Poor PC maintenance can lead to error message pop-ups like error code 41. Code 41 is one of the several Device Manager Error codes.
This error indicates 2 things: issues with the device driver for the hardware you wish to use, or the hardware device is not properly attached to your system.
The error code 41 is usually displayed in the following format:
“Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device.” Code 41
Solution
Error Causes
For successful installation of a new hardware piece, it is imperative to follow the installation routine correctly and allow it to complete properly, especially with USB devices.
This is important largely because if installation is not followed and executed properly, code 41 can pop up.
Code 41 is also related to device driver problems. It can occur if your system device drivers are outdated. Also, if the device is a CD/DVD drive, code 41 can occur due to conflicts with 3rd party disc burning software.
Although Device Manager Error code 41 is not detrimental, it is still advisable to repair it as quickly as you can. Code 41 can negatively affect your PC. It can:
Lower your PC’s Performance
Limit your ability to use your desired piece of hardware device
Further Information and Manual Repair
As compared to the blue screen of death errors, Device Manager Error codes are much easier to resolve.
Here are some of the best, effective and easy-to-resolve methods to help you fix code 41 on your PC, in a few minutes.
To work around these methods, you don’t have to be a technical whiz or a computer programmer. Simply follow these steps to resolve:
Method 1 - Uninstall Faulty Drivers and then Reinstall
To repair code 41 on your system, try uninstalling problematic drivers and then reinstalling new drivers. To do this, follow these instructions:
Click the start button
Then type Device Manager in the search bar and press enter
Once the Device Manager opens, look for problematic devices
Click on the device whose driver you wish to uninstall
Double click to uninstall
Windows will prompt you to confirm the device removal
Accept changes and confirm by clicking on OK
Now reboot your PC to activate changes
The next step is to reinstall the driver properly. To do this, simply follow the same steps. Once you access the Device Manager,
Click on the Action tab in the toolbar
After that select the option ‘Scan for Hardware Changes’
This will hopefully resolve error code 41 on your system and you will be able to use your desired hardware device without any hassle. Nonetheless, if the error code continues to persist, try other methods illustrated below.
Method 2 - Replace the Hardware or Try Reattaching it to your System
Sometimes the error may pop up due to poorly configured devices. This is common if it is a plug-and-play device. The best way to resolve is to remove the device, reattach it properly, and then try using it again.
However, if the problem is with the hardware, then it is advisable to replace the hardware with a new device compatible with your Windows version.
Method 3 - Update the Drivers Manually
If the underlying cause for error code 41 is outdated or corrupted drivers, then it is advisable to update the drivers.
However, when updating drivers and ensuring that the newly installed drivers work perfectly, make sure you install versions that are compatible with your device and Windows. Incompatible drivers are no good.
You will continue to face Device Manager Errors if you install incompatible drivers.
To update drivers, here’s what you have to do:
Identify the problematic drivers
Go to the Device Manager and locate all drivers with yellow exclamation marks
Now install new and compatible driver versions from the manufacturers’ site
Method 4 - Download Driver Assist to Update Drivers Automatically
Updating drivers manually will take time, so perform this task when you are free and have nothing else on your mind. However, if you wish to resolve the issue immediately and have the time to invest in manual updates, then consider downloading DriverFIX.
DriverFIX is a feature-rich and an innovative software program deployed with an intelligent programming system and intuitive technology.
It is exclusively designed to resolve PC device driver problems. Once installed on your system, it scans your PC and identifies problematic drivers.
After that it matches latest and compatible driver versions and updates them immediately within a few seconds. DriverFIX updates drivers both automatically and on a regular basis.
Click here to download DriverFIX to update drivers and repair error code 41.
Error 2 is a typical Battle.net error code. Battle.net is a desktop app that allows you to access all Blizzard games.
It enables Blizzard gamers around the world to play multiplayer matches together, online. Error 2 occurs when you are unable to connect to the login server. This error code is displayed in the following format:
Battle.net Error #2: Unable to connect. Please try again later. If the problem persists, please contact technical support.
