EasyPDFCombine is a browser extension by Mindspark Inc. This extension claims to offer users an easy and fast way to combine different PDF documents into a single file for easy access and sharing.
When installed this extension changes your default search engine to MyWay.com, it also hijacks your home page and new tab page, also changing it to search powered by MyWay.
While browsing the internet with this extension you will see additional pop-up ads, injected ads in search results, and sponsored content throughout your browsing sessions.
This extension has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus programs and it is not recommended to keep on your computer.
About Browser Hijackers
Browser hijack is a common type of internet fraud where your web browser settings are altered to allow it to carry out things you do not intend. Browser hijacker malware is developed for a variety of reasons. In general, browser hijacking is used for earning ad revenue from forced advert clicks and website visits. While it may seem harmless, these tools were created by malicious individuals who always look to take full advantage of you, so that hackers could make money from your naivety and distraction. They not only screw up your web browsers, but browser hijackers can also modify the system registry, making your computer susceptible to other malicious programs.
How to know whether the web browser is hijacked?
There are many symptoms of browser hijacking. Here are a few of them: 1. the browser’s homepage is modified 2. you find yourself regularly directed to a different webpage than the one you intended 3. the main web browser settings are modified and undesirable or insecure resources are put into the trusted sites list 4. you are finding new toolbars you haven’t witnessed before 5. you see a lot of pop-up ads on your computer screen 6. your web browser gets sluggish, buggy crashes often 7. Inability to navigate to certain websites, especially antivirus as well as other security software websites.
How browser hijacker infects computers
Browser hijackers attack computers via malicious email attachments, downloaded infected computer files, or by checking out infected sites. They may also originate from any BHO, browser extension, add-on, toolbar, or plug-in with the malicious objectives. Also, certain shareware and freeware can put the hijacker in your computer through the “bundling” technique. A good example of a well-known browser hijacker is the most recent Chinese malicious software known as “Fireball”, which has infected 250 million computers around the world. It acts as a hijacker but can be turned into a fully functioning malware downloader later on.
The presence of any browser hijacker malware on your system can drastically diminish the web browsing experience, monitor your internet activities that result in severe privacy concerns, develop system stability issues and ultimately cause your PC to slow down or to a practically unusable condition.
How you can remove browser hijackers
Certain browser hijacking can be easily stopped by finding and removing the corresponding malware program from your control panel. At times, it could be a challenging job to identify and delete the malicious program because the associated file will be running as part of the operating system process. You should think of doing manual repairs only if you’re a tech-savvy individual since there are risks associated with tinkering around with the system registry and HOSTS file.
Browser hijackers could be effectively removed by installing and running anti-malware software on the affected PC. Among the best tools for fixing browser hijacker infections is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. It helps you remove any pre-existing malicious software in your computer and gives you real-time monitoring and protection from the latest threats.
What you can do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Or Installing Antivirus?
Malware could potentially cause all kinds of damage when they invade your system, starting from stealing your personal details to erasing data files on your PC. Some malware is meant to hinder or prevent things that you’d like to do on your PC. It may not allow you to download anything from the web or prevent you from accessing a few or all websites, especially antivirus sites. If you’re reading this, odds are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download and/or install Safebytes Anti-Malware software on your PC. Follow the instructions below to remove malware through alternate ways.
Download the anti-virus in Safe Mode with Networking
If the malware is set to run automatically when Windows starts, entering Safe Mode may block this attempt. Since only the minimal programs and services launch in safe mode, there are rarely any reasons for issues to occur. The following are the steps you need to follow to start into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (check out Microsoft site for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers).
1) At power-on/startup, hit the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This would conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) When this mode loads, you will have an internet connection. Now, get the malware removal application you need by using the web browser. To install the program, follow the directions in the setup wizard. 4) After installation, do a complete scan and let the software program delete the threats it discovers.
Utilize an alternate internet browser to download antivirus software
Some viruses might target vulnerabilities of a specific browser that block the downloading process. If you appear to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch to an alternate web browser with built-in security features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite anti-malware program – Safebytes.
