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PC Performer is a registry cleaner made by PerformerSoft. The purpose of this program is to remove redundant items from the Windows registry. Registry cleaners remove broken links, missing references within the Windows registry. PC performer is designed to automatically optimize your registry and clean it up.

PC Performer adds registry entries for the current user that allow it to run automatically each time the system is rebooted. It adds a scheduled task to Windows Task Scheduler in order to run at various times. The software connects to the internet, therefore it creates a Windows Firewall exception that allows it to connect without interference. Multiple anti-virus programs detected this software as Malware, it typically comes bundled with other software or is distributed through a pay-per-install bundle.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

People have encountered it – you download and install a piece of free software application, you then see some unwanted applications on your computer or discover a strange toolbar has been added to your browser. You didn’t install them, so how did they turn up? These unwanted programs, technically known as Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs), often come bundled along with other software and install themselves on user’s PC without their knowledge. They perhaps might not look like viruses to some individuals, but they can produce major annoyances and bring about serious trouble for users. The idea of PUP was coined to define this downloadable crapware as something other than malicious software. Much like malware, PUPs create problems when downloaded and placed on your computer, but what makes a PUP different is that you provide consent to download it – the fact is vastly different – the software installation bundle actually tricks you into agreeing to the installation. Still, there isn’t any doubt that PUPs are still bad news for computer users as they can be incredibly damaging to your computer in lots of ways.

What do PUPs look like?

The unwanted software programs after installation display loads of annoying pop-up adverts, create fake alerts, and quite often it even pushes the user to buy the software. Likewise, the majority of free software applications these days come with quite a few unwanted add-ons; in most cases a web browser toolbar or browser modification such as a homepage hijacker. Not only they needlessly use up space on your screen, but toolbars can also manipulate search engine results, watch your browsing activities, decrease your web browser’s performance, and decelerate your net connection to a crawl. PUPs employ aggressive distribution techniques to get in your computer. Some might include information gathering program code that could collect and send your private information back to third parties. Due to this unwanted program, your application may freeze, your security protections may get disabled that might leave the computer susceptible, your system may get ruined, and the list goes on and on.

Tips on how to prevent ‘crapware’

• Read cautiously before agreeing to the license agreement as it may have a clause about PUPs. • Usually, when setting up a program you will get two options, ‘Standard Installation (recommended)’ and ‘Custom Installation’. Don’t select ‘Standard’ as PUPs could be installed that way! • Use good anti-malware software. Try Safebytes Anti-Malware which will find PUPs and handle them as malware by flagging them for removal. • Be alert when you install freeware, open-source software, or shareware. Avoid downloading browser extensions and programs you are not familiar with. • Only download applications from the original providers’ sites. Avoid download portals as they use their own download manager to pack additional programs with the initial download.

What you can do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Or Installing Anything?

Malware could potentially cause several kinds of damage to computer systems, networks, and data. Certain malware goes to great lengths to stop you from installing anything on your PC, especially antivirus applications. If you’re reading this right now, you have perhaps recognized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked web traffic. So what to do if you need to install an antivirus program like Safebytes? There are a few actions you can take to get around this problem.

Eliminate malware in Safe Mode

If the virus is set to load automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, getting into Safe Mode could very well block the attempt. Since just the bare minimum programs and services start-up in safe mode, there are hardly any reasons for issues to happen. The following are the steps you should follow to remove malware in Safemode. 1) At power on/start-up, hit the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have an internet connection again. Now, obtain the malware removal application you need by using the browser. To install the software, follow the directions in the installation wizard. 4) After installation, do a complete scan and let the software delete the threats it detects.

Switch to an alternate browser

Web-based viruses can be environment-specific, targeting a particular web browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. The best solution to overcome this issue is to opt for a browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to keep you safe online.

Install and run anti-virus from a USB drive

To successfully eliminate the malware, you will need to approach the issue of installing an anti-virus program on the infected PC from a different angle. Adopt these measures to employ a USB flash drive to fix your corrupted computer. 1) Use another virus-free computer to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Insert the pen drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the pen drive as the place where you would like to put the software files. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. 5) Now, insert the pen drive into the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes program right from the flash drive. 7) Click “Scan Now” to run a scan on the infected computer for malware.

