of content that transmits a sense of urgency (sales deals, urgent updates to login credentials, etc.).
Bad spelling and grammar are usually a telltale sign of phishing.
Links that look shortened (e.g. Bit.ly) or just suspicious in general - if you have a bad feeling, do not click on them.
If you are receiving threats, you probably shouldn’t be clicking on anything in that message.
Always examine first-time senders in detail.
Block suspicious e-mail addresses, numbers and social media accounts.
If you are receiving a coupon for free stuff… You aren’t.
If you’re being asked to update your payment details by a service you use, such as Netflix, chances are it’s an impersonator.
Those are some of the ways to identify and prevent phishing attacks. However, sometimes phishers disguise themselves a little too well or a misclick happens and there you go - you’ve been exposed to malware.
Credit FLYD on Unsplash
This won’t happen if you invest in powerful protection software from the get-go, though. A good antivirus program like Bitdefender will keep you safe from becoming a victim of phishing scams. In fact, it will protect you from malicious attacks overall.
Be it your household or your business you’re concerned about, there are a bunch of different packages and options available, providing different kinds of cybersecurity services. That’s the only way you can ever really be sure you aren’t at risk of a digital attack.
Summary
Have you ever been targeted by phishers and didn’t know that’s what it was until you read this article? Many can relate. Protect yourself before it’s too late!
Valve has announced the first gaming PC handheld console: Steam Deck. At its core, Stead Deck is just a portable, small PC in little casing. It uses AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU architecture, has 16GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
It is a portable device with both a touchpad and joystick packing a seven-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x800 (16:10 aspect ratio). The screen has an ambient light sensor for automatic light adjustments same as your modern mobile device.
Stating to Valve battery will hold up from two to eight hours depending on the activity of the user and what exactly he is doing. The handheld comes also with a carrying case.
Steam Deck operating system and software
Out of the box, Steam Dock comes with the latest Valve’s version of SteamOS 3. Just for comparing, the steam box was coming SteamOS 2, so this new Linux-based OS is aimed to provide better performance and better compatibility.
Naturally, all Linux games in your Steam library will work right out of the box but Valve has something called PROTON inside OS, it is emulation software based on Wine that will supposedly let you play all of your Library games on a given OS.
One big thing to mention here is that this is PC after all meaning that if you do not like having SteamOS on it you can install Windows instead and so far as we know it will support Windows 11. Now with Windows 11, you will be able to play all of your Steam games and run any kind of Windows software on it including EPIC store, battle.net, and others.
Cost and release date
The initial release date is set for December 2021 and today on July 16th Valve is opening you can reserve your copy if you want to pre-purchase. Follow this link if you want to reserve your copy. Reserve your Steam Deck device
The price of the device will depend on the memory capacity which you would like to have. Please note that each of the 3 offered devices will have the same hardware, the only difference will be in memory available, and the most expensive version will also have anti-glare screen, everything else is identical.
64GB model will be $399, 256GB model will have the price of $529 and largest one with whooping 512GB will be $649
Conclusion
Valve ventures into the digital hardware domain again but it is unsure will they make it this time. Both Steam machine and their controller were in long run failed and later unsupported products so perhaps some customer caution is advised.
Although having a handheld PC is tempting I would advise seeing how the overall market will accept this contraption before throwing money into it.
The quickest and easiest way to log into your computer is when you use the PIN feature in Windows 10. Even though it is a bit slower compared to biometric logins such as Fingerprint and Iris scanning that comes under Windows Hello, the PIN feature is definitely less complicated. However, just like any other module of the software, it is also prone to some errors. In this post, you will be guided in fixing several PIN errors such as 0xd00000e5, 0x8007139f, and 0x8009003. These errors could be caused at different points in time like when you change or create a PIN or when you log into your computer.
To fix the 0xd00000e5, 0x8007139f and 0x8009003 PIN errors, there are various solutions you can try. You may empty the contents of the NGC folder or remove and change the PIN or the password. You could also use the Group Policy Editor or reset the ACLs in the NGC folder as well as run built-in tools like System File Checker and the DISM tool.
Option 1 – Take ownership of the NGC folder and delete its contents
Boot your computer first into Safe Mode.