Solution
Error Causes
Error 2 may be triggered due to several reasons. These include:
Program conflict
Security software conflict
Bad DNS cache entry
Issues with network devices
Viruses and malware
Registry corruption
Error 2 is not a fatal error like the blue screen of death error codes. However, this error may hamper your ability to play Blizzard multi-player games. To overcome this problem it is advisable to fix error 2 immediately.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To resolve this error you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to hire a professional and get it fixed. Here are some of the easy do-it-yourself methods to resolve this error on your PC. These methods require no technical expertise or knowledge. Let’s get started:
Method 1
Error 2 may sometimes pop up on the screen due to program conflict. This happens when you have Blizzard games and other programs running on your PC at the same time.
In such a situation, it is advisable to close background applications to resolve conflicts between Blizzard games and other programs running in the background.
Method 2
Sometimes antivirus programs and firewalls can also hinder and interfere with the game’s connection to our servers. In this event, the best way to fix the error is to temporarily uninstall your security software.
Method 3
If error 2 is triggered by the issues with network devices then simply power cycle network devices to re-stabilize the connection.
Power cycling router and modem allow you to reset and reestablish a connection to your ISP. To do this, shut down the computer then power down/unplug the router and the modem.
Allow the modem to sit for 60 seconds, unplugged. Then turn it on and allow it to boot up till the front panel connection lights show a steady connection.
Now turn on the router and do the same as you did with the modem. After that start the computer and allow it to completely boot up. Now try logging on to the Blizzard gaming server.
This will hopefully resolve the issue.
Method 4
Viruses and malware infections can also trigger error 2. In such a situation install an antivirus and remove all malicious programs infecting your PC.
Method 5
If the cause of the error is related to registry corruption, then it is advisable to download Restoro. This is a user-friendly PC Fixer with a registry cleaner. The registry cleaner removes all unnecessary and obsolete files corrupting the registry, cleans and repairs the corrupted registry in a few minutes.
Click here to download Restoro on your PC to resolve error 2. For further information you may be interested in these similar issues:
FindGoFind is a browser extension for Google Chrome.Developers present findgofind.com as an improved Internet search engine that supposedly enhances the Internet browsing experience by generating better search results. These claims often trick users into believing that findgofind.com is legitimate and useful. In fact, developers promote this site using deceptive software download/installation set-ups that hijack web browsers and modify various options without permission. Furthermore, findgofind.co continually records various data relating to users’ Internet browsing activity.
While this extension is installed, users will see additional unwanted ads throughout their browsing sessions. Furthermore, this extension changed the default search engine to FindGoFind to easier display Sponsored content.
About Browser Hijackers
Browser hijackers (also known as hijackware) are a type of malicious software that modifies web browser configuration settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or approval. These hijacks are raising at an astonishing rate across the world, and they can be truly nefarious and sometimes harmful too. Browser hijackers can do a variety of things on your computer. These are typically used to force hits to a specific site, manipulating web traffic to earn ad revenue. Many people believe that the browser hijacker is just a harmless website but that is incorrect. Almost every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it’s vital to categorize them under privacy risks. When the malware attacks your computer, it begins to mess things up a whole lot that slows your PC down to a crawl. In the worse case, you will be pushed to tackle serious malware threats too.
How one can know if your browser is hijacked
The typical signs that signify having this malicious software on your PC are:
1. the home page of the browser is changed all of a sudden2. you see new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, usually directed to advertisement-filled or porn websites3. the default browser configurations are changed and/or your default web engine is altered4. you’ll see multiple toolbars in your internet browser5. you see lots of pop-ups on your screen6. your internet browser has become unstable or starts running slowly7. you can’t navigate to certain websites, like security software-related sites.
Exactly how they infect computer systems
Browser hijackers may use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or even an e-mail attachment to reach a targeted computer. They also come from add-on programs, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser plug-ins, or toolbars. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your PC through “bundling”. Some of the most well-known hijackers are FindGoFind, Babylon Toolbar, Conduit Search, Sweet Page, OneWebSearch, and CoolWebSearch.
How you can get rid of a browser hijacker
Some hijackers can be simply removed by uninstalling the free software they came with or by deleting any add-ons you have recently added to your system. In some cases, it can be a difficult job to find and delete the malicious program because the associated file might be running as part of the operating system process. Apart from that, manual removal expects you to perform several time-consuming and complicated actions that are tough to do for new computer users.
Industry experts always recommend users to eliminate any malware including browser hijacker with an automatic malware removal tool, which is easier, safer and faster than the manual removal method. SafeBytes Anti-Malware can counter relentless hijackers and provide you with proactive PC protection against all kinds of malware.
What you can do if Virus Prevents You From Downloading Anti-virus?