Install anti-malware on a USB drive
To successfully remove the malware, you should approach the problem of installing anti-virus software on the affected PC from a different angle. To run antivirus using a USB pen drive, follow these simple measures: 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free PC. 2) Insert the USB drive onto the same computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, with a .exe file format. 4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Do as instructed on the screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Unplug the USB drive. Now you can utilize this portable anti-malware on the affected computer. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the program. 7) Click on the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.
SafeBytes Anti-Malware - More Protection For You
In order to protect your PC from various internet-based threats, it is important to install an anti-malware program on your computer system. But with countless numbers anti-malware companies in the market, these days it is hard to decide which one you should purchase for your personal computer. A few are really worth your money, but many aren’t. While looking for anti-malware software, choose one that offers solid, efficient, and complete protection against all known viruses and malware. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended program for the security-conscious individual.
SafeBytes is a powerful, real-time antivirus application that is made to assist the common computer end user in safeguarding their PC from malicious internet threats. This program could easily detect, remove, and protect your personal computer from the most advanced malware threats including adware, spyware, trojan horses, ransomware, PUPs, worms, parasites as well as other potentially harmful software applications.
There are lots of great features you will get with this security product. Below are some of the features you may like in SafeBytes.
Live Protection: SafeBytes offers 100 % hands-free live protection and is set to observe, prevent and eliminate all threats at its very first encounter. It will continuously monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives users superior firewall protection.
World-class AntiMalware Protection: Using its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can find and remove the malware threats hiding in your computer effectively.
“Fast Scan” Abilities: This software has got one of the fastest and most efficient virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are very accurate and take a little time to complete.
Web Security: SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety rating to every single website you visit and block access to web pages known to be phishing sites, thus protecting you against identity theft, or known to contain malware.
Very Low CPU and RAM Usage: SafeBytes gives total protection from internet threats at a fraction of the CPU load because of its advanced detection engine and algorithms.
Premium Support: SafeBytes gives you 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and upgrades for the best user experience.
SafeBytes can keep your personal computer protected from most advanced malware threats automatically with little or no input needed from you again. There is no doubt that your computer system will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software program to use. So if you are looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we suggest the SafeBytes Anti-Malware application.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you’d like to manually remove EasyPDFCombine without the use of an automated tool, it might be possible to do so by deleting the program from the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browser’s AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You’ll probably also want to reset your internet browser.
Finally, check your hard drive for all of the following and clean your Windows registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries following an uninstallation. Please keep in mind that only experienced users should try to manually edit the system files simply because deleting any single vital registry entry results in a major problem or even a computer crash. Additionally, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is advised that you carry out the removal process in Safe Mode.
Microsoft sent an email to users on the Dev build channel saying that the company intends to push some builds that don’t represent what consumers will receive with Windows 11 when it officially releases. In other words, these are going to be some rather buggy builds that won’t be too enjoyable to use.
The company recommends users switch from the Dev to the beta channel if they aren’t prepared to deal with the instability.
We’ll have to wait and see just how buggy these builds are, but if Microsoft is actually sending out a warning about them it is very likely that builds will be plagued with issues and maybe even stability problems.
Back to Windows 10
How we can expect some buggy build of Windows 11 if you prefer a stable system over new features maybe best decision would be to switch back to Windows 10 until the new OS hits official release.
Switching from dev build channel to beta channel
Another solution, if you do not want to deal with too many issues, is to switch from Dev build channel to beta where things will be more stable. Follow the guide below in order to quickly switch to the beta channel.
Following instructions only apply to Windows 11 installations that are linked up to the Windows Insider program, not clean installation of OS.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open settings
Inside settings click on Windows update
In Windows Update click on Windows Insider Program
Inside click on Choose your Insider Settings
Click on the button next to Beta Channel to select it (you can switch back to the Dev channel here if you change your mind)
The setting will be saved automatically and from now on you will only receive beta channel updates.
The MP4 MIME-type is a video type that is mainly configured in IIS or Internet Information console. It is the one that instructs a web browser to use the default video application when running MP4 files from websites. MIME which stands for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions which offers a way to identify files on the Internet-based on their format and nature. For example, when a content-type header value like MP4 is defined in an HTTP response, the browser can be configured to open the file with the proper plugin. However, there are some servers that don’t have an associated MIME type to support MP4 files and so they fail to play these files. In such cases, you will encounter the “Unsupported video type or invalid file path” error, especially when you use the Internet Explorer browser in Windows 10. To fix this problem, you may have to configure the MP4 MIME type in IIS but you might find that IIS is not enabled in Windows 10 which is why you need to turn it on or enable it first. For more details, refer to the following instructions below.