Highlights of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Do you want to install the best anti-malware software program for your computer system? There are various applications in the market that comes in paid and free versions for Microsoft Windows systems. A few of them are great and some are scamware applications that pretend as legit anti-malware software waiting around to wreak havoc on your computer. While looking for anti-malware software, select one which gives dependable, efficient, and full protection against all known computer viruses and malware. On the list of recommended software is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. SafeBytes carries a really good track record of top-quality service, and clients are happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a highly effective and easy-to-use protection tool that is suitable for users of all levels of computer literacy. With its cutting-edge technology, this application will let you remove multiples types of malware which include viruses, worms, PUPs, trojans, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers. SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of advanced features which sets it apart from all others. Listed here are a few of the great ones: Anti-Malware Protection: Built on a highly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal tool is able to detect and remove many obstinate malware threats such as browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other typical anti-virus programs will miss. Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes offers an entirely hands-free real-time protection that is set to check, prevent and remove all threats at its first encounter. It’ll check your PC for suspicious activity continuously and shields your PC from unauthorized access. Faster Scan: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is one of the quickest and most efficient in the industry. Its targeted scanning seriously increases the catch rate for malware that is embedded in various computer files. Safe Browsing: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you’re going to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Low CPU Usage: SafeBytes is renowned for its minimal influence on processing power and great detection rate of countless threats. It runs silently and efficiently in the background so you’re free to use your computer at full power all the time. 24/7 Customer Support: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and software upgrades for the best user experience.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove PCPerformer 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 PCPerformer

Boost My PC is a program developed by 1.0.2.6. During setup, a scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). When installed, it will add a context menu handler to the Windows shell in order to provide quick access to the program.

Boost My PC presents itself as a legit PC speed-up utility, it scans your computer for problems and displays errors that need to be fixed. Upon accepting to fix these alleged errors, you are asked for a Payment in order to activate this product for a few months.

Many anti-virus scanners have marked this application as a Potentially Unwanted Program, and while Boost My PC is not so harmful on its own, it comes bundled with other Potentially Unwanted Programs that might harm your computer.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

If you’ve ever downloaded and installed a software package via the internet (shareware, freeware, etc,), odds are high you’ve unwittingly installed unwanted programs on your computer. Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP), also referred to as Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA), are programs that you never wanted in the first place and sometimes come bundled with freeware software. Once installed, most of these applications can be hard to remove and become more of a pain rather than a benefit. It’s clear by the name – unwanted applications – but did not really constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. Much like malware, PUPs create problems when downloaded and installed on your machine, but what makes a PUP different is that you grant consent to download it – though the truth is vastly different – the software installation bundle actually tricks you into agreeing to the installation. Regardless of whether it is considered malware or otherwise, PUPs are almost always detrimental to the user as they could bring on adware, spyware, keystroke logging, along other dangerous “crapware” features on your computer.

Exactly how do unwanted programs look like?

Potentially Unwanted Programs appear in different forms and varieties, however, most times, these are typically adware programs that show annoying pop-up adverts and advertisements on web pages you drop by. PUPs that come as browser add-ons and toolbars are widely identifiable. These toolbars change your homepage and your search engine in the installed web browser, track your web activities, influence your search results with redirects and sponsored links, and eventually slow down your web browser and diminish your browsing experience. PUPs lie inside the gray part of the software spectrum. They may carry keyloggers, dialers, along with other software built right into them that might monitor you or send out your sensitive information to 3rd parties. Even if the PUPs aren’t inherently malicious, these programs still do practically nothing good on your personal computer – they will take valuable resources, slow your PC, weaken your device’s security, making your PC more susceptible to malware.

Tips on protecting yourself from PUPs

• Read the EULA carefully. Look for clauses that say that you ought to accept advertising and pop-ups or bundled programs from the company. • Choose the “custom” install whenever downloading a program. In particular, look closely at those tiny boxes that have been checked as default, where you might ‘agree’ to receive ads or install software bundlers. • Use an ad blocker/pop-up blocker; Deploy anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-malware. These types of applications will establish a wall between the computer and cybercriminals. • Avoid installing freeware software you will not make use of. Avoid installing browser extensions and applications you aren’t knowledgeable about. • Only download software from the original providers’ sites. Stay away from download portals because they use their own download manager to pack additional programs together with the initial download.

