Recent Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger & Oculus fiasco and downtime reminded us that even big IT tech behemoth is vulnerable and can go offline. The situation has been resolve in not so fast manner but not long also, let’s say it was resolved in time that people have not left and switched to another platform.
That being said, now when services are back we stopped and reflected on the platform itself and on its users. If Facebook is vulnerable so are its users, but sometimes users themselves are responsible for being a target. We step back and take a look at posts that manifest on Facebook and have come with some advice on what things you should never post on Facebook and on other social platforms.
Pictures of any kind of ID, bill, vaccine cards or similar document
This should be a no-brainer at all but we see people posting this kind of information. They go on a rant about how the bill is too high and place a picture of it, or they took their vaccine shot and posted a vaccine card as proof. Why this is a bad idea is that any of these documents contain certain things like birthdays, names, and even more like addresses and other information that can be used against users.
Information about where you live
This could be tied to the previous point but it is very crucial that a living address is not something that you wish to share publicly. A lot of burglars are stalking social media for exactly this kind of information so they can then analyze when and how to strike and this time you have done all work for them providing them with the information on where to find your flat.
Daily routines and vacation plans
The most burglary happens to believe it or not during the day, in hours when people are at work. So by providing the world with your daily routines and when you are not at home you are putting your home at risk of being broken into. Posting vacation plans are even worse or posting pictures and status when you are on vacation will send a clear message to anyone that your home is empty and unattended.
Pictures of your home interior
This can also sadly disclosure more information that you wish like maybe some interesting facts like address or birthday on certificates, diplomas, or other documents accidentally caught in the taken picture. Also, these kinds of pictures can show much about your home security, alarm positions if you have some, how is your front door secured, etc.
Content that can get you fired
We hear all the time, famous star or director has some tweets that have resurfaced and now it is fired. I know that many of us are not famous stars but we can also be fired. Sharing some offensive opinions, inappropriate content or just plain pure lies like took sick leave to play this new game can have not so great resolution for your working relationship with your employer. We do not support lies nor do any kind of inappropriate content but posting it online on social media will just make things worse for you personally.
Your login info or sites and services that you are using
It is fairly safe to say hey we are chilling with Netflix or watching the new season of Mandalorian on Disney plus but speaking of things like made a new account on freelancer service of got my new e-banking in this cool new bank, etc. is not very wise. Cyber crooks are always on the lookout for identity theft and will use available information to steal data and money. You are risking also losing provided accounts this way leaving you with tons of work to explain that you got mugged to service providers.
Conclusion
We know that this article seems paranoid and maybe assumes that among your friends there are some crocks and people trying to take advantage of you. As this certainly was not our attention nor goal, we had to point to extremes in order to protect you the most.
As you know, Excel sheet is frequently acclaimed as one of the most useful software that allows users to create spreadsheets, crunch numbers as well as prepare a business report. Usually, tapping the arrow keys to move from one cell to another. However, there are times when you might experience trouble in tapping them – for instance, they won’t work when you tap them.
This kind of problem can be quite frustrating since no matter what you do, especially when you tap the arrow keys, instead of a single cell, it moves the entire spreadsheet. If you are one of the users who experience this problem, worry no more for this post will guide you on what you can do to fix it.
When arrow keys won’t function as intended in Excel spreadsheets, it could be due to unintended behavior of the Scroll key or it could be related to some issues with the keyboard driver. Whatever the cause is, here are some suggestions you can check out to fix it.
Option 1 – Try to disable the Scroll Lock
The first thing you can do to fix this problem with arrow keys is to disable the Scroll Lock. Although doing this is easy, newer laptops don’t actually come with it so if your keyboard does not come with a scroll key, all you have to do is tap the Fn key and disable Scroll Lock. Aside from that, you could also use the on-screen keyboard to turn off the Scroll Lock. You will see its status on the Excel sheet which will help you to double-check. Moreover, you could also tap the Shift + F14 keys to toggle off the Scroll Lock. To use the on-screen keyboard to turn off Scroll Lock, follow the steps below.
Tap the Windows key and type “on-screen keyboard” and then tap Enter.
Once the on-screen keyboard is opened, you should see that the Scroll Lock is on the “On” position since the ScrLk keys are in blue.
Like pointed out earlier, you can utilize the Scroll Lock indicator located in the status bar as well as disable or enable the scroll key by using this feature on Microsoft Excel.