Step 1 – Enable IIS:
Open Control Panel and go to Programs > Programs and Features.
From there, select “Turn Windows features on or off” to mark its checkbox.
After that, select “Web Management Tools” and expand its menu and look for “IIS Management Console”.
Click the OK button and then wait for a couple of seconds to allow Windows to successfully apply the changes made.
Step 2 – Configure the MP4 MIME type in IIS:
Go to Control Panel and from there, access Administrative Tools.
Next, click “Internet Information Services Manager” from the list of given options.
Once confirmed, it will open the IIS console where you have to click the name of your IIS Server located on the left panel. This will enable several options in the central details section.
Now double click on the icon with the label “MIME Types”.
After that, you should see an “Add” link option on the right panel. Click on the link to open a configuration dialog box.
Then type “.mp4” in the File Name Extension field and enter “video/mp4” in the textbox of the MIME Type.
Click the OK button to save the changes made. This should fix the “Unsupported video type or invalid file path” error on your Windows 10 computer.
Step 3 – Reset your browsers:
Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the icon that looks like three stacked lines located at the top-right section of the browser.
Next, select the question mark icon from the drop-down menu.
Then select “Troubleshooting information” from the slide-out menu.
After that, click on the “Reset Firefox” button located at the top-right section of the newly opened web page.
Now select “Reset Firefox” in the confirmation pop-up window that appears.
Google Chrome
Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
After that, click on Settings.
Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
Now restart Google Chrome.
Internet Explorer
Launch Internet Explorer.
Next, click the wrench icon for Settings.
Then click Internet Options.
After that, go to the Advanced tab.
From there, click the Reset button. This will reset Internet Explorer’s settings to their default condition.
In case you don’t know, Microsoft Office uses a separate mechanism than the Windows operating system for specific purposes such as Updates and Activation which brings in the content dependencies of this mechanism on different services and processes. Thus, in such cases, you could encounter errors like the error code 0x80070426. When you get this error, you will see the following error message on your screen:
“An unexpected error has occurred. Your request cannot be processed at this time. Please try again later. (0x80070426)”
This kind of error is caused by various supporting processes and services that are not working or are not being triggered as they were supposed to. If you are currently facing this issue, worry not for this post will guide you in fixing it. There are two potential fixes you can try – you can either check the responsible services or manually run the Activation Script. For more details refer to the given options below.
Option 1 – Try checking the responsible Services
In the Start search, type “services.msc” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open the Windows Services Manager.
If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed to the Windows Services Manager utility window.
After that, look for the “Software Licensing Service” service entry from the given list of services inside the window.
Then right-click on it and select Properties and from there, make sure that its Startup Type is set to Automatic.
Once done, click on the Start button to start the service and then exit the Services Manager.
Next, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
After that, type and enter each command below one after the other.
net start slsvc
sc qc slsvc
sc queryex slsvc
sc qprivs slsvc
sc qsidtype slsvc
sc sdshow slsvc
Now check if the problem is fixed or not.
Option 2 – Try to manually run the Activation Script
In the Start search, type “cmd” and right-click on Command Prompt from the given search results and then select the “Run as administrator” option to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Next, navigate to the following location inside the Command Prompt command-line utility if you are using Office 16.
The 0x80040600 error is a common error that becomes particularly distressing for Outlook users.
This error prevents users from sending or receiving emails through Microsoft Outlook. Users may also encounter this problem while altering an entry on the calendar or adding a new contact. There is no obvious message that is displayed to the user when this error occurs.
However, Outlook displays a vague message that includes the code 0x80040600.
Solution
Download available to recover all lost Outlook data
Error Causes
The primary cause of this error is a problem with the PST file. When the PST file is corrupt, missing, or damaged, this error occurs at once. The PST file is essentially an important file that stores crucial and personal information of an individual’s accounts.
Sometimes this error is because the file is corrupt while at other times, the reason that it occurs is that the file is too full to accommodate any further information.
Irrespective of the causes of this problem, it is important that this error is promptly fixed to ensure the proper and uninterrupted functioning of Outlook in the future.