What you can do if Malware Prevents You From Downloading Anything?

Malware could cause all sorts of damage after they invade your system, from stealing your private details to deleting files on your computer system. Certain malware types alter web browser settings by including a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS configuration settings. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all websites, and therefore unable to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. So what you should do if malicious software prevents you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? Even though this kind of problem can be difficult to get around, there are a few steps you can take.

Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking

If any virus is set to run immediately when Windows starts, stepping into safe mode could block this attempt. Just the minimum required applications and services are loaded whenever you start your PC in Safe Mode. To start your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) Press the F8 key continuously as soon as your system boots, but before the large Windows logo shows up. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have online access once again. Now, use your internet browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) Immediately after installation, run a full scan and let the software remove the threats it discovers.

Switch over to a different web browser

Some malware only targets specific web browsers. If this sounds like your situation, employ another web browser as it may circumvent the computer virus. If you’re not able to download the security software using Internet Explorer, this means the virus may be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you must switch to another internet browser like Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes program.

Install and run anti-virus from a USB drive

Another option is to store and operate an anti-malware program completely from a Flash drive. Try these simple steps to clear up your infected computer by using portable anti-malware. 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free computer. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with a .exe file extension. 4) Select the drive letter of the flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you want to install the anti-malware. Do as instructed on the computer screen to finish off 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 right from the thumb drive. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Ensure the Safety of Your PC by Installing SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you’re looking to buy anti-malware for your computer, there are numerous brands and packages for you to consider. A few are very good ones, some are ok types, and some are merely fake anti-malware programs that could damage your personal computer themselves! You have to be very careful not to pick the wrong product, especially if you purchase a paid application. On the list of strongly recommended software programs is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. SafeBytes carries a very good history of top-quality service, and clients appear to be happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your system completely but is also very easy to use for people of all ability levels. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your personal computer against infections caused by various kinds of malware and other threats, including spyware, adware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and ransomware.

There are plenty of wonderful features you’ll get with this particular security product. These are some of the highlighted features included in the software.

World-class AntiMalware Protection: Built on a highly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal application has the capacity to detect and get rid of several stubborn malware threats like browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other common antivirus programs will miss. Live Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC restricting malware attacks in real-time. It will regularly monitor your pc for hacker activity and also provides users with advanced firewall protection. Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes provides an instant safety rating about the web pages you’re going to visit, automatically blocking risky sites and making sure that you are certain of your online safety while browsing the world wide web. Low CPU Usage: This program is lightweight and can run silently in the background, and that does not impact your computer efficiency. 24/7 Customer Support: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and updates for the best user experience. To sum it up, SafeBytes has created a meaningful anti-malware solution that is aimed to protect your computer against various malware. Malware problems can become a thing of the past once you put this software program to use. For top protection and the best value for your money, you can’t get better than SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t wish to use an automated tool and like to eliminate Boost My PC manually, you could possibly do so by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of web browser add-ons, you could remove it by going to the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You will definitely also want to reset your internet browser. If you opt to manually delete the system files and Windows registry entries, make use of the following list to ensure that you know precisely what files to remove before executing any actions. Please remember that this is for skilled users only and may be challenging, with wrong file removal leading to additional PC errors. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is highly recommended that you carry out the removal procedure in Safe Mode.

If you are using your computer and you notice that Hard drive shows high space utilization even if you only have a few applications installed on your computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on what you can do to sort this problem. Upon noticing the odd state of your hard drive and you check the actual volume that’s occupied by the apps in your drive and you see that they are not really occupying a lot of space. This kind of issue could indicate that your hard drive is not showing the correct value for the free storage space of the drive-in your Windows 10 computer. This kind of problem could be passed off as a system bug, however, it could also be a serious problem. In fact, as you are aware, there are hidden folders and files in your computer that could be occupying space and since most of them are associated with system applications, you might not realize it unless you thoroughly check the folders.