Malware may cause several kinds of damage to computers, networks, and data. Some malware sits in between the computer and your net connection and blocks a few or all internet sites that you want to visit. It will also block you from adding anything to your system, particularly the anti-virus program. So what to do if malicious software keeps you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? There are a few actions you can take to get around this issue.
Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking
If the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in Safe Mode should prevent it. Just the minimum required programs and services are loaded when you start your computer in Safe Mode. To start your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, do as instructed below.
1) At power on/start-up, hit the F8 key in one-second intervals. This will conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu.2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and press Enter.3) When this mode loads, you will have the internet. Now, use your browser to download and install Safebytes Anti-malware.4) Following installation, run a complete scan and let the software delete the threats it detects.
Use an alternate web browser to download an antivirus application
Some malware may target vulnerabilities of a particular browser that obstruct the downloading process. If you’re not able to download the anti-malware software program using Internet Explorer, it means the virus is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch over to a different browser like Firefox or Chrome to download Safebytes Anti-malware software.
Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive
Another option would be to make a portable antivirus program onto your USB thumb drive. Adopt these measures to use a flash drive to fix your infected computer system.
1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free PC.2) Connect the USB flash drive to a USB port on the uninfected computer.3) Double click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard.4) Pick a USB flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you intend to install the application. Follow the activation instructions.5) Transfer the pen drive from the clean PC to the infected PC.6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon.7) Hit the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically.
Protect your PC against Malware With SafeBytes Security Suite
If you are looking to download an anti-malware application for your PC, there are several tools out there to consider nonetheless, you should not trust blindly anyone, no matter whether it is free or paid software. A few are good ones, some are decent, and some are merely fake anti-malware software that will harm your PC themselves! You need to be very careful not to select the wrong product, particularly if you buy a paid application. When considering commercial application options, the majority of people select well-known brands, like SafeBytes, and are very happy with them.
SafeBytes anti-malware is trustworthy software that not only secures your PC permanently but is also very easy to use for people of all ability levels. Once you have installed this software, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will ensure that no viruses or malicious software can seep through your personal computer.
SafeBytes has excellent features when compared to other anti-malware programs. Listed below are some of the features you may like in SafeBytes.
Robust Anti-malware Protection: With a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection which is made to find and get rid of viruses and malware that are hidden deep in your computer’s operating system.
Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes gives complete and real-time security for your PC. It’ll inspect your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and its unparalleled firewall protects your PC from illegal access by the outside world.
High-Speed Malware Scanning Engine: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has got a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5 times faster than any other antivirus software.
Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes provides an instant safety rating on the web pages you are going to check out, automatically blocking unsafe sites and making sure that you’re certain of your online safety while browsing the web.
Lightweight: The program is lightweight and can run silently in the background, and that does not impact your PC efficiency.
Premium Support: For any technical queries or product guidance, you can obtain 24/7 professional assistance through chat and e-mail.
To sum it up, SafeBytes has created a meaningful anti-malware solution that is aimed to protect your computer against all manner of malware. There is no doubt that your PC will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software program to use. You’ll get the best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes Anti-Malware subscription, there’s no question about it.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you wish to carry out the removal of FindGoFind manually instead of employing an automated tool, you may follow these simple steps: Navigate to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending program to remove. In case of suspicious versions of browser plug-ins, you can actually remove it via your browser’s extension manager. You’ll likely also want to reset your browser.
If you opt to manually delete the system files and Windows registry entries, use the following list to make sure you know precisely what files to remove before performing any actions. Please remember that this is for experienced users only and might be challenging, with wrong file removal resulting in additional system errors. In addition, some malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is recommended.
As previously announced by Google feature to quickly delete the last 15min of browsing history via one button is rolling out now.
For now, only Apple users will be available to use this feature but the Android update is scheduled for later this year, a strange move by Google but it is what it is.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with this feature, basically, Google wants a quick way to remove the last 15min of browsing history as a supposedly stated request to make deleting browsing history much easier.
Google came up with this idea so you can keep the previous history intact but remove just 15min time frame, no additional explanation was given on why 15 but I presume it is some round number that came up as the middle one with research, read telemetry info.
Using quick delete requires being signed into Search with a Google account. Users can access the option by simply tapping on the avatar icon to access the settings then choosing "Delete last 15 minutes."
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.