Next, you need to take ownership of the Ngc folder first and you can do that using Command Prompt.
Type “command prompt” in the Windows Search bar and then right-click on the relevant search result and select “Run as administrator”.
After that, if a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed.
Next, type and enter this command: TAKEOWN /F C:WindowsServiceProfilesLocalServiceAppDataLocalMicrosoftNgc
Note that the <path> is the location of the folder or file in File Explorer.
Now type and enter this second command: ICACLS C:WindowsServiceProfilesLocalServiceAppDataLocalMicrosoftNgc /grant administrators:F
Finally, once the command has been executed, restart your computer.
Once your computer has restarted, delete all the contents in the Ngc folder and check if the error is now fixed.
Option 2 – Try to remove and change the PIN or password
The 0xd00000e5, 0x8007139f, and 0x8009003 PIN errors could be caused by some conflicting issues with the PIN or password you have set for the User Account of your computer. Thus, you have to remove or change the PIN or password to fix these PIN errors.
Remove the PIN by going to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
From there, go to the PIN section and click on the Remove button.
You will be asked to verify your account to proceed in removing the PIN, enter your credentials.
Restart your computer and then set up a new PIN.
Once you’re done, restart your computer and check if the error is gone now.
Option 3 – Try to use the Group Policy Editor
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
Next, navigate to this policy setting: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon
After that, double click on the “Turn on convenience PIN Sign-in” option located on the right-side panel.
Then set its radio button to Enabled. You will see the following description when you do so:
“This policy setting allows you to control whether a domain user can sign in using a convenience PIN. If you enable this policy setting, a domain user can set up and sign in with a convenience PIN. If you disable or don’t configure this policy setting, a domain user can’t set up and use a convenience PIN. Note: The user’s domain password will be cached in the system vault when using this feature. To configure Windows Hello for Business, use the Administrative Template policies under Windows Hello for Business.”
After setting the radio button to Enabled, it will turn on the Logins in your computer using the PIN.
Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Option 4 – Try to reset the ACLs in the Ngc folder
Type “command prompt” in the Windows Search bar and then right-click on the relevant search result and select “Run as administrator”.
After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, execute this command: C:/Windows/Service/Profiles/Local/Service/AppData/Local/MicrosoftNgc /T /Q /C /RESET
The command you entered will start checking for errors and fix them automatically.
Option 5 – Run the System File Checker scan and the DISM tool
System File Checker:
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:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Now restart your computer.
DISM tool:
Open Command Prompt.
Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
After that, wait until the process is finished and do not close the window as the process will probably take a couple of minutes.
Netflix was one that made streaming service standard and even after some stumbles even today it is still a respected service.
So in that spirit, we are bringing you the list of all new and old movies and TV series releasing to NETFLIX this September.
September 1
Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
How to Be a Cowboy — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Agatha Christie’s Crooked House (2017)
Anjaam (1994)
Barbie: Big City Big Dreams (2021)
Brave Animated Series (Season 1)
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001)
Green Lantern (2011)
House Party (1990)
El Patron, radiografia de un crimen / The Boss: Anatomy of a Crime (2014)
HQ Barbers (Season 1)
Letters to Juliet (2010)
Level 16 (2018)
Los Carcamales / Oldsters (Season 1)
Kid-E-Cats (Season 2)
Kuroko’s Basketball (Season 3)
Marshall (2017)
Welcome Home: Roscoe Jenkins (2008)
September 2
Afterlife of the Party — NETFLIX FILM
Q-Force — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
The Guardian
September 3
Dive Club (Season 1) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Money Heist (Season 5) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Sharkdog (Season 1) — NETFLIX FAMILY
Worth (2021) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
September 5
Bunk’d (Season 5)
September 6
Countdown: Inspiration 4 Mission to Space (Season 1 – Episodes 1 & 2) — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
Shadow Parties (2021)
September 7
Kid Cosmic (Season 2) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Octonauts: Above & Beyond (Season 1) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
On The Verge (Season 1) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
UNTOLD: Breaking Point — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd (2018)
September 8
Into the Night (Season 2) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
JJ + E — NETFLIX FILM
The Circle (Season 3) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Show Dogs (2018)
September 9
Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
The Women and the Murderer (2021) — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
September 10