Further Information and Manual Repair
The error occurs because the Outlook application encounters problems while attempting to receive, send or read emails. Some solutions that can work wonders and help you get rid of the problem are outlined below.
As soon as the error appears, the first solution is to restart the system. This is the first thing that must be done because a lot of times, these errors can be removed by simply restarting the system. This will, hence, save the user the inconvenience of manually fixing this problem.
If restarting the system doesn’t resolve the problem and the error message displays again, it is advised the user makes use of the ‘Inbox Repair Tool’.
This is the most commonly used and effective approach to fixing a corrupt PST file. The procedure to remedy this Personal Storage Table file or PST file is listed below.
Go to the start menu. Type Run and launch the Inbox Repair Tool by typing the following path: drive name: Program FilesCommon FilesSystemMapiLocale IDscanpst.exe. Now click Ok. A pop-up message will appear. Enter the file name and path of the damaged PST file. Now click on the Start button. Here it is important to mention that the inbox repair tool may take a long time depending upon the file size and the amount of data that has to be recovered. However, it is the most effective way of fixing this problem.
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So if you ever wanted to learn about photoshop, maya, substance, unreal engine, or some general skills like sketching, drawing, etc. Now is the perfect time to level up your skills. Drop to the artstation website and start learning today!
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.
As you know, Bluetooth headphones allow users to connect to their mobile devices wirelessly. This allows you to talk on your mobile device or listen to music without having to connect any cords or wires. Additionally, it even allows you to adjust the volume of a left or right speaker. However, Bluetooth headphones in Windows 10 are another story as their scope is limited. For instance, the left and right pieces can’t have different volume levels. But if you still want to change the dual control of the volume of headphones separately in Windows 10. And in this post, you will be guided on how exactly you can do that.
In addition, in this post, you will also be guided on what you can do if the Windows Update messed with the Bluetooth volume control and what you can do to disable the absolute volume in Windows 10. In case you don’t know, the Absolute Volume feature is actually incompatible with a number of Bluetooth devices which can result in the inability of the Bluetooth device to adjust its volume.
Thus, if you experience this kind of issue, you’ll notice that the volume slider in the taskbar and the device volume control neither have any effect in adjusting the volume. And each time you try to adjust the volume level for one speaker, the volume of another speaker also automatically changes. In such a case, it would be difficult for you to separately change the dual volume control headphones. Worry not for there is an easy registry tweak you can try to make this possible to do. But before you proceed with the instructions provided below, make sure that you create a System Restore first. Once you have that covered, follow the steps below carefully.
Step_1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Step_2: Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ControlBluetoothAudioAVRCPCT
Step_3: After that, look for the entry named “DisableAbsoluteVolume” which should be located in the right pane. But if you’re unable to find this entry, you can just create it by right-clicking on the CT key and selecting New > DWORD (32-bit) value, and then assign “DisableAbsoluteVolume” as its name.
Step_4: Once done, double click on the “DisableAbsoluteVolume” DWORD and set its value from 0 to 1.
Step_5: Now exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
On the other hand, you can also disable or enable the Absolute Volume feature by executing a command in the Command Prompt.
If you want to disable the Absolute Volume feature, just execute this command: reg add HKLMSYSTEMControlSet001ControlBluetoothAudioAVRCPCT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
If you want to enable the Absolute Volume feature, just execute this command: reg add HKLMSYSTEMControlSet001ControlBluetoothAudioAVRCPCT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
After you execute the command, just restart your computer.
After your computer restarts.
Once you’re done executing the given instructions above, you have to right-click on the speaker icon located in the system tray and select Open Sound Settings and click on Manage device settings – the same controls will be visible to you like earlier. Now when you change the volume level for one speaker, the other speaker should now remain as it is and won’t change alongside the speaker.
Error code 652 is a runtime error. It hampers you from accessing and running your program on your system. If not resolved, it can also lead to program corruption.
Solution
Error Causes
Runtime Error 652 can occur due to several causes. These include:
Conflict of color depth within icons, the desktop, or a particular application in the Visual Basic environment. This happens when the Image
List control consists of more colors than the depth of what Windows can support.