As we are on the last day of 2021, our team here at errortools.com would like to express their great gratitude to you all for being with us all this time and would also want to wish you error-free 2022!!!
Thank you for being part of this community, we wish you all the best in the upcoming 2022 and hope that we will see you again
From all members of errotools, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Hacker group recently came up with claims that they have stolen data from 100 million T-Mobile customers. T-Mobile has responded with confirmation it has been compromised and that over 40 million records were stolen, among them are not just present customers, but anyone who has applied for T-Mobile service as well as past accounts.
What has been stolen?
Report from T-Mobile states that stolen records included first and last name, date of birth, social security number, driver’s license & ID information. The company said that it has “no indication that the data contained in the stolen files included any customer financial information, credit card information, debit or other payment information.” Not really a reassuring statement meaning that they really do not know, but even if the statement is true, already stolen information is as much if even not more damaging and devastating as payment information.
What T-Mobile is planning to do now?
It is stated that the hole used for the hack has been addressed and closed so no more data can be stolen.
Considering people that had their personal information compromised, T-Mobile said it is planning to reach out to them and offer them two years of free identity protection through McAfee’s ID Theft Protection Service.
Additionally, T-Mobile recommends postpaid customers change their PIN by going online into their T-Mobile account or calling T-Mobile customer service by dialing 611 on their phone. The company also recommends a feature called Account Takeover Protection that prevents unauthorized individuals from stealing a phone number and porting it out of T-Mobile.
Finally, the company will publish a website “for one-stop information and solutions to help customers take steps to further protect themselves.”
If you suddenly find your Windows 10 computer stuck on the “Preparing to configure” screen for quite a long time now after you run Windows Update, read on as you will be guided on how you can fix that issue in this post.
During an update process, there’s a lot of things that go on in the background which is why Windows Updates take quite a while before it finishes. It can be at 25%, 50%, or even 100% but the only message you’re going to see on your screen is the “Preparing to configure Windows, Don’t turn off your computer”. However, if you notice that the Windows Update is taking a longer time than it’s supposed to, the first option is to wait some more but if it’s still the same, then there’s definitely something wrong. This kind of issue occurs when Windows Update fails to configure in short correctly download and install the update. When this happens, it will revert all the changes which are why you were advised to wait for a couple of hours.
There are two possibilities why your computer is stuck on the “Preparing to configure Windows, Don’t turn off your computer” screen. The first one is that the Windows 10 operating system is installing any updates. The second one is when the user profile takes time to load or encounters an error. There are several options you can try to fix the problem. You can try running System Restore or boot your computer in Safe Mode or repair the corrupted profile via Registry Editor. You might also want to try using installation media to boot and repair your computer if the other options didn’t work.
Option 1 – Perform System Restore
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.
Note: If you can’t boot into the desktop of your computer, you can run System Restore in the Advanced Startup Options by following these steps:
Boot your computer into the Advanced Startup Options screen.
From there, you will see some options to troubleshoot when you can’t log in to Windows in the usual way.
Now select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
After that, type “rstrui” and hit Enter to execute the command which will start the System Restore process.
Once it’s done, restart your computer.
Option 2 – Boot your computer in Safe Mode
You can try to tap the F8 key if you have it enabled in your Windows 10 computer, as you start your system to boot into Safe Mode. Once your computer is in Safe Mode, you can access the Start Menu and the Mouse and Keyboard. Aside from that, you can also access your files and other built-in tools in Windows such as Command Prompt, PowerShell, Computer Manager, Device Manager, Event Log Viewer, and many more. On the other hand, if you haven’t enabled the F8 key, you can just go to the Advanced Startup options to boot your computer into Safe Mode. Once you’re there, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart > Tap the number 4 key. After that, your computer will restart in Safe Mode. If you want to reboot into Safe Mode with Networking instead, you can tap the number 5 key and for Safe Mode with Command Prompt, tap the number 6 key. Once your computer is in Safe Mode, you can use any of the built-in tools to restore your computer or troubleshoot the problem that’s causing your computer to get stuck at the “Preparing to configure” screen.
Option 3 – Try to repair your corrupted profile via Registry
In this third option, you can try to repair the corrupted profile using the Registry but before you proceed, take note that you can only try this if you can boot into your desktop and if you can, make sure to create a System Restore Point and then follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Registry Editor.