Option 2 – Try turning on the Sticky key
If disabling the Scroll Lock did not fix the problem, you can try turning on the Sticky Key instead. A lot of users reported that this option fixed the problem for them. So you should try to turn on the Sticky key and to do that, follow the steps below.
First, type “control panel” in the Start Search and click on Control Panel from the search results.
Next, select the “Turn On Sticky Keys” option and click on OK.
After that, go back and uncheck the “Turn On Sticky Keys” option. This should fix the malfunctioning arrow keys on Excel.
Option 3 – Try running the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
The first thing you can do to fix the problem is by running the Hardware Troubleshooter. Although it won’t make much of a difference, there’s still a possibility that it could automatically fix the problem with these function keys. To use it, refer to these steps:
The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.
Option 4 – Update the keyboard driver
You can also update the keyboard driver to fix the problem. There are cases when an outdated or corrupted driver can fix the problem. To do so, follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
From there, look for the keyboard driver and click on it.
Next, right-click on the keyboard driver and select the Update driver option.
After that, click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option to proceed.
Option 5 – Reinstall the keyboard driver
If updating the keyboard driver didn’t help, then you might want to reinstall it. How? Follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in 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. Look for the keyboard driver, right-click on it and then select “Uninstall device”.
After that, unplug the device and restart your PC.
Then plug your device back in. Assuming your device is connected to your PC, open the Device Manager again.
Next, click on the Action button and click the Scan for hardware changes button. That should fix the problem
Note: You could also completely uninstall the driver and go directly to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your hardware and then install it.
Error 0x8000ffff prevents you from using the Microsoft store. Altho it is not a critical error that will break Windows, it is annoying enough that will require fixing so we can use the store once again and install apps when we want to. Interesting thing is that this error was present inside Windows 10 as well causing some annoyance, you think Microsoft would learn, and then you see reality. Anyway, we have not come here to bash Microsoft, we came to solve errors.
So there are several problems that can cause this error like issues with accessing the Microsoft servers, corrupt system files, settings being misconfigured, malware infections, or conflicting applications. We will cover all solutions for each scenario taking approaches from most simple solutions to more complex ones. Follow the guide and let's fix this annoyance.
Wait for Microsoft's servers to become accessible
Yes, just wait. If the problem is tied to Microsoft servers having heavy load or being temporarily down there is not much you can do except for their tech team to resolve the issue. Go to Twitter or Facebook and check the Microsoft page to see if anyone else has this issue, if several people are reporting the same error then it is due to server problems. In this case, the only thing you can do is to wait.
Run troubleshooter
If servers are working fine then the issue is within your system so let's get down to fixing. Most simple and easiest solution is to let Windows try and resolve the problem by itself. We will use troubleshooter for this, Windows's integrated fixing solution:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open the settings app
Click on System in the left panel, then on Troubleshoot on the right
Click on Other troubleshooters
In most Frequent section find Windows Update and click on the Run button
Wait for the troubleshooter to finish and follow on-screen instructions
Clear Store cache
If the troubleshooter has not found the issue or was unable to repair it, the next step is cleaning the Microsoft store cache in order to eliminate corrupted or partial cache files.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
In run dialog type in: wsreset and press OK or press ENTER
A black screen will appear and it will not give any kind of feedback about progress, so it might seem like Windows has frozen, but do not panic nor try to do anything, this kind of behavior is normal, just wait for the process to finish and once it is done Microsoft store will launch with the cleared cache.
Disable Proxy
Proxy setting can interfere with establishing a connection to the store servers and if previous solutions have not worked we will check proxy next.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
Inside run dialog type: inetcpl.cpl and hit ENTER or press OK button
Inside Internet Properties click on the Connections tab and then on LAN settings
Uncheck the box next to Use a proxy server for your LAN and click on OK
Turn off antivirus
If nothing worked so far, turn off your anti-virus software, there is a slight possibility that your antivirus is misconfigured or preventing the system from accessing the store. Turn off antivirus and firewall to make sure that this is not an issue.
Delete the software distribution folder
So, we have tried a lot of things, and the error still persists? Let's then go to the next step and delete the software distribution folder in order to be remade new so we can eliminate corruption in the folder itself. To do this follow the guide:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open the search menu
Inside search type in Windows terminal, right-click on the terminal and click on Run as administrator.
Confirm with YES on UAC prompt pop up
Inside terminal press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to open command prompt
inside command prompt type in: net stop wuauserv and press ENTER
Then type in: net stop bits followed with ENTER
Next press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
Inside run dialog type in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and press the OK button or ENTER
File Explorer will open and you will find yourself inside SoftwareDistribution folder. Press CTRL + A to select all files inside
Press on the delete icon or press DEL, confirm with YES
Once all files are deleted, the system will redownload new ones.