Other causes include:
Malicious software and malware attack
Conflict with Terminate
Invalid or corrupt registry
Further Information and Manual Repair
If you are not a computer programmer and don’t have any sound technical expertise, then you might think of hiring a professional to resolve the error on your PC. But this can be costly as you may have to pay hundreds of dollars to the technician.
However, an alternative way to resolve the error code 652 is to download the Total System Care. This PC repair tool is integrated with an intuitive registry cleaner and a powerful anti-virus. It is safe, efficient, user-friendly, and available for free.
Restoro is a multi-functional error tool and a one-stop solution to resolve practically all kinds of PC-related problems. By running this repair tool, you can fix runtime error code 652 on your system in seconds.
Restoro
What makes Restoro a hot favorite among PC users is that it is simple and easy to use.
To operate this PC fixer, you don’t need to have the sound technical knowledge or be adept at computer programming. It can be used by all levels of PC users including beginners and intermediates.
It has a neat and clean layout with simple instructions and navigation making it easy for users to resolve even the mightiest errors in just a few clicks.
Restoro features
Whether the underlying reason for the error code 652 is malicious software or registry corruption, Restoro takes care of all. Registry corruption occurs due to unnecessary files and data overload in the hard disk. This includes junk files, internet history, invalid registry entries, and bad registry keys.
The registry cleaner embedded in Restoro intuitively detects and scans all registry issues.
It wipes and clears the hard disk from all the unnecessary and obsolete files and thus cleans up your disk space. It repairs the corrupt registry and also boosts your PC’s performance.
Thus it not only repairs the error code 652 but also resolves system slowdown issues by optimizing your system’s speed.
With the help of its in-built anti-virus, it removes all the malicious software on your system that could be triggering the error code 652.
Data security threats such as malicious software are detected and scanned and listed under the privacy error utility.
It is compatible with all Windows versions including both the latest and old versions. You can run it to scan error code 652 on any Windows version you have installed on your computer.
Restoro for error Code 652
Furthermore, as mentioned above Error Code 652 is safe to use. It is bug-free and besides, it offers users outstanding data safety. It has a backup file feature that helps you save and create backup copies of all the data you have on your system. This is carried for safety purposes.
It enables users to retrieve and recover data in case the data and files are lost during the repair thus sparing you from a big loss.
The error code 652 may be critical but it can be resolved in seconds with Restoro. Here’s how:
To get started click here to download and install Restoro on your system
Once installed, run it to scan for errors. It will take only a few seconds to scan your entire PC.
Then simply create a backup and click on repair to resolve and resume your desired program.
For best results, it is advised to run Restoro on the computer often. This will help you detect PC errors and repair them timely. It will help you ensure proper PC maintenance, health, and performance.
What software are you using to keep your information and all your files and memories safe?
None? Yikes. Let’s hope no damage has been done to your data yet then. Because with how the digital world has evolved, your data might be getting leaked and you have no idea.
Why do you need to invest in security software?
There’s really no good excuse not to purchase a quality platform for PC protection. Especially since top security solutions are available at such affordable prices nowadays, your wallet would barely even notice it.
At this point, only people who barely use their PCs and have zero sensitive information on them can get away with simply using the built-in Windows 10/11 security software. But we guarantee that those people are extremely hard to find and that you’re not one of them, and here’s why.
Even if you don’t use your computer for things that are very obviously sensitive, such as internet banking, you still have some personal data at risk of being stolen. How so? Well, think about the data you enter into your social media profiles, for example. How devastating would it be if somebody got a hold of any of it? Yep, that’s what we thought.
Credit: FLY:D on Unsplash
In the hands of a skilled cybercriminal, your phone number alone could put you at risk of scams, ransomware, identity theft and more. Also think about the stuff you share in texts and social media chats. Think about the websites you visit and how many times you may have accidentally clicked on an ad, which could very well contain malicious software. Those all seem harmless until someone’s actually used them against you.
Now imagine the dangers involved when you actually store truly confidential data on your PC and browsers. Sends shivers down your spine, doesn’t it?
In the case of a successful cyberattack of whatever type (virus, phishing, worms, etc.), there’s so much that is at stake. Businesses/legal persons will suffer from financial loss and damaged reputation, at the very least. Natural persons may be threatened or exploited, get their banking or medical information and even their identity stolen, etc. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
These are our biggest reasons for investing in Windows PC protection software:
Cyberthreats are constantly evolving to the point where built-in or free software won’t cut it anymore.