Next, go to this registry key: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionProfileList
Once you’ve opened the registry key, you should see a list of all the user profiles on your computer. Now click on each S-1-5 folder and look for the “ProfileImagePath” entry and double click on it to check which user account it is related to. You will see a path like “CUsersACK” where “ACK” is the username.
You should know which of the user account is corrupted. Just look for a key named “RefCount” and change its Value data to “0” and click OK. And if it isn’t available, simply right-click on the right pane and create it.
After that, double click on the key named “State” and make sure that the Value data is “0” and click OK.
Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply the changes made.
Option 4 – Try to use installation media to boot and repair your computer
Another thing you can try to resolve the issue is to use the Windows installation bootable media so you can boot and repair the operating system. To use it, follow these steps:
You need to first create an installation media which has the dame version of the operating system installed in your computer.
After that, once you reach the Install Windows screen, click on the “Repair your computer” link.
Wait until the repair is completed and then shut down your computer
Now once your computer has restarted, check if it can now boot properly.
This is a typical system error. This error means the requested operation cannot be performed in full-screen mode. It hampers your ability to run your desired program on Windows PC. It is displayed on computer screens in the following format:
"ERROR_FULLSCREEN_MODE" and/or as the hexadecimal value 0x3EF.”
Solution
Error Causes
The system error code 1007 can be triggered due to several reasons. This includes but is not limited to:
Windows registry damage or corruption
Device driver conflicts
Spyware or viral infection
Hardware malfunction
Software file damage or corruption
Unlike the blue screen of death error codes, this error is not fatal. But it may hamper your ability to run and work on your desired program. To avoid the inconvenience, it is advisable to fix it immediately.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Try these easy and effective do it yourself methods to repair the system error code 1007 on your PC:
Method 1 - Scan Your System for Viruses
If the underlying cause of error 1007 on your system is viral and spyware infection, then it is advisable to download a powerful antivirus and scan your entire PC.
An antivirus not only detects but also removes all types of viruses including spyware, Trojans and adware. Once removed, try running your desired program again, if the program runs successfully, this means the error is resolved.
Method 2 - Update the Drivers
When the error code 1007 occurs due to driver conflict, then it is advisable to update the drivers. To do so simply use the driver update wizard from within Device Manager. The wizard will guide you through the entire driver update process, making it extremely simple for you to update the drivers in minutes.
Method 3 - Clean and Repair the Registry
You may experience the error 1077 because of registry damage or corruption. If this is the reason, then it is suggested you download Restoro.
This is a user-friendly and multi-functional PC Fixer deployed with a powerful registry cleaner. It scans your entire system for registry related errors and issues, removes all unnecessary and obsolete files like cookies, junk files and bad registry entries, notorious for registry corruption.
In addition to this, it also repairs the registry and damaged system files, thereby resolving the system error code 1007 immediately.
Click here to download Restoro on your PC and fix system error code 1007 today!
Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well. Today we will be changing the Windows Lock Screen background. Changing the lock screen background is a very easy task and it can be done in a very short time. So let's jump right into it.
The first thing you need to do is to press the Windows start button on the bottom left and then press settings.
Once the settings screen appears, choose and click on Personalization.
Inside personalization, click on the Lock Screen tab.On the right screen, under the picture, you will find Windows spotlight, click on it to bring a drop-down menu up.
Your choice is presented as a single picture for background or slideshow, a series of pictures that are going to be looped in a given time interval.
If you would like just a single picture for your background, choose that and click on it.
Once you are in choose picture dialog, click on the browse button and navigate to the picture on your storage which you would like to have as a background.
If however, you fancy slideshow as your lock screen background, click on the background drop-down menu and choose the slideshow. Next, click on add a folder and navigate to a folder where you have pictures that you would like to have as a slideshow for your Windows lock screen.
Anxiety from all these digital threats lurking everywhere? An antivirus program can help put your mind at ease.
What can a virus do to your device?
A virus is malicious software that can affect pretty much any device and does so in a variety of ways. Be it your computer, your phone or your smart lightbulb - as long as there’s access to the internet, malware can get to it.
How exactly does this kind of attack manifest itself? Well, there’s a wide variety of effects ranging from mild to severe. Among other things, they depend on which type of malware attacks your device - a virus, spyware, ransomware, adware or something else.