Enable Cryptographic service
Windows 11 has come with a cryptographic service that aims to make your computer more secure but if the service is turned off it can be the cause of 0x8000ffff error. In order to turn this service back ON, follow the guide:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
In run dialog type in services.msc and press ENTER or click on the OK button
In the list find Cryptographic Services and double click on it
Inside properties click on Startup type dropdown menu and select Automatic from the list
Click on the Start button to run service and then on the OK button to save the changes
Run SFC scan
SFC is an internal Windows tool for fixing corrupt system files, application will scan all system files and repair ones that are corrupted. To run an SFC scan do the following:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open the search menu
Inside search type in Windows terminal, right-click on the terminal and click on Run as administrator.
Confirm with YES on UAC prompt pop up
Inside terminal press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to open command prompt
inside command prompt type in: SFC /scannow and press ENTER
Wait for the whole process to finish and reboot your system
Run DISM scan
Similar to SFC, DISM scan will scan your system Windows image and if required it will repair it.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open the search menu
Inside search type in Windows terminal, right-click on the terminal and click on Run as administrator.
Confirm with YES on UAC prompt pop up
Inside terminal press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to open command prompt
inside command prompt type in: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press ENTER
Wait for the whole process to finish and restart your computer
The error code 0X8019019A is shown when a user fails to add his Yahoo account to the Mail app due to the outdated or corrupt installation of the Mail app. Not using an App-specific but a normal Yahoo account password may also result in the error at hand.
In this guide, we will show you how to effectively fix this error so you can set up Yahoo mail.
Reboot PC
Perform a restart of your system to rule out a temporary glitch in the system. Also, check if you can successfully access your email through a web browser using the same credentials as you are using with the Mail app. Additionally, make sure that no VPN or proxy server is being used to access the internet (VPN/proxy may work fine with the web version of Yahoo mail but may hinder the access through a mail client).
Update Windows and the Mail App to the Latest Build
If your system is not updated to the latest build it can create incompatibility between the OS modules. Updating the Windows and Mail app of your system to the latest build may solve the problem.
Re-add the Yahoo Account to the Mail App
The Yahoo account issue could be a result of a temporary glitch in the communication modules of the system. The glitch may get cleared if you remove and then re-add the Yahoo account to the Mail app.
Reset the Mail App to the Defaults
You may fail to add the Yahoo account to the Mail app if the installation of Mail itself is corrupt. In this scenario, resetting the Mail app to the defaults may solve the problem.
Generate an App Password and Use it to Add the Yahoo Account to the Mail App
Yahoo has implemented tons of security features to its accounts. One such feature is the use of app-specific passwords for less secure apps like the Mail app. If your Yahoo username or password is not working with the Mail app, then using the App-specific password may solve the problem.
It is no longer a secret that websites, social media, and other various places on WEB are tracking you and your messages and emails for keywords that they will later use to promote and serve your specific ads linked to those keywords. Altho the process is fully automated it does feel a little forced and uneasy.
That is why we are bringing you this article in which we will show you how to stop website tracking in the most popular and used browsers.
SAFARI
Apple’s Safari browser gives you the option to block cross-site tracking. It also has a Privacy Report that displays all the sites and agencies that are gathering information about you.
Before blocking these trackers, you may want to review exactly which sites are tracking you online and gathering information about you. Armed with this information, you may decide that cross-site tracking isn’t a huge issue for your particular browsing habits, or you may decide to avoid certain websites entirely.
To access Safari’s Privacy Report:
Launch the Safari web browser.
In the toolbar, select Safari > Privacy Report.
Select the Websites tab. This will display information about all the websites that are profiling you.
Select the Trackers tab. This displays a list of all the trackers that are gathering information about you. This includes the companies that created these trackers and the number of times Safari detected these trackers during your browsing sessions.
You can also check how intrusive a particular website is by navigating to the website in question and then selecting the shield icon that appears alongside Safari’s address bar. You can then select Trackers on This Web Page, and Safari will display a list of all the trackers that are active on this particular webpage.
Once you’ve seen all the websites and agencies who are tracking you, if you want to block these trackers:
In the Safari toolbar, select Safari > Preferences …
Select the Privacy tab.
Select the following checkbox: Prevent Cross-Site Tracking.
Safari will now prevent these trackers from following you across the World Wide Web.