Those working remotely can have peace of mind knowing both personal and business data is completely secure.
Businesses using top security solutions ensure their customers trust them.
Data breaches are a pain in the you-know-what to handle. Fighting a cyberattack and going back to normal is a demanding process, and not to mention the stress it’ll cause. We’d rather prevent all that by using trustworthy security products!
It helps parents worry a little less about their children’s safety in the online world.
Added bonus: with most products, you get an ad-free browsing experience!
Obviously, there are a lot more reasons to get your PC secured. But we think you get it. So let’s cut to the chase and take a look at our 6 favorite protection solutions and the wonders they can do for you.
*Note that in this article we’re looking at products primarily suited for households and home offices, some for small businesses. No enterprise solutions will make the list today, but stay tuned for a future article on those.
Top 6 best PC protection solutions
1. Bitdefender Total & Internet Security\
One of the biggest security product vendors out there, Bitdefender offers several awesome solutions. We want to introduce two of our favorites, Bitdefender Total Security and Bitdefender Internet Security.
Bitdefender Total Security is great for both households and smaller offices. You can choose to protect 5 or 10 devices, and not necessarily just Windows devices. It also works for macOS, Android and iOS. It offers a range of powerful features, such as:
Real-time data protection
Webcam and microphone protection
Device optimization options
Anti-phishing/-fraud/-spam technology
Ransomware protection
Anti-loss and anti-theft tools
VPN and privacy firewall
Anti-tracking technology
Parental controls
24/7 support
Bitdefender Internet Security shares almost all of these features, but there are a few important differences to note. Unlike Total Security, Internet Security has more options in terms of the number of protected devices: 1, 3, 5 or 10. However it’s only compatible with the Windows platform and it doesn’t offer device optimization tools or anti-theft options. Whether or not this is a deal-breaker depends on your needs alone - we still find it a great security tool.
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2. ESET Internet Security
An award-winning Windows security product, ESET Internet Security is essential on this list. It has an outstanding protection rate of 99.9% and a range of amazing options you’ll definitely want to make use of. It can be installed on up to 10 devices, making it an awesome tool for your household, home office or a small business. It’s also compatible with macOS and Android.
These are ESET Internet Security’s best features:
Protection against ransomware and spyware
Protection against malware specifically designed to avoid detection
In-depth scans when the computer is not in use
Firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your PC
Anti-spam tool
Anti-phishing and botnet protection technologies
Tool to scan your router and smart devices for vulnerabilities
Special browser for secure internet banking
Parental controls
Prevention of unauthorized webcam access
If you ask us, ESET has it all!
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3. Kaspersky Total & Internet Security
Having a deja vu? Didn’t you just read Total Security and Internet Security somewhere? Oh, that’s right - the first entry on our list! But here we’re talking about Kaspersky, a vendor you’ve also definitely heard about before.
Just like Bitdefender, Kaspersky is another one of those renowned names in the cybersecurity world that always make it to every ‘best of’ list. And for good reason - its products really fulfill their purpose. So let’s take a closer look at the two we chose.
These are the features both Kaspersky Total Security and Kaspersky Internet Security have in common:
Real-time virus and spyware blocking
Webcam protection
Wi-Fi security notifications
Advanced identity theft protection
Free technical support on several channels
Remote security management
Multiple devices (up to 10)
The main difference between Kaspersky Total Security and Internet Security is that the former offers more capabilities. These are the features KTS offers that KIS does not:
System cleanup
File shredding
Password management
Data backup and encryption
Both are excellent security tools, though we do prefer KTS a little more because of these additional options.
4. Norton 360 Deluxe
Of course one of the industry-leading solutions makes the list. Norton 360 Deluxe can protect up to 5 devices, be it Windows, iOS, macOS or Android. It’s worth noting that its features are best developed for Windows. Here’s what you get with Norton 360 Deluxe:
Protection against viruses, hackers, malware
100% virus protection promise
VPN included for all devices
Unlimited VPN on Windows
Password manager
Parental controls
So is there anything aside from these standard protection features that makes it such a favorite among us techies? Let us tell you! Norton added a little bit of spice here with two really powerful capabilities. The Deluxe product offers 50GB of cloud backup and dark web monitoring. The latter means the software notifies you if any of your personal information is found on the dark web, which helps protect you against identity theft.
