OpenCandy is an application that downloads and installs software, including other Internet Browsers to a computer system. Used as a bundle, this application installs additional programs that you may knowingly or unknowingly agree to install. Since most users don’t accept the challenge of reading the EULA in its entirety, they tend to download bundled applications unknowingly.
Assessment of OpenCandy PUP
During the initial assessment of OpenCandy, I was a little skeptical about what to look out for or expect. In fact, I had to install the OpenCandy.exe file twice to discern its behavior. I’m not sure how this application got its name but I do believe it has something to do with the fact that it supposedly helps Internet users open a new world of Internet browsing. That conclusion was arrived at after realizing that OpenCandy.exe installed mostly Internet browsers along with a tune-up tool on the test computer. However, as a result of the system requirements, there was a pop-up message indicating that Internet Explorer 8 was not compatible with the computer system in question.
In comparison to the malware I’ve encountered since I started researching malware, OpenCandy is everything but malicious. In fact, this application is only categorized as malware because of its’ subtle covert nature of installing bundled programs unsolicited by the user.
Additionally, OpenCandy coerces users into changing their Internet Browsers by installing those unrequested by the user. In fact, it’s no shock that OpenCandy chose to install the Internet Browser ‘Opera’ as a part of this bundle since it’s one of the least used browsers according to the Federal Government. Clearly, this was a smoothly disguised advertisement or promotion to force users into using the Opera Browser, along with Internet Explorer 8.0.
While these aforementioned browsers in themselves aren’t malicious and are in no way considered malware, they were installed as a promotional tool and without the request of the user. Despite being mentioned within the EULA, advertisers are capitalizing on this since most users do not bother to read the agreements when installing a program.
Furthermore, OpenCandy, like most other bundled applications I’ve dealt with, threw in a tune-up tool as a part of the promotion. I found this tune-up application annoying since I had to hassle my way into getting it to close from the computer screen. I can only imagine the hassle users would go through trying to remove this software.
Image 7: Depiction of a scan performed by Tuneup Utilities. The scan detected that several areas on the test PC could be optimized/tuned up.
Image 8: After a scan was completed using the Tuneup utility program, I was given an option to buy the full version. Nothing is wrong with this marketing strategy. In fact, most utility tools if not all will scan your computer to detect threats or loopholes, but they won't exactly allow you to fix those problems unless you buy the full version. It's not unfair, it's just business.
Programs installed during the installation of OpenCandy include:
Web Companion: Developed by Lavasoft, Web Companion is said to be an application that serves as a security defense for your Internet browsers by preventing unauthorized changes (see image below)
Tuneup Utilities: Tuneup Utilities does exactly as it says. It cleans up a computer system, whereby preventing unused programs from slowing it down.
Opera Stable 30.01.1835.88: Opera is a fast, simple, and effective Internet browser that allows users to get around on the web.
All in all, the intent of installing an application such as OpenCandy is to unleash a world of promotion or advertisements on your computer. They are pretty annoying and in some cases difficult to remove. Furthermore, as a user, you want to control what gets installed on your computer without being dictated to or coerced in some EULA that you probably overlook.
To completely remove OpenCandy PUP from your computer, click here to download and install Spyhunter.
The Error Code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C is an error that is caused by an installed application or program on your computer that is not compatible with Microsoft Windows 10. The incompatible application prevents you from being able to complete the upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10 and will continue to do so until the issue is resolved.
Common symptoms include:
You receive a dialog box displaying Error Code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C
You are unable to successfully complete the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade process.
Solution
Error Causes
Error Code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C is caused by a non-compatible application or program that is currently installed on your computer, and is not allowing the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade to finish the installation and update process.
The upgrade is stopped due to an incompatible app or program.
Out of date or no longer supported software can cause this error to occur.
Device drivers that are not up to date or no longer compatible.
The computer might pick up malware along the way and might be preventing the upgrade. If error code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C is not rectified, you’ll not be able to proceed with your Windows 10 upgrade.
Further Information and Manual Repair
The good news is, error code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C is a relatively common problem that is usually easily fixed by the user at home, though it can be a little time-consuming. To elude this time-consuming process, use a powerful tool to rectify the issue in no time (TSC). Before making any attempts to repair this error, ensure to perform a compatibility test.
Check the compatibility of applications and programs installed on your computer to locate and remove, or fix the one that is incompatible. (Don't stop at the first one you find, there could be multiple incompatibility issues.)
Check to ensure all programs and software are not outdated or no longer supported, and remove or fix any outdated or unused, unnecessary programs or software. (This is also a great way to free up space and clean your computer up a bit.)
Check to ensure that all of your device drivers are current, up to date, and compatible with Microsoft Windows 10, and replace or update where necessary.
Method 1:
Use the get Microsoft Windows 10 application on your computer to check its compatibility, follow the steps below to run the check.
Look at the taskbar, to the right; you will see an icon for Microsoft Windows 10, right-click the icon. Locate the option in the menu to check the status of your upgrade. This will open an app for getting Microsoft Windows 10.
Next, you will see 3 lines on top of one another on the upper left side, this will open a drop-down menu, once you have this menu open, locate the option to check the compatibility of your computer.