Firedrake the Silver Dragon (2021) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Metal Shop Masters — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Kate — NETFLIX FILM
Pokemon Master Journey: The Series (Part 1) — NETFLIX ANIME
Prey — NETFLIX FILM
Lucifer (Season 6) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Lucifer season 6 poster cast
September 13
Crime Stories: India Detectives (Season 1) — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
September 14
You vs. Wild: Out Cold — NETFLIX FILM
The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
September 15
Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (Season 1 – Episodes 3 & 4) — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
Too Hot to Handle Latino — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Nailed It! — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Schumacher — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
September 16
Safe House (2012)
Birth of the Dragon (2017)
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (Season 1) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
My Heroes Were Cowboys (2021) — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
September 17
Chicago Party Aunt — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Sex Education (Season 3) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Tayo and Little Wizards (Season 1) — NETFLIX FAMILY
The Stronghold (2020) — NETFLIX FILM
September 22
Dear White People (Season 4) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Confessions of an Invisible Girl — NETFLIX FILM
September 23
A StoryBots Space Adventure (2021) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
September 24
Ganglands (Season 1) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Midnight Mass — NETFLIX ORIGINAL
My Little Pony: New Generation — NETFLIX FAMILY
If you suddenly encounter a Blue Screen error that points out to either the mfewfpk.sys and epfwwfp.sys files, then this post might help. Both of these files are created by third-party software. The mfewfpk.sys file is created by the McAfee security software while the epfwwfp.sys is created by the ESET Antivirus. These files are residual files and sometimes it blocks upgrading Windows 10.
Aside from blocking Windows 10 upgrade/update, these files can also cause a Blue Screen error after an upgrade which leaves your Windows 10 computer useless. When you get a Blue Screen error caused by any of these files, you will see an accompanying error message that states, “DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL”. To fix this Blue Screen error, you can check out the suggestions laid out below but before you do that, you need to create a System Restore point first as it can help you undo any unwanted changes. In addition, make sure to also boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking before you troubleshoot.
Option 1 – Try to remove the epfwwfp.sys file
You can try to remove the epfwwfp.sys file using Command Prompt. To do so, refer to the following steps:
Right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Next, type the following command and hit Enter to delete the epfwwfp.sys file:
DEL /F /S /Q /A “%systemroot%System32driversepfwwfp.sys”
After the scan is completed, restart your computer and see if it fixed the Blue Screen error.
Note: You can also use the ESET AV Remover tool to uninstall Eset security software to remove the epfwwfp.sys file.
Option 2 – Try to remove the mfewfpk.sys file
The same with the first option, you can remove the mfewfpk.sys file using CMD.
First, right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After, type the following command and hit Enter to delete the epfwwfp.sys file:
DEL /F /S /Q /A “%systemroot%System32driversmfewfpk.sys”
Once the scan is completed, restart your computer and see if it fixed the Stop error.
Note: You also have the option to remove the mfewfpk.sys file using McAfee Product Removal tool to uninstall the McAfee security software. All you have to do is download the McAfee Product Removal tool and run it and then follow the onscreen instructions to install it. Once it is installed, click on Next. After you select the radio button to agree to the terms of use, click on Next once again. Finally, restart your computer and check if it is able to resolve the problem or not.
Option 3 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter
Troubleshooting Blue Screen of Death errors wouldn’t be complete without the Blue Screen troubleshooter. As you know, it is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors. 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 running the DISM tool
You can try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool to fix the Blue Screen error. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.
Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
Error code 0xc0000001 on Windows 10 has been reported by some users when attempting to install Windows 10. When you encounter this error, the setup will be in a loop and the error message will keep popping up.
Solution
Error Causes
If you encounter the error code 0xc0000001 while trying to install Windows 10, it most probably be due to corrupted installation file. However, it can also be caused by any of the following:”
Damaged SAM file
Damaged system files
File system integrity compromised
Damaged RAM
Further Information and Manual Repair
Here are some methods that will help you fix the error code 0xc0000001 while trying to install Windows 10. Do not perform these methods unless you’re absolutely confident you can do it properly. Otherwise, you might make things worse.