Credit: Luke Peters on Unsplash
5. McAfee Antivirus
Don’t be misled by the name of this product. Antivirus software may have started as protection against viruses only, but it’s developed quite a lot. The name simply stuck. All that to say that McAfee Antivirus - another award-winning security solution - protects you against several different threats.
The basic and essential plan allow 1 and 5 devices respectively, while McAfee+ Premium and Advanced work on an unlimited number of devices. The latter two also offer more capabilities, as you can imagine. Here’s what you can expect from all of them:
Secure unlimited VPN
File shredder to delete sensitive files completely
Ultimate safety while browsing
Protection against hackers
100% virus protection promise
Advanced firewall to block dangerous traffic
Online support from specialists
Protection score (shows how safe you are and detects vulnerabilities)
Identity monitoring (notifies you if any of your information is on the dark web)
Password management
Unlike the previous products, McAfee Antivirus does not offer parental controls. Otherwise it’s a pretty strong and comprehensive protection tool and might just be the right choice for you!
6. Trend Micro Maximum Security
Last but definitely not least, we’ve got Maximum Security by Trend Micro. And yes, you guessed it, Trend Micro is also an award winner in terms of cybersecurity. Its products have been recognized as industry-leading security solutions by AV-Test since 2003. Among all its fantastic solutions, our favorite for households or small offices is Maximum Security.
You can use Trend Micro Maximum Security to protect 3-5 devices for a year or two years before needing to renew your license. Aside from Windows, it’s compatible with iOS, Android, Mac and Chromebook devices. Here’s what you can expect from this protection software:
Powerful malware protection
Phishing detection and prevention (email)
Password management and protection
Maximum security for online banking and shopping
System optimization
Social media privacy protection
Parental controls
24/7 technical support
No notifications during gaming
It’s truly one of the most effective platforms out there dedicated to protecting your digital life. Using this product, ransomware, identity thieves and malicious websites don’t stand a chance.
The bottom line
If you’ve made it all the way here, congratulations, you’ve made the right choice: to invest in securing your valuable data! Now the question is: which one of these 6 awesome antivirus/antimalware products to select?
The paradox of choice is a very real thing - we feel you. As mentioned, it comes down to what your specific needs are. So before you go ahead and purchase your security software, make sure to explore all options.
And if you really can’t handle the decision-making anxiety, feel free to reach out. We’ll happily assist you in finding the right product to keep your digital life secure!
VSSControl: 2147467259 Backup jobs failed. Cannot create a shadow copy of the volumes containing the writer’s data. VSS asynchronous operation is not completed. Code: [0x8004231f]
This message pops up when you are creating a snapshot system restore, usually, the issue is tied with insufficient space or service stopping. We will go into detail about how to fix both so you can finish the operation without any issue.
Check Volume Shadow Copy Services
Easier and faster fix than the next one. Launch Services from the Start Menu, look for Volume Shadow Copy, double-click on it, and check the Service status. If it is stopped, click on the Start button. If it’s running, restart it by clicking Stop > Start.
Increase Shadow Storage Space
If the first fix didn’t resolve the issue then you need to increase Shadow Storage Space. Launch Command Prompt as an administrator. Now, type the following command to check your Shadow Storage Space.
vssadmin list shadowstorage
Now, type the following command to allocate more storage (you can change 10GB with the amount of space you want to allocate)
vssadmin resize shadowstorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=10GB
Microsoft sent an email to users on the Dev build channel saying that the company intends to push some builds that don’t represent what consumers will receive with Windows 11 when it officially releases. In other words, these are going to be some rather buggy builds that won’t be too enjoyable to use.
The company recommends users switch from the Dev to the beta channel if they aren’t prepared to deal with the instability.
We’ll have to wait and see just how buggy these builds are, but if Microsoft is actually sending out a warning about them it is very likely that builds will be plagued with issues and maybe even stability problems.
So if you ever wanted to learn about photoshop, maya, substance, unreal engine, or some general skills like sketching, drawing, etc. Now is the perfect time to level up your skills. Drop to the 