The most common causes of the issue are as follows:

1. The system information folder might be utilizing a lot of space. If you wonder where the information for the system restore points is stored, they are stored in the system information folder which in turn is stored in the drive as a hidden file.
2. An issue with system maintenance could cause the problem.
3. Malware or some other software might have created an undetectable hidden file.
4. Space could be occupied by the trashbin folder.
5. These hidden files could occupy significant space in the folder, thus slowing down the system and impacting its performance. If you face this issue, try our suggestions and see if they help you.
6. Run ChkDsk
7. Clear all Junk files
8. Reduce the space occupied by the system restore points
9. Run the System Maintenance troubleshooter

Option 1 – Run CHKDSK utility to check the drive for errors

When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. To use it, follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + S keys to open the Search box.
• Then type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
• After opening an elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:

CHKDSK [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]]

Note: In the command given above, “[/F]” will try to fix the system errors while “[/R]” will be the one to fix the bad sectors.

• Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your PC, just tap Y and reboot your PC.
• If CHKDSK is not able to find any errors, tap the Win + E keys and navigate the access window. From there, right-click on the concerned drive and click on Properties.
• After opening Properties, click on the tab Tools and then click on the “Check” button under the Error-checking section.
• Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.

Option 2 – Try to delete the temporary 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
  • The 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 Clean Now button. This will get rid of all the temporary or junk files in your computer and should hopefully fix the error.

Option 3 – Try to reduce the space occupied by the system restore points

In case you don’t know, system restore points actually occupy a significant space in your computer which is stored in the System Information folder. Thus, you need to check the size of this folder and unhide the folders and files and then click on the folder. The size of the folder should be displayed in the right pane of the window. To fix the storage space problem, you could delete all the old System Restore Points as well as Previous versions of files or you could also restrict the disk usage of the System Restore points.

Option 4 – Try to run the System Maintenance troubleshooter

The problem could also be caused by the System Maintenance and to fix it, you have to run the System Maintenance troubleshooter by following these steps:

• In the Windows Search bar, type “control panel” and double click on Control Panel from the search results.
• Next, go to this path: Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsTroubleshootingSystem and Security.
• After that, click on the System Maintenance troubleshooter to run it.
• Once the process is completed, restart your computer.

FunPopularGames is a browser extension developed by Mindspark Inc. that lets you play popular, best-rated, and other games via popular websites, it also allows you to bookmark your favorite games for faster and easier access.

When installed it changes your default new tab page and default search engine to Search by MyWay. While browsing the internet with this extension enabled you will see additional injected ads, sponsored content, and pop-up ads throughout your browsing sessions.

While active this extension monitors user activity and browsing sessions, enabling it to track visited websites, clicked links, and other useful information that it later forwards to Mindspark to be used/sold for better ad placement.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is amongst the internet’s constant risks that target internet browsers. It’s a kind of malicious software that alters your web browser’s configuration settings so that you are redirected to sites or web pages you had no intention of visiting. Browser hijackers could do a variety of things on your PC. These are generally used to force hits to predetermined sites, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. Although it may seem naive, all browser hijackers are harmful and therefore always classified as security threats. Browser hijackers could also allow other destructive programs without your knowledge to further damage your PC.

How to determine if your internet browser has been hijacked

The following are some signs and symptoms that indicate you’ve been hijacked: 1. the home page of your browser is changed suddenly 2. you find new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, usually directed to ad-filled or porn sites 3. the default online search engine and the default browser settings are altered 4. you see unsolicited new toolbars added 5. unstoppable flurries of popup ads show up on your computer screen 6. your browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly 7. you can’t navigate to certain web pages, such as security software-related sites.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way onto your PC

There are several ways your computer or laptop can become infected with a browser hijacker. They typically arrive by way of spam email, via file sharing websites, or by a drive-by download. They can also originate from any BHO, extension, add-on, toolbar, or plug-in with malicious intent. Sometimes you might have accidentally accepted a browser hijacker as part of an application bundle (usually freeware or shareware). Browser hijacking can cause serious privacy problems and also identity theft, disrupt your browsing experience by taking control of outbound traffic, drastically slows down your computer by consuming lots of resources, and lead to system instability at the same time.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Certain browser hijacking can be simply reversed by discovering and removing the corresponding malware application from your control panel. But, the majority of hijacking codes are not easy to get rid of manually, since they go deeper into the operating system. Moreover, manual removals require in-depth system understanding and therefore could be a very difficult job for beginner computer users. Anti-malware software is really effective with regards to discovering and removing browser hijackers that standard anti-virus program has overlooked. To eradicate any type of browser hijacker from your personal computer, you should download this certified malware removal application – SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

What To Do When You Cannot Install Any Anti-virus?