CHROME
As you’re browsing the web, Chrome can send a request for websites not to collect or track your browsing data.
It’s important to note that this is a request, so there’s no guarantee that every website will honor the request. Frustratingly, Chrome doesn’t provide information about the websites that are tracking you online. However, we still recommend enabling this feature, as it can help minimize the number of websites that are tracking your online movements:
In Chrome’s upper-right corner, select the three-dot menu icon, then Settings.
In the menu on the left, select Privacy and security.
Click Cookies and other site data.
Find the Do not track slider and push it into the On position.
Now Chrome will send a Do Not Track request to every website you visit. Since this is only a request, you may want to take additional steps to protect your online privacy.
Ghostery is a Chrome extension that enables you to view and block online trackers. After installing Ghostery, you can view all the trackers that are active on a particular website:
Head to the site in question.
Click the Extensions icon in the Chrome toolbar.
Select Ghostery to see a list of all the trackers this extension has detected.
You can block all of these trackers by selecting the Detailed tab and then clicking Restrict site.
Repeat this process for every site you visit.
MOZILLA FIREFOX
Firefox has an Enhanced Tracking Protection feature that can block all the cross-site trackers identified by Disconnect. This feature can also preserve your online privacy by blocking social media trackers, fingerprints, and crypto miners, making this a great all-arounder for the security-conscious Internet user.
Enhanced Tracking Protection should be enabled by default. However, you can verify whether it’s active for your particular Firefox installation by navigating to any website. Next, click the little shield icon that appears alongside Firefox’s address bar and you should see a message confirming that Enhanced Tracking Protection is enabled.
If Enhanced Tracking Protection isn’t enabled, we recommend activating it:
In Firefox’s upper-right corner, select the three-line icon, then Preferences.
In the menu on the left, select Privacy & Security.
You can now select either Standard or Strict. Note that Strict may affect the functionality of certain websites, so it’s recommended you opt for Standard unless you specifically require a greater level of protection.
Similar to Chrome, Firefox can send a Do Not Track request. While you’re in the Privacy & Security menu, you may want to consider activating Mozilla’s Do Not Track feature.
OPERA
When you first installed Opera, it gave you the option to block trackers. If you didn’t take Opera up on the offer then, you can start blocking trackers now:
Along the left side of the Opera browser, click the cog icon. This opens Opera’s settings.
In the menu on the left, select Basic.
Find the Block Trackers slider and push it into the On position.
Blocking trackers can impact the functionality of certain websites. If you start noticing strange behavior on a particular website, you may want to add that site to your Exceptions list. By allowing this site to use trackers, you should be able to resolve any issues you’re experiencing.
To make an exception for one or more websites:
Launch Opera’s settings by clicking the little cog icon.
Navigate to Basic > Manage Exceptions.
Click Add and then type the address of the site where you want to permit trackers.
Repeat for all the sites that you want to add to your exceptions list.
MSI.chm error is a common Windows Error code that occurs when the Windows OS becomes overloaded with invalid system references.
Solution
Error Causes
The MSI.chm error is normally triggered by the following causes:
Poor PC maintenance
You may experience the MSI.chm error if you don’t pay attention to its maintenance. This usually happens when you don’t run antivirus software or update programs and drivers frequently.
Registry files get corrupt and damaged
This error may also occur when the registry files of your PC get corrupt and damaged. This normally happens due to continuous writing, editing and deleting of information from your PCs registry over time as programs are installed, modified and deleted.
Other causes include: malware and system conflicts.
Further Information and Manual Repair
When you come across the MSI.chm error on your PC, it is advisable to repair it immediately without any delays. If you procrastinate in repairing this error, your PC is likely to be exposed to risks like:
Slow PC performance
System failure and crashes
Nonetheless, to resolve this error you don’t have to get the assistance of an IT professional. The MSI.chm is easy to repair and you can resolve it in no time even if you aren’t technically adept.
Here are some of the best ways to repair the MSI.chm error on your PC successfully in the shortest time:-
Cause: Corrupt and Damaged Registry Files
Quick Fix: If you think the MSI.chm Windows error on your system is related to Windows registry issues, then the best way to resolve this error is to download and install a Registry cleaner tool. A word of advice here is to always download such tools from a reliable and a trusted website.
Once you download the Restoro, run it on your PC to scan for errors. The scanning will usually take a couple of minutes. So, it is advisable to be patient. After the scanning is complete, you will see a detailed scanning report highlighting the registry errors on your PC.