Microsoft Windows will then run a check of your entire computer to check for compatibility with Microsoft Windows 10. Once it has finished its check, a pop-up window will display whether or not your computer will work with Microsoft Windows 10, and will also display a list of any hardware and software that are not compatible with the upgrade.
This may not catch everything and there may still be incompatible programs so the previous steps, though time-consuming may still be necessary.
Method 2:
Once the incompatible applications are discovered, use the control panel to remove/uninstall them. The steps are below:
Locate your computer’s Control Panel.
Choose the option that says “Programs”
From the options available, select the ‘Programs and Features’ link.
Locate the app in the queue or menu.
Right-click and choose the uninstall option.
… another option
You can also locate the app on the ‘app homepage’, right-click and choose the ‘uninstall’ option. If after following these steps the problem is still not corrected, download and install an automated tool for a quick fix.
In this post, you will be guided on how you can fix error 0x80070013 while executing various operations in your Windows 10 computer like System Restore, Windows Backup, or Windows Updates. When you encounter error 0x80070013, you will see the following error messages.
For System Restore, it states:
“System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer’s system files and settings were not changed.Details: System Restore failed while scanning the file system on the drive <Partition Letter>The drive might be corrupt. You might want to retry System Restore after running chkdsk /R on this disk.An unspecified error occurred during System Restore. (0x80070013)You can try System Restore again and choose a different restore point. If you continue to see this error, you can try an advanced recovery method.”
Whereas in Windows Backup, it states:
“Check your backup, Windows Backup failed while trying to read from this shadow copy on one of the volumes being backed up. Please check in the event logs for any relevant errors.The backup failed, The media is write protected (0x80070013).”
On the other hand, you will see the following error message in Windows Update:
“There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact the support for information, this may help: (0x80070013).”
There are several suggestions you can check out to fix the error depending on where you encountered it. If you encountered it while running Windows Updates, then you can try to reset the Windows Update components or run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. And if you got the error when running System Restore, you can try to run a System File Checker scan or the DISM tool as well as the CHKDSK utility. Lastly, if you got this error when running the Windows Backup service, you can try to check its status in the Services Manager.
Error 0x80070013 in Windows Updates:
Option 1 – Try to reset the Windows Update components
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS, and MSI Installer.
After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
net start wuauserv
net start cryptsvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.
Option 2 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
You might also want to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing error 0x80070013. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
Error 0x80070013 in System Restore:
Option 3 – Try to run both Systems File Checker scan and DISM tool
Running the System File Checker scan as well as the DISM tool can help you resolve error 0x80070013 while performing System Restore. Refer to these steps to do so.
Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After opening Command Prompt, execute this command to run a System File Checker scan: sfc /scannow
Once the scan is completed, restart your computer and then see if the error is now fixed. If not, you can run the DISM tool.
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges again.
Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them in order to properly run the DISM tool:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
Option 4 – Run the CHKDSK utility
In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk <Partition Letter>: /f /r /x /b
The command you entered will start to check for errors and fix them automatically. Else, it will throw an error message saying, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like the schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”.
Tap the Y key to schedule Disk Check the next time your computer restarts.
Error 0x80070013 in Windows Backup:
Option 5 – Try checking the status of the Windows Backup Service
First, you need to tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “services.msc” in the field and click OK or tap Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
After that, you will see a list of services and from there, look for the Windows Backup Service and double click on it to open its Properties.
Then check if its Startup type is set to Disabled. If it is, then change it to “Manual”. Note that this service is essential as it provides backup and restores capabilities.
Now click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and then restart your computer. Check if the error is now gone.
As you know the Windows 10 operating system is has a lot of features and some of them are related to turning off your computer in different ways in order to save power at different levels. These particular features are Shut down, Restart, Hibernate, and Sleep. However, there are times when you might encounter some issues when using any of the aforementioned features. One of these issues is when your computer shuts down instead of going to Sleep.
This issue could be caused by several factors including a bug related to the Intel Management Engine Interface or IMEI driver as well as any misconfiguration in the power settings of the BIOS or UEFI. If your computer is going through this problem, read on as this post will guide you in fixing it.
There are several potential fixes you can try to fix the problem. You can try to check the Sleep Advanced Settings or run the built-in Power troubleshooter or run the Power Efficiency Diagnostic Report. In addition, you can also try to troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot State or reset or update the BIOS.
Option 1 – Check the Sleep Advanced Settings
Click on the Windows key and type “control panel” in the field and select the related search result.
Next, select the Security and Maintenance option and click on the Power Options.
After that, you have to select the Change Plan Settings but keep in mind that this option is barely readable so you need to read each option carefully.
Now click on the Change advanced power settings button and a new window will appear.
Then look for the “Sleep” option and expand it. Make sure that the “Allow hybrid sleep” option is on.
Reboot your computer and check if your computer now functions properly. If it still didn’t work, you may have to reverse the changes you’ve made.
Option 2 – Try to run the Power troubleshooter
The next thing you can do is to run the Power troubleshooter. To do so, follow these steps:
Go to Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
After that, look for the “Power” option from the given list of built-in troubleshooters and click on it.
Next, click on the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Power troubleshooter.
Once the troubleshooter is done identifying the problems, follow the next on-screen instructions to resolve the problem.
Option 3 – Troubleshoot Sleep