Malware can cause all sorts of damage if they invade your PC, ranging from stealing your private information to deleting data files on your computer. Some malware is created to interfere with or prevent things that you want to do on your computer system. It may not allow you to download anything from the web or it will stop you from accessing a few or all internet sites, especially the anti-malware websites. If you’re reading this, you may have got affected by malware that stops you from downloading a security program such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. Although this type of issue will be difficult to circumvent, there are a few steps you can take.

Get rid of malware in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you are able to modify Windows settings, un-install or install some software, and eradicate hard-to-delete viruses. In the event the malware is obstructing internet access and affecting your PC, launching it in Safe Mode allows you to download antivirus and run a scan while limiting potential damage. To start the computer into Safe Mode, press the “F8” key on the keyboard just before the Windows logo screen comes up; Or right after normal Windows boot up, run MSConfig, look over “Safe Boot” under the Boot tab, and then click Apply. As soon as you reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, you can download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you can run the anti-malware scan to get rid of computer viruses and malware without any hindrance from another application.

Switch over to an alternate browser

Malicious program code may exploit vulnerabilities in a particular web browser and block access to all anti-malware software sites. If you are not able to download the security program using Internet Explorer, this means malware is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you must switch to a different web browser like Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes application.

Create a portable antivirus for removing malware

Another method is to download and transfer anti-malware software from a clean PC to run a scan on the affected computer. Follow these steps to employ a flash drive to clean your corrupted system. 1) On a clean PC, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the Thumb drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Choose the flash drive as the location for saving the file. Follow the directions to finish the installation process. 5) Remove the USB drive. You can now use this portable antivirus on the infected computer system. 6) Double-click the antivirus program EXE file on the USB flash drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to identify and clean-up up all kinds of malware.

SafeBytes Security Suite Benefits

In order to protect your laptop or computer from a variety of internet-based threats, it’s very important to install an anti-malware program on your PC. But with so many anti-malware companies out there, nowadays it’s difficult to decide which one you should obtain for your computer. A few of them do a good job in removing malware threats while some will ruin your computer by themselves. You have to pick one that is dependable, practical, and has a good reputation for its malware protection. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software program for the security-conscious end user. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, highly effective protection tool designed to help end-users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and removing harmful threats out of their personal computers. With its cutting-edge technology, this application will allow you to eradicate several types of malware which include viruses, PUPs, trojans, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes has got a plethora of wonderful features that can help you protect your computer from malware attacks and damage. A few of them are listed as below:

World-class AntiMalware Protection: With its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can detect and remove the malware threats hiding in the computer effectively. Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes offers an entirely hands-free active protection that is set to check, block and destroy all computer threats at its first encounter. They’re very efficient in screening and removing various threats since they’re continuously revised with new updates and safety measures. Internet Security: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating to the pages you’re about to visit, automatically blocking dangerous sites and ensuring that you are certain of your online safety while browsing the web. Lowest CPU and Memory Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-of-use anti-virus and antimalware solution. Since it utilizes minimum computer resources, this software leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs: with you. 24/7 Online Support: For any technical concerns or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and email. SafeBytes has come up with an excellent anti-malware solution that can help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. Malware trouble can become a thing of the past when you put this software program to use. You will get the very best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes Anti-Malware subscription, there isn’t any doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you do not wish to use an automated tool and like to get rid of FunPopularGames manually, you could possibly do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and delete the offending program; in cases of browser extensions, you may remove it by going to the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. You will probably also want to reset your web browser to its default configuration settings. To be certain of complete removal, find the following registry entries on your computer and remove them or reset the values accordingly. However, editing the registry is usually a hard task that only advanced users and professionals should try to fix the problem. Moreover, some malicious programs have the capability to defend against its removal. Completing this task in Safe Mode is advised.

The new Windows 10 update has brought some fixes, improvements, and little things to personalize our computer more. One of these personalization updates we have received is that we can now finally change the color of our START menu and taskbar and it is easy as 1,2,3. In order to change and personalize your START menu and/or title bars all you have to do is click on your windows icon to bring the start menu up and then click on settings. Once you are in setting windows go to personalization settings. When the personalization setting opens go-to color tab on left and scroll down until you find 2 checkboxes under "show accent color on the following surfaces:" check ones you wish to apply the effect to and you are done. Now your START menu and/or title bars are using the color scheme of your choice.