Now to resolve the MSI.chm error that has occurred on your PC due to registry issues, click on the ‘Repair’ button to fix the error.
Once the repairing process is complete, restart your PC.
Restoro helps you not only fix the MSI.chm error but it also helps improve the speed of your PC, and protects it from failure and crashes.
Cause: Poor PC Maintenance
Quick Fix: If the cause of the MSI.chm error is poor PC maintenance, then the best way to resolve the error is to update the drivers. You can do this by installing the latest drivers for the devices that you think are now old and need to be updated.
Here’s what you need to do:
First find which devices don’t have drivers installed. For this go to the start menu and then click on the Control Panel. Now open the Device Manager. The Device Manager will list down all the devices that don’t have drivers installed with yellow exclamation point icons next to the device name.
As for the updates, the general rule of thumb if the driver does not support the program you are trying to run, then this means that you probably need to update the driver to ensure compatibility. For example your video card driver does not support a newly launched game, then you definitely need a driver update to play the game on your PC.
To install or update drivers on your PC, you can either get CDs from the market or you can download updated versions of the drivers from the main manufacturer’s website for free.
You can also use automated solution for all of your driver issues:So, next time when you or your friends encounter this problem, try these quick fixes to repair the error without any hassle.
As you know, Microsoft Store is the ultimate source of applications for Windows 10 devices and it’s turning to be the hub for various applications. In fact, aside from applications, it has also become a source for movies, books, TV and even buying hardware directly from Microsoft and many more. Although downloading goes smoothly most of the time, depending on your internet connection, there are also times when you might experience slow download speeds while downloading apps and other things in the Microsoft Store.
There are several factors that could be causing this kind of issue. It can be due to the Microsoft Store app itself or it could be enforced speed limiter on the application or it could be due to a corrupted Microsoft Store cache, or it could be due to the Windows Update service running in the background, and so on. To fix this problem, you can try to reset the Microsoft Store cache, or set the bandwidth limit for downloads, or try to re-register the Microsoft Store app via Windows PowerShell.
Before you proceed with the troubleshooting options provided below, make sure that your internet connection is stable enough to download apps and games. You also have to check if there is an update or a massive download in progress. Once you have these things covered, follow the given options below.
Option 1 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache
Just like browsers, Microsoft Store also caches as you view apps and games so it is most likely that the cache is no longer valid and must be removed. To do so, follow the steps below.
Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
Next, type in the command, “exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again and then try to install your app or update your computer again.
Option 2 – Try to set the bandwidth limit for downloads
Tap the Win + I key combination to open the Windows Settings app.
After that, navigate to Update & security > Windows Update.
From there, select the Advanced options located on the right-side panel.
Next, select Delivery Optimization and check the box for “Limit how much bandwidth is used for downloading updates in the background under the Download settings section and then set the slider to 100%.
Option 3 – Try to re-register the Microsoft Store app via Windows PowerShell
Tap the Win + X key combination or right-click on the Start button and click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed and open the Windows PowerShell window.
Next, type in or copy-paste the following command to re-register the Microsoft Store app and tap Enter:
What software are you using to keep your information and all your files and memories safe?
None? Yikes. Let’s hope no damage has been done to your data yet then. Because with how the digital world has evolved, your data might be getting leaked and you have no idea.
Why do you need to invest in security software?
There’s really no good excuse not to purchase a quality platform for PC protection. Especially since top security solutions are available at such affordable prices nowadays, your wallet would barely even notice it.
At this point, only people who barely use their PCs and have zero sensitive information on them can get away with simply using the built-in Windows 10/11 security software. But we guarantee that those people are extremely hard to find and that you’re not one of them, and here’s why.
Even if you don’t use your computer for things that are very obviously sensitive, such as internet banking, you still have some personal data at risk of being stolen. How so? Well, think about the data you enter into your social media profiles, for example. How devastating would it be if somebody got a hold of any of it? Yep, that’s what we thought.
Credit: FLY:D on Unsplash
In the hands of a skilled cybercriminal, your phone number alone could put you at risk of scams, ransomware, identity theft and more. Also think about the stuff you share in texts and social media chats. Think about the websites you visit and how many times you may have accidentally clicked on an ad, which could very well contain malicious software. Those all seem harmless until someone’s actually used them against you.
Now imagine the dangers involved when you actually store truly confidential data on your PC and browsers. Sends shivers down your spine, doesn’t it?