If you’re not that confident, consider seeking advice from a technical expert. If you can’t afford one, you may want to consider getting an automated software to fix the job.
Method 1: Convert drive/partition to GPT
If you need to manually wipe the drive and then convert it to GPT, follow these steps:
Step 1: Power down your computer and put your Windows 10 installation DVD or USB drive
Step 2: Boot your computer to the USB or DVD key in UEFI mode.
Step 3: Once you’re at the Windows 10 Setup, press the Shift+F10 keys. This will open the command prompt window.
Step 4: Open diskpart tool from CMD. Just type diskpart and enter.
Step 5: Then, type the list disk on CMD again. Press enter. This will allow you to identify your computer’s drive that you want to reformat.
Step 6: Choose the drive and reformat it by typing the following on the command prompt:
select disk <disk number> (press enter)
clean (press enter)
convert gpt (press enter)
exit (press enter)
Step 7: Proceed with the Windows 10 Setup installation.
Note: when you’re prompted to choose the installation type, make sure to choose Custom. Then, choose unallocated space and click Next. This will automatically start the installation of Windows 10.
Method 2: Use Media Creation Tool to Perform Automatic Repair
Automatic Repair is a Windows feature/utility that allows you to fix certain system problems preventing you from installing or starting Windows. It works by scanning your computer system for any potential problem and tries to fix it.
Step 1: Download the Media Creation Tool
Step 2: Boot your computer using the Windows 10 DVD, or the System Repair disc. When you’re asked to press any key to boot, just press any key on your keyboard.
Step 3: Choose the right time and the keyboard type.
Step 4: Click Repair your computer. You’ll see this in the lower-left corner of your screen.
Step 5: Choose Troubleshoot from Choose an option screen
Step 6: Click Advanced options
Step 7: Choose an automatic repair
This will automatically run the utility.
Method 3: Check Hardware Devices
Another possible reason why you are getting this error while installing Windows 10 is due to the connected external hard drives. To fix this, power down your computer. Afterward, unplug and remove all connected external hard drives. If you’re using USB device to install Windows 10, ensure your BIOS is set to boot your computer from the USB.
Method 4: Create New Copy of Windows 10 Installer
Another possible reason why you experience this error is that your copy of the Windows 10 installer is corrupted. To fix this, it’s better to create a new copy of the Windows 10 installer.
Step 2: Click the Download tool now. Choose Run with admin privileges
Step 3: On What do you want to do? section, choose installation media for another PC. Click Next.
Step 4: Select edition, language, and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
Step 5: Choose the media you want to use. If you want to use a USB flash drive, make sure the device at least has 5GB of free space. If you’re using an ISO file, you need to save the file first on your computer and then burn the file to a DVD.
Method 5: Use a Powerful Automated Tool
If you still encounter these errors after performing the above methods, find a trustworthy automated tool. As long as the automated tool is powerful and reliable, it will help you fix this error.
Signing in to a computer that runs a Windows 10 version OS is usually fast and straightforward. However, there are instances when signing in takes too long especially if there are a lot of programs in the Startup. So if many things are loading as soon as you log into your computer, it will slow down the sign-in process. Aside from programs in Startup, it is also possible that there are too many users that are logged in to the account. In such a case, you will most likely encounter an error that says, “Your computer is running low on resources, so no new users can sign in. Please use an account that has already been signed in”. If you’ve encountered such an error when you try to log into your computer, read on as this post will be guiding you on how you can fix it.Each time a user signs in to Windows 10, it will allocate resources in order to work smoothly. But, in many cases, the system is running low on resources which is why this error pops up and blocks a sign-in of a new user. To fix it, you can try to log out the existing users, or perform a Cold Boot, as well as run both the DISM tool and System File Checker scan.
Option 1 - Try to logout existing users
The first thing you can do is to log out the existing users. If you have a shared Windows 10 computer, you have to check if someone hasn’t logged out. It could be that some background task or there is an existing program that is still running under that account. So you have to make sure to ask the same user to log out in case there is some unsaved work. On the other hand, if that user is not around, then you reboot the computer right away.