If you encountered an error message that says, “Unhandled exception has occurred in your application”, when you start your Windows 10 computer, read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix it. This kind of error usually appears in a Microsoft .NET Framework window and it mostly pops up as soon as you turn on your computer. Here’s the complete context of the error message:

“Unhandled exception has occurred in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately.”

When this error occurs, your computer may freeze or display other suspicious behavior at times. Either way, there are several options you can check out in this post to resolve this issue, so read on. This kind of error could be caused by several factors. It could be due to your antivirus program or other third-party programs installed on your computer. It is also possible that the installation of the Microsoft .NET framework id corrupted or some of its installation files are corrupted. Thus, to fix the error, there are a few suggestions you need to follow such as:

Option 1 – Try to temporarily disable your anti-virus program

As mentioned, the error could be due to the antivirus program or the Windows Defender Firewall installed on your computer. Thus, disabling them or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when you’re not able to access the shared drive in your computer. There are times when you encounter problems like the “Unhandled exception has occurred in your application” error due to interference of antivirus or security programs. Thus, you have to disable both your antivirus program in the meantime and check if it fixes the error or not.

Option 2 – Put your computer in a Clean Boot State

As pointed out, it is possible that some third-party program or service is the one that’s behind the problem. To isolate this possibility and to identify the culprit, you have to put your computer into a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Log onto your PC as an administrator.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
• Once your computer has restarted, check if the error is now gone. If it is, then the culprit is some third-party program. Thus, you have to enable the third-party programs one by one to find out which one of them is causing the the “Unhandled exception has occurred in your application” error.

Option 3 – Try to run a System File Checker scan

System File Checker or 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 that might be the cause why you’re getting the “Unhandled exception has occurred in your application” error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Type “cmd” in the Start search and then right-click on the appropriate search result.
• Next, select “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• 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 and see if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 4 – Install and update Dependencies

There are times when programs and applications need to have drivers and supporting software installed for them to properly work. Although the installation usually takes care of it, it’s time for you to do some manual check especially if you are getting this issue of abnormal program termination.

• Install some qualified drivers – A number of high-end games and applications need to have correct and valid drivers for them to work. They just don’t work with general drivers though. Microsoft has this Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing also known as WHQL testing which makes sure that drivers meet the correct experience and pass through the proper testing before certification. Thus, when installing drivers, you need to ensure that they are qualified drivers for your Windows 10 PC.
• Download and install or Update DirectX – As you know, Microsoft DirectX is a suite of technologies developed by Microsoft to provide hardware acceleration for heavy multimedia applications like HD videos and 3D games. Since you are using Windows 10, you have the DirectX 12 version while the earlier Windows versions use the DirectX 11 version.
• Install the Microsoft DirectX End-user runtime – The Microsoft DirectX end-user runtime gives updates to version 9.0c as well as previous versions of DirectX. To install it, click on this link and download it.
• Update or install the .NET framework – The .NET framework is used by games and applications during development which means that without the runtime files that are installed in your computer, it definitely won’t work. Thus, you need to install or update this framework. You can also use the .NET setup verification tool to verify it.

Athwbx.sys or the Qualcomm Atheros driver file is known to trigger several Blue Screen of Death errors. This occurs when the driver gets corrupted or when the operating system is unable to access or find it. In addition, bad sectors in the hard disk or RAM can also cause BSOD errors. The athwbx.sys file is known to cause the following BSOD errors listed below:

• SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (athwbx.sys)
• STOP 0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_EQUAL (athwbx.sys)
• STOP 0x0000001E: KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (athwbx.sys)
• STOP 0×00000050: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (athwbx.sys)
• Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. You can search online later for this error: athwbx.sys

Before you proceed with the troubleshooting tips given below, you might want to try performing System Restore as it could resolve Blue Screen errors caused by the athwbx.sys file. To run System Restore, follow these steps:

• Tap 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 problem is fixed or not.

If System Restore didn’t help in fixing the Blue Screen error, now’s the time for you to resort to the troubleshooting tips provided below but before you get started, make sure that you create a System Restore point first.