In the case of a successful cyberattack of whatever type (virus, phishing, worms, etc.), there’s so much that is at stake. Businesses/legal persons will suffer from financial loss and damaged reputation, at the very least. Natural persons may be threatened or exploited, get their banking or medical information and even their identity stolen, etc. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
These are our biggest reasons for investing in Windows PC protection software:
Cyberthreats are constantly evolving to the point where built-in or free software won’t cut it anymore.
Those working remotely can have peace of mind knowing both personal and business data is completely secure.
Businesses using top security solutions ensure their customers trust them.
Data breaches are a pain in the you-know-what to handle. Fighting a cyberattack and going back to normal is a demanding process, and not to mention the stress it’ll cause. We’d rather prevent all that by using trustworthy security products!
It helps parents worry a little less about their children’s safety in the online world.
Added bonus: with most products, you get an ad-free browsing experience!
Obviously, there are a lot more reasons to get your PC secured. But we think you get it. So let’s cut to the chase and take a look at our 6 favorite protection solutions and the wonders they can do for you.
*Note that in this article we’re looking at products primarily suited for households and home offices, some for small businesses. No enterprise solutions will make the list today, but stay tuned for a future article on those.
Top 6 best PC protection solutions
1. Bitdefender Total & Internet Security\
One of the biggest security product vendors out there, Bitdefender offers several awesome solutions. We want to introduce two of our favorites, Bitdefender Total Security and Bitdefender Internet Security.
Bitdefender Total Security is great for both households and smaller offices. You can choose to protect 5 or 10 devices, and not necessarily just Windows devices. It also works for macOS, Android and iOS. It offers a range of powerful features, such as:
Real-time data protection
Webcam and microphone protection
Device optimization options
Anti-phishing/-fraud/-spam technology
Ransomware protection
Anti-loss and anti-theft tools
VPN and privacy firewall
Anti-tracking technology
Parental controls
24/7 support
Bitdefender Internet Security shares almost all of these features, but there are a few important differences to note. Unlike Total Security, Internet Security has more options in terms of the number of protected devices: 1, 3, 5 or 10. However it’s only compatible with the Windows platform and it doesn’t offer device optimization tools or anti-theft options. Whether or not this is a deal-breaker depends on your needs alone - we still find it a great security tool.
Credit: Firmbee.com on Unsplash
2. ESET Internet Security
An award-winning Windows security product, ESET Internet Security is essential on this list. It has an outstanding protection rate of 99.9% and a range of amazing options you’ll definitely want to make use of. It can be installed on up to 10 devices, making it an awesome tool for your household, home office or a small business. It’s also compatible with macOS and Android.
These are ESET Internet Security’s best features:
Protection against ransomware and spyware
Protection against malware specifically designed to avoid detection
In-depth scans when the computer is not in use
Firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your PC
Anti-spam tool
Anti-phishing and botnet protection technologies
Tool to scan your router and smart devices for vulnerabilities
Special browser for secure internet banking
Parental controls
Prevention of unauthorized webcam access
If you ask us, ESET has it all!
Credit: rupixen.com on Unsplash
3. Kaspersky Total & Internet Security
Having a deja vu? Didn’t you just read Total Security and Internet Security somewhere? Oh, that’s right - the first entry on our list! But here we’re talking about Kaspersky, a vendor you’ve also definitely heard about before.
Just like Bitdefender, Kaspersky is another one of those renowned names in the cybersecurity world that always make it to every ‘best of’ list. And for good reason - its products really fulfill their purpose. So let’s take a closer look at the two we chose.
These are the features both Kaspersky Total Security and Kaspersky Internet Security have in common:
Real-time virus and spyware blocking
Webcam protection
Wi-Fi security notifications
Advanced identity theft protection
Free technical support on several channels
Remote security management
Multiple devices (up to 10)
The main difference between Kaspersky Total Security and Internet Security is that the former offers more capabilities. These are the features KTS offers that KIS does not:
System cleanup
File shredding
Password management
Data backup and encryption
Both are excellent security tools, though we do prefer KTS a little more because of these additional options.
4. Norton 360 Deluxe
Of course one of the industry-leading solutions makes the list. Norton 360 Deluxe can protect up to 5 devices, be it Windows, iOS, macOS or Android. It’s worth noting that its features are best developed for Windows. Here’s what you get with Norton 360 Deluxe:
Protection against viruses, hackers, malware
100% virus protection promise
VPN included for all devices
Unlimited VPN on Windows
Password manager
Parental controls
So is there anything aside from these standard protection features that makes it such a favorite among us techies? Let us tell you! Norton added a little bit of spice here with two really powerful capabilities. The Deluxe product offers 50GB of cloud backup and dark web monitoring. The latter means the software notifies you if any of your personal information is found on the dark web, which helps protect you against identity theft.