Option 2 - Try Performing a Cold Boot
You could also try to perform a Cold Boot to fix the problem. A Cold Boot is a process that makes sure that the Windows 10 Kernel shuts down properly and releases all the resources held by any account. To perform a Cold Boot, just press and hold the physical power button on your CPU until it goes off. After that, boot your computer regularly and see if you can now log into your account without any error.
Option 3 - Try to run a System File Checker scan
System File Checker is a built-in command utility in Windows that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting the error when you log into your computer. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
Boot your computer into the Advanced Recovery mode and from there open Command Prompt.
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:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Now restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed or not.
Option 4 - run the dism tool
You might also want to run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like the “Your computer is running low on resources, so no new users can sign in” error. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:
Go to the Advanced Recovery mode and select Command Prompt.
After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the problem is now fixed.
There are times when the Windows Search doesn’t work and you wouldn’t have a clue as to why it happened since it does not give any error codes. In such cases, you have to check the error logs in the Event Viewer to find out more about the problem. From there, look for an error with the Event ID 3104 in the Windows error logs and if you see an error message that says, “Enumerating user sessions to generate filter pools failed”, read on as this post will guide you in fixing the problem. Apart from the error message, you might also see more information in the details section of the log that says, “(HRESULT: 0x80040210) (0x80040210)”.
This kind of error is most likely caused by something that prohibits the search function from initializing. A lot of users assumed that it could be due to Cortana but it’s actually not. While some users also reported that they encounter the issue after they restarted their computers. This error was also reported with the same event ID 3104 on the Windows Server. According to security researchers, this error could be caused by problems in the Registry entry of Windows search. It could also be due to an issue with the SYSTEM account where it hasn’t been added to the DCOM Security. It is also possible that the Windows Search function has not been initialized.
To fix this error, you can try to rebuild the Search Index manually or run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter. You can also check the startup type of the Windows Search service or try some registry tweak.
Option 1 – Try to rebuild the Search Index manually
The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to manually rebuild the Search Index. You can do that by going to Control Panel > Indexing Options and from there, click on Advanced. After that, go to the Index Settings tab and then click on Rebuild > OK. Once you’re done, check if it fixed the problem.
Option 2 – Try running the Search and Indexing troubleshooter
You could also run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter in Windows 10 as it checks whether the settings are in place and automatically corrects any issues with the Windows 10 search function. To run this troubleshooter, just click on the Start button and select Settings > Updates and Security > Troubleshoot. From there, select the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter. Once the troubleshooter is done, restart your computer and see if it fixed the error.
Option 3 – Try checking the startup type of the Windows Search Service
In this option, you have to check the startup type of the Windows Search service since the service won’t start. To do so, refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Services Manager.
Next, from the list of services, look for the Windows Search Service or WSearch. Once you find it, right-click on it and select Properties.
After that, change the Startup type to Automatic and click on the Start button if the service is in the Stop state.
Now click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and then restart your computer.
Option 4 – Try changing the Registry entry for Windows Search
Before you apply some registry tweak, you need to create a System Restore point first. Once you have that covered, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
If a User Account Control prompt appears, just click Yes to proceed.
After opening the Registry Editor, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows Search
From there, click on Windows Search and look for the key named “SetupCompletedSuccessfully” and change its value to “0”. Just right-click on it and select Modify.
Then input “0” as its value data and click on OK to save the changes made.
Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Now check if the Enumerating user sessions to generate filter pools failed is fixed or not.
In 2014 Proton mail started as an end-to-end encrypted email service offering secure and private email services. Proton mail is still live and going with the same dedication to privacy and security but the company has expanded its offering into cloud storage drive services.
Starting as a public beta at the end of 2020, Proton Drive is keeping its privacy and security policy philosophy with the new service. Proton Drive is the newest service besides Proton Calendar, Proton VPN, and Proton Mail.