Option 1 – Try recreating the athwbx.sys file

The first thing you can try is to recreate the athwbx.sys file. Every time your Windows 10 PC boots up, it looks for all the system drivers in place and if it is unable to find them, it tries to create them. This is why if you remove your corrupt driver file, chances are, you might get a fixed file recreated just for you. How? Refer to the steps below.

• Boot your Windows 10 PC in Safe Mode.
• Then open File Explorer and navigate to this location: C:/Windows/System32/drivers
• From there, look for the file named sys and rename it to athwbx.old.

Note: As you can see, the file’s extension has changed from .sys to .old.

• Now restart your computer and check if the athwbx.sys Blue Screen error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to update or rollback your device drivers

If the first option didn’t work for you, then it’s time to either update or roll back the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions. Whichever applies to you, refer to the steps below.

• Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
• Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
• After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
• Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
• Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.

Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer.

Option 3 – Run the System File Checker Scan

System File Checker or 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.

• Restart your computer.

Option 4 – Try to run the CHKDSK utility

Running the CHKDSK utility might also help you resolve the athwbx.sys Blue Screen error. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the CHKDSK utility comes in. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /f /r

• Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 5 – Run the Memory Diagnostic Tool

Running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool in Windows 10 might also help you in fixing the athwbx.sys Blue Screen error. Refer to the steps below on how to run this tool:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
• After that, it will give two options such as:
  • Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
  • Check for problems the next time I start my computer
• Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.

Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them and if there’s no issue found, then it’s most likely not a memory-based issue so you should try the other options given below.

Option 6 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like athwbx.sys. 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.

The use of Biometrics is supported by Windows 10. Aside from that, it also supports PIN, password, picture password on all computers and if your computer has the proper hardware, Windows 10 also supports facial scanning, iris scanning, and even fingerprint scanning. You can see all these exciting features inside Settings > Accounts > Sign In Options. On the other hand, you can’t really expect to make use of all the above-mentioned features since it depends if the hardware is available to support them. One of the most interesting features is the use of Biometrics which is really useful in workplaces and so this post will show you how you can enable or disable the Domain Users Sign In on Windows 10 using Biometrics via Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor. But before you go on, you need to create a System Restore Point first since the modifications you’re about to do might affect the functioning of your computer. So in case something went wrong, you can always undo the changes you’ve made.

Option 1 – via Registry Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• After that, navigate to the following registry path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftBiometricsCredential Provider

• From there, right-click on the right-side panel and click on New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
• And then set the name of the newly created DWORD as “Domain Accounts”.
• Afterward, click on “Domain Accounts” and set its value to “1”. This will allow the domain users to sign in to Windows 10 using Biometrics. While the value of 0 will disable the domain users sign in to Windows 10 using Biometrics.
• Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Option 2 – via Group Policy Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• After that, navigate to the following setting:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Biometrics

• Then double click on the following entries located on the right-side panel and set the radio button to Enabled on all of them.
  • Allow the use of Biometrics.
  • Allow users to log on using Biometrics.
  • Allow domain users to log on using biometrics.
• Now exit the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer to apply the changes made properly.

If your browser of choice is Google Chrome then sit back and enjoy the ride as we are going through some great productivity tips for it. So without further talking let's dive right into them.

Browsing using tabs groups in Chrome

If you have plenty of tabs opened during your browsing session clogging your screen then you will be happy to know that it is possible to group tabs under, well tabs groups. The good part is that you can name groups however you wish and even code them with color if you wish so. Right-click a tab for a website you want to put into a group. Select Add tab to the new group, then type in a name for the group and choose a color. Create as many groups as you want in this way. To put a tab into an existing group, right-click the tab, select Add tab to group, and select the group to which you want to add the tab. To remove a tab from a group, right-click it and select remove from group.

Send a highlighted text to another Chrome user

If you want to send some text or article you stumbled upon while surfing the internet, there is an easy way to do it providing that the target user is also on Google chrome. Highlight the text you want to share, then right-click it and select Copy link to highlight. That creates the link and puts it into your clipboard. Copy the link from your clipboard and send it to someone. When they click on it, they’ll be sent to the section of the web page with the text you want to share, and the text will be highlighted in yellow.