Credit: Luke Peters on Unsplash
5. McAfee Antivirus
Don’t be misled by the name of this product. Antivirus software may have started as protection against viruses only, but it’s developed quite a lot. The name simply stuck. All that to say that McAfee Antivirus - another award-winning security solution - protects you against several different threats.
The basic and essential plan allow 1 and 5 devices respectively, while McAfee+ Premium and Advanced work on an unlimited number of devices. The latter two also offer more capabilities, as you can imagine. Here’s what you can expect from all of them:
Secure unlimited VPN
File shredder to delete sensitive files completely
Ultimate safety while browsing
Protection against hackers
100% virus protection promise
Advanced firewall to block dangerous traffic
Online support from specialists
Protection score (shows how safe you are and detects vulnerabilities)
Identity monitoring (notifies you if any of your information is on the dark web)
Password management
Unlike the previous products, McAfee Antivirus does not offer parental controls. Otherwise it’s a pretty strong and comprehensive protection tool and might just be the right choice for you!
6. Trend Micro Maximum Security
Last but definitely not least, we’ve got Maximum Security by Trend Micro. And yes, you guessed it, Trend Micro is also an award winner in terms of cybersecurity. Its products have been recognized as industry-leading security solutions by AV-Test since 2003. Among all its fantastic solutions, our favorite for households or small offices is Maximum Security.
You can use Trend Micro Maximum Security to protect 3-5 devices for a year or two years before needing to renew your license. Aside from Windows, it’s compatible with iOS, Android, Mac and Chromebook devices. Here’s what you can expect from this protection software:
Powerful malware protection
Phishing detection and prevention (email)
Password management and protection
Maximum security for online banking and shopping
System optimization
Social media privacy protection
Parental controls
24/7 technical support
No notifications during gaming
It’s truly one of the most effective platforms out there dedicated to protecting your digital life. Using this product, ransomware, identity thieves and malicious websites don’t stand a chance.
The bottom line
If you’ve made it all the way here, congratulations, you’ve made the right choice: to invest in securing your valuable data! Now the question is: which one of these 6 awesome antivirus/antimalware products to select?
The paradox of choice is a very real thing - we feel you. As mentioned, it comes down to what your specific needs are. So before you go ahead and purchase your security software, make sure to explore all options.
And if you really can’t handle the decision-making anxiety, feel free to reach out. We’ll happily assist you in finding the right product to keep your digital life secure!
If you are having trouble using the Epic Games Launcher, here are some troubleshooting steps that usually fix common problems.
Check the Epic Games server status
Check the Epic Games Server Status page to make sure all systems are operational. If the Epic Games Launcher is affected by an outage or system-wide issue, your issue may be fixed when the outage is resolved.
Clear your launcher’s webcache
Clearing the webcache often resolves display issues that may prevent you from using the launcher. Follow these steps to clear your webcache:
Windows
Exit the Epic Games Launcher by right-clicking the system tray icon in the bottom-right corner, and then clicking Exit.
Press Windows key + R, type “%localappdata%”, and then press Enter to open a File Explorer window.
Open the Epic Games Launcher folder.
Open the Saved folder.
Click the webcache folder, and then delete it.
Restart your computer, and then relaunch the Epic Games Launcher.
Mac
Exit the Epic Games Launcher.
Open Finder.
Click on Go then Go to Folder...
Type ~/Library/Caches/com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncher and press Enter.
Drag the webcache folder to the Trash.
Press control and click on Trash.
Click on Empty Trash.
Relaunch the Epic Games Launcher.
Run the launcher as an administrator
Running the launcher as an administrator elevates its permissions so it can avoid problems with downloading games, for example. Follow these steps to run the launcher as an administrator:
Right-click your Epic Games Launcher shortcut.
Click Run as Administrator.
Update graphics card drivers
Making sure the player is using the latest graphics card drivers may resolve the launcher crashing. Review this article for steps on how to do update their graphics drivers.
Reinstall the Epic Games Launcher
Note: The following process will remove all of your installed games.
On Windows:
Run system file checker then reinstall the Epic Games Launcher.
Close the Epic Games launcher by right-clicking the system tray icon in the bottom right corner and then clicking Exit.
Click Start.
Type "cmd", right-click Command Prompt,and then click Run as administrator.