Drive has end-to-end encryption for everything on it including files themselves, filenames, folder structure, folder names, extensions, and file sizes. This means that you and only you can access your files. Servers are located in Geneva, Switzerland and they are under Swiss privacy laws making sure that your files are protected. Proton services in general are all open source so anyone can take a look at them to be sure that nothing is lurking under the hood. For now, sync is done either via the android app or web interface but the desktop client will come soon since currently, it is under development.
Sadly free plan of Proton Drive will give you only 1GB of storage which is much less than other services and sadly payments plans are also not so jaw-dropping going for $4 USD per month for a 200GB plan or with Proton ultimate subscription that will set you $10 behind but you will get 500GB of drive storage. Of course, if you value privacy for your files these options are good but if you do not mind that part other services have much better options.
All in all Proton Drive is a great cloud storage solution if you need privacy and well worth the investment. With the ultimate subscription, you will get enough space for most people and company needs with other services and guaranteed privacy and security, on the other hand, if you just need a large amount of cloud storage not caring too much about privacy other options are better.
Finally upgraded to Microsoft’s newest OS, but the performance is a bit sluggish? Here are a few useful tips you may not have thought about that could significantly transform your experience!
How to speed up Windows 11?
1. Disable startup programs
There are many programs that launch right on startup that really aren’t essential. This, in turn, causes your PC to launch and run more slowly.
To check which programs are enabled on startup, go into the Task Manager and select the Startup tab. Find every program that doesn’t need to launch immediately, right-click on it and press ‘Disable’.
This will not shut down the program in that instant. It’ll just prevent it from running automatically as you turn on your PC. You can always launch it manually when you need it.
2. Expand your memory and storage
If you want your PC to run super smoothly, you need to have enough memory to support that. This is especially significant for those of you who love to multitask. Upgrading your RAM gives your PC more space to store the temporary data it needs to complete processing tasks. In other words, processing takes a lot less time.
Your long-term storage is equally important. Hopefully at this point you’re already using SSD over HDD, since this type of storage offers a faster boot time.
Credit: Marc Pezin on Unsplash
In any case, we recommend expanding your storage capacity. The more files and data you store, the more there is to load, significantly influencing your PC’s speed. Larger storage capacity means new data and essential updates can be stored comfortably, preventing any strain on your PC’s performance.
3. Clean up disk space
If you aren’t willing to upgrade your storage just yet, the least you can do is clean up your storage right now.
Aside from manually deleting stuff you no longer need, you can also get rid of temporary files that clutter up your storage and eat up performance for no reason. To get to them, click Windows + X and select ‘Run’ (or just type it in the search bar).
A small window will pop up, where you need to type %temp%. This will take you to a whole folder full of all the temporary files you can remove without thinking twice.
For those who upgraded from Windows 10, there’s a neat trick to get rid of potential leftover files you don’t need on your brand new iteration. Only do this if you’re 100% sticking with Windows 11, though. Go to System > Storage > Temporary files. Make sure to only leave ‘Previous Windows Installation’ and ‘Windows Update Clean-up’ checked and click on ‘Remove files’.
Lastly, make use of Windows 11’s fantastic Storage Sense feature. Turning it on will enable your PC to constantly watch out for junk or unused files to optimize your PC’s performance to the maximum.
4. Install pending updates
This one should go without saying, but pending updates can be detrimental to your Windows 11 performance. The longer you leave them untouched, the more bugs the outdated programs and patches can cause. So, make sure to regularly check for updates and install them as soon as they’re available.
5. Disable visual effects
As cool as visual effects, animations, shadows and transparency are, they can also put quite a toll on your computer’s speed. On a newer setup this generally shouldn’t be a problem, but if you do notice a drop in performance, definitely consider turning off some of these settings.
To do this you can go to the Control Panel, System Properties and click the ‘Advanced’ tab. In the Performance section, choose Settings. If you’d like a quicker way to get to the dialog (Performance Options) with Visual Effects, you can also type sysdm.cpl in the search bar.
Once there, you can either have your PC choose what’s best, choose the best appearance or the best performance. The other option is to manually toggle the effects off and on. The biggest obstacles to speed are taskbar animations, window shadows, control/element animations and animations upon minimizing/maximizing.
Credit: Windows on Unsplash
In the same vein, you should go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and disable Transparency, to prevent your computer from doing overtime just to hit the aesthetic appeal.