Sync Google Chrome via the account on multiple devices

If you use multiple devices there is an option to sync Chrome through all of these devices and get all of your bookmarks, history, etc. All you have to do is click on three dots in the upper right corner and click on synchronize. Take note that you will need a Google account in order to sync accounts and you will need to be logged in on all devices you are syncing.

Use multiple search engines

If you need or want to use multiple search engines inside Chrome like BING, DuckDuckGo, etc. now you can and you can do it very easily. Click the three-dot menu icon at the top right of Chrome and select Settings, Search engine, Manage search engines. Under the Default search engines section toward the top of the page, you’ll see a list of search engines you can search through without having to navigate to their sites. To perform a search using any of these engines, such as Bing.com, type bing.com into the address bar and press the Tab key. The leftmost part of the address bar changes, it will read Search Bing or whatever search engine you’ve typed in. Now just type in your search term and press Enter, and you’ll do a search with that search engine.

Search similar websites in content

When you are searching for content on google there is a very easy and quick way to find similar content on the internet. For example, if you want to find more sites similar to the searched site just type in the address bar in front of address related: For example, if you want sites similar to Microsoft, you would type related:www.microsoft.com

Open specific set of websites on Chrome startup

If you need and want to open a specific set of pages each time Chrome is booted know that you can. Click the three, dot icon at the top right of Chrome and select Settings, You and Google, then scroll to the On startup section at the bottom of the screen. Select Open a specific page or set of pages, then click Add a new page, type or paste in the page’s URL and click Add. Add as many pages as you want this way. That’s it for now on Google Chrome tips for better productivity, tune-up again to errortools.com for more articles.

What is Error 0xc0000142?

Error 0xc0000142 can occur in any of the Windows versions and usually occurs when an application fails to properly initialize.

This error can be critical for a computer as it signifies that the system is unstable. Error 0xc0000142 can cause slow performance in a PC, system freeze, startup and shutdown issues, blue screen and errors in installation.

Solution

Error Causes

Windows/Application Error 0xc0000142 can occur because of a number of reasons.

When a computer is an overload with data, or when system files get broken or missing, this error can occur and will result in startup and shutdown issues as well as the blue screen. Another reason, and one which is quite common, is improper computer maintenance.

This will cause a PC to perform slow, system freezes, and installation errors. This error displays ‘failed to initialize’ on either a Windows error box or the blue screen of death.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Error 0xc0000142 can occur at any time, but there are many ways to resolve it. For instance:

1) Clean the Registry

A corrupted registry is one of the major reasons why this error occurs. The registry is used by Windows to store information and settings on the computer, which is why it has a large database.

This database contains emails, wallpapers, saved passwords and much more in ‘file path references’. These allow Windows to run the common files in your system. A registry cleaner can fix any errors in the registry database.

2) Malware Scan

Viruses can cause certain applications to not function properly. Hence, download a strong antivirus and run a deep scan on your system and remove any potential infections and spyware.

3) Reinstall Applications

Non-critical applications in a computer are those that are installed by the user. If error 0xc0000142 displays in any of your installed programs, then you should reinstall these programs. Often applications have damaged or corrupted files which can slow them down. To resolve this, follow these steps:

• From Start, click on Control Panel
• Go to Add/Remove Programs and uninstall the programs
• Restart your PC and reinstall the program

The third step is not recommended in case the error is caused by cmd.exe

4) Repair Windows

If the error is still on display despite following the previous steps, then you can repair Windows. This process allows Windows to retain all your data and information by simply replacing the program files and settings with fresh ones. This can stop error 0xc0000142 by allowing the programs access to use necessary files smoothly and effectively.

If you cannot resolve the error in any of these steps, then there is another way to do so if you have a computer that runs the Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000. Follow these steps in order to resolve it:

• Make sure that in Program Files and Microsoft ISA Server, a Clients folder exists. The ISA Server service will run on this folder
• Confirm that Administrators and SYSTEM have Full Control assigned in the Program Files/Microsoft ISA Server/Clients folder
• Confirm that Msplat.txt file is in the Clients folder. You can copy this file from other ISA Server computers if it is missing
• If the Clients folder is damaged or is missing, or if you can’t copy the Msplat.tct file from another ISA Server computer, then reinstall the ISA Server 2000