In the window that opens, type "sfc /scannow",and then press Enter.
This may take a little while.
Restart your computer.
Click Start.
Type "Add or Remove Programs", and then press Enter.
Select Epic Games Launcher from the list of programs.
Click Uninstall.
Go to www.epicgames.com and click Get Epic Games in the top right corner to download the latest installer.
On Mac:
Close the Epic Games Launcher.
Verify there are no processes associated with the Epic Games Launcher by checking Activity Monitor.
Open the Applications folder.
Click and drag the Epic Games Launcher application to the Trash.
Verify all the following directories no longer have any Epic Games Launcher folders or files:
~/Library/Application Support
~/Library/Caches
~/Library/Preferences
~/Library/Logs
~/Library/Cookies
Go to www.epicgames.com and click Get Epic Games in the top right corner to download the latest installer.
Launcher freezing on macOS 10.15.1 or earlier
If your launcher is freezing on macOS 10.15.1 or earlier, follow the steps above to reinstall the Epic Games Launcher on your Mac.
Verify system requirements
Make sure your computer meets the system requirements to run the Epic Games Launcher using this article here. The system requirements for the Epic Games Launcher are here.
Blinking Epic Games Launcher icon on the taskbar
If you can't start the Epic Games Launcher and see a blinking icon on your taskbar, use these steps to try and fix this:
Right-click your Epic Games Launcher shortcut.
Click Properties.
Select Normal Window from the drop-down menu next to Run.
Click the Compatibility tab.
Uncheck any boxes, and then click Apply then OK.
Click Start,then type "Graphics Settings" and press Enter.
Select Classic app from the drop-down under Graphics performance preference.
Click Browse.
Navigate to the Epic Games Launcher installation directory.
By default, this is C:/Program Files (x86)/Epic Games/Launcher/Portal/Binaries/Win64.
Click the EpicGamesLauncher.exe file, and then click Add.
DirectX encountered unrecoverable error usually face gamers when they try to star certain game. In this guide, we will help you to get over it and solve the issue.
Follow steps in this guide one after another since they go from most simple ones to complex ones so following is advised in order not to waste a ton of time and resources doing wrong tasks.
Check your game page and your DirectX
The first and most common thing that can cause this type of error is when your installed DirectX is not the same version that the game requires. Check the game store page to see system requirements and write down which DirectX version it requires in order to run. Then press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to bring run dialog and type in it DXDIAG and press ENTER
DX diagnostic window will pop up and at the bottom, you can find which DirectX version is installed on your system. If versions are different, install the required DirectX version and run the game.
Update or reinstall GPU drivers
DirectX can get corrupted via bad driver update, in order to fix this, reinstall or update your Graphic drivers to the latest version from the official manufacturers' website.
Set custom scaling to 100
Go into Windows settings and set custom Display scaling to a value of 100, sign out, and then sign back in.
Delete registry key
Note that you should do this as the last option and be very careful since you can crash whole Windows in this way. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog and type RegEdit in it to open the registry editor. Find this key:
ComputerHKEY_CLASSES_ROOTPROTOCOLSFiltertext/XML
and delete it from the registry, you might want to do a backup of the registry first, just in case.
Each time when you press WINDOWS + PrtScn key on your keyboard a screenshot is taken and saved on your Hard drive, to be more precise, it is saved in a specific folder which is in c:\Users\Your user name\Pictures\Screenshots. Now, this specific location is not anything that's bad but it is a little deep and not so user-friendly for quick access.
Luckily this default location can be changed into any folder that you like.
Changing location
First thing is to open File Explorer and then navigate to your PC. Once you go to your PC, go to Pictures, and inside right-click on the Screenshots folder. If there is no screenshots folder inside, this means that since Windows was installed no screenshots were taken with WINDOWS + PrtScn key combination. Please note that just by pressing PrtScn you will create a screenshot but you will place it inside the clipboard ready to be pasted somewhere, with WINDOWS + PrtScn you are saving the screenshot directly in a file on your hard drive.
So once you clicked on the Screenshots folder, go to the bottom and click on properties. Inside properties go to the Location tab. In the location, tab clicks on MOVE and browse to your new location where you would like screenshots to be saved. Once you select the folder for screenshots, click on the Select Folder button and confirm with OK. After this, Windows will ask you would you like to move existing screenshots into the chosen folder. Click YES or NO, depending on your preference.
After this easy setup, all of your new screenshots will be placed now inside the chosen folder.
Thank you for reading and I hope to see you tomorrow. Take care.