6. Get rid of bloatware
Bloatware is one of the biggest culprits of slow computer speed.
Pre-installed software that’s pretty much useless but takes up valuable system resources has been around since day one. No matter which device or platform you’re talking about. Luckily, a lot of it is removable, making it easy to lighten the load on your device.
To boost your Windows 11 computer, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.You’ll probably see a bunch of apps you don’t want or need. Click on the three dots next to each one you want to remove and press ‘Uninstall’.
Aside from helping optimize performance, removing bloatware has another great benefit. Unfortunately, often this pre-installed software is quite vulnerable, exposing you to great risk of cyberattacks. So, removing it definitely improves your device’s security and gives you at least some peace of mind.
Summary
These are a few of our fastest tips for boosting performance. There are other, more complex and time-consuming ways, of course. If you’ve tried these quick ones and still need advice on how to improve your PC’s speed, feel free to reach out!
Error Code 35 is a typical Device Manager error. It indicates information missing to properly configure your device. Error code 35 is usually displayed in the following format:
“Your computer's system firmware does not include enough information to properly configure and use this device. To use this device, contact your computer manufacturer to obtain a firmware or BIOS update. Code 35”
Solution
Error Causes
The 2 common reasons for Device Manager error code 35 are:
Outdated BIOS
Mis-configured, corrupted, or outdated Drivers
No matter what the reason may be, it is advisable to resolve the problem immediately without any delay otherwise you will be unable to use your hardware device.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Below is the list of the most effective and easy to perform solutions to resolve error code 35 on your PC. These solutions do not require any technical knowledge or understanding. Simply follow the instructions to resolve this error code.
Method 1 - Update the BIOS
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is the embedded software on the computer’s motherboard.
Though not all PCs have the same BIOS manufacturer, but the steps for updating the BIOS are similar for all versions.
Before you get started with the updating process, first identify your current BIOS version.
For this, go to the start menu and type msinfo32, and press enter.
Now click System Summary to view your BIOS version. Here you will see the version number and date.
Now check your PC motherboard manufacturer’s website to download the BIOS update for the model you own. Also, download any Read Me Files and documentation. These contain guidelines and precautions that you should know before you update.
Backup all your data and existing BIOS before you update the BIOS version. This will keep your data protected in case the attempt to update BIOS fails.
Also, when updating, make sure to use an uninterruptible power supply. Remember power outage or even a small power fluctuation can corrupt the BIOS which is something you don’t want.
Now it’s time to perform the update. Run the downloaded installer for the BIOS updating software. Double click on the executable file.
Look for a button names Update, Flash, or Run.
Click on it to start updating the new version
After the update is complete, your computer will restart automatically.
This will hopefully resolve the problem. However, if the error still persists then there is a possibility that the error code is related to outdated drivers. To resolve, try method 2.
Method 2 - Download Driver Assist to Update Drivers Automatically
Update drivers to repair error code 35 on your PC by simply downloading DriverFIX. This is a cutting-edge program deployed with an intelligent programming system.
It is compatible with all Windows versions.
It scans your PC for problematic drivers and updates them with the latest and compatible versions automatically and in a few seconds thereby repairing all Device Manager error codes including error code 35 generated due to outdated/corrupted drivers.
In addition to this, it updates all device drivers on a regular basis, so you don’t have to stress over and keep a track of what drivers on your PC need to be updated and when.
Click here to download DriverFIX to resolve Device Manager error code 35 today!
Valve has announced the first gaming PC handheld console: Steam Deck. At its core, Stead Deck is just a portable, small PC in little casing. It uses AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU architecture, has 16GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
It is a portable device with both a touchpad and joystick packing a seven-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x800 (16:10 aspect ratio). The screen has an ambient light sensor for automatic light adjustments same as your modern mobile device.
Stating to Valve battery will hold up from two to eight hours depending on the activity of the user and what exactly he is doing. The handheld comes also with a carrying case.
Netflix was one that made streaming service standard and even after some stumbles even today it is still a respected service.
So in that spirit, we are bringing you the list of all new and old movies and TV series releasing to NETFLIX this September.