These are some of the things you can expect to happen:
Slow performance
System crashes
Theft of data and sensitive information
Connectivity issues
Constant browser redirects
Strange messages sent to your contacts
Interference with files
It really can be the stuff of nightmares. So, if you want to sleep peacefully knowing that your devices are completely safe, you should definitely consider getting an antivirus.
P.S. don’t let its name fool you - an antivirus does indeed protect your devices against more than just viruses.
What is antivirus software exactly?
Antivirus software is designed to help you battle and ward off malware. Basically, it scans your device to detect any suspicious activity and offers tools to get rid of the culprit.
At first, antiviruses were developed to fight against viruses only, but nowadays they cover a lot more ground. Here are some of the biggest benefits of getting yourself a powerful defender.
Advantages of antivirus software
1. It fights those pesky ads
Look, constant ads that pop up everywhere aren’t the absolute worst thing that can happen on your computer. If anything, they are annoying, like when you’re trying to sleep but that one fly in your room just won’t stop buzzing.
Now, there’s a free, well-established solution for that - installing an ad blocker. And we’re about a hundred and ten percent sure you’ve already done that on each and every browser you use.
However, “if I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist” isn’t the most ideal approach for your online safety. Ad blockers can’t block everything and they won’t protect you from potential adware. An antivirus on the other hand offers that layer of protection against malware snuck into pop-ups and spammy websites.
2. It protects you from hackers
Hackers don’t target government institutions only. They’ll target regular people too if they have something to gain.
Credit: Clint Patteron (Unsplash)
There are different types of hacking, such as phishing e-mails, transmission of malicious programs, credential reuse, denial of service and more. In any case, they take control of your device and hijack your data.
The good thing is that, as threats evolve, antiviruses evolve too and there are tons of quality programs on the market that can keep you secure for an affordable price.
3. It keeps your files and data safe
When malware enters your device, it can target pretty much any file and get access to any and all data.
Installing an antivirus program will make sure that every single file, new or old, is monitored at all times, warning you against threats immediately. That way, you can make sure to react before your other files become infected and data is lost or stolen.
Another great thing for data protection is that the best antivirus software normally comes with a password manager, so no one can use malware to steal your passwords.
4. It blocks all kinds of malware
As we already stated, malicious attacks can be performed in many ways and malware comes in in different shapes an sizes, such as:
Trojan horse
Spyware
Ransomware
Adware
Rootkit
RAT (remote access Trojan)
Keyloggers
Worms
Botnets
Credit: Growtika (Unsplash)
Nowadays, antivirus software is designed to fight against all of these types. That’s why more often than not we hear the term 'antivirus' used interchangeably with 'anti-malware,' like in this article.
5. It keeps your children protected
You can’t keep your eyes on your kid every second of the day and you can’t protect them from everything. But at least you can limit their exposure to the threats they can encounter at every corner of the digital world.
An antivirus program will block harmful or suspicious websites and ads, which is great both for you and your children. To take it a step further, though, many such programs come with special parental controls and offer monitoring as well. It’s a great solution for keeping your kids safe online without sounding like the irritating, overbearing, controlling parent who “just doesn’t get it!”
How to pick one
There are definitely lots of different antivirus programs out there, both free and paid. We recommend you look for a paid option, since free ones are unfortunately a lot more susceptible to being compromised through malicious attacks.
Now, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the right software. If you use your PC for basic things then a basic antivirus will suffice. However, the more complex your use and the more sensitive the data you deal with, the stronger it needs to be.
It’s also crucial that you take into account the features it includes. As we already mentioned, some programs have additional security options. For example, depending on the package you select, Bitdefender provides:
Some are included in plans and some are separate products, so make sure to check out all the offers.
And don’t worry if you have multiple PCs or you’re looking for protection for your smartphone or tablet as well; Bitdefender has suitable solutions for your needs. Of course, you can also just pick their classic antivirus software if you’re not in need of advanced protection.
Another important point is how regularly the software is updated and enhanced. The more frequent the updates the better, as bugs can make the program more vulnerable. Other things we advise you consider are user-friendliness, impact on performance, reputation (user reviews especially) and, of course, price.
The bottom line
Fact is: anyone can be a malware victim. Don’t let it be you.
You can’t put a price on peace and security, so don’t be reluctant to pay for yours - especially since a lot of options out there are extremely affordable. Is $159.00 a year really too much to pay for cross-platform protection for up to 10 devices? We don’t think so.
Explore your options and protect your files and data before it’s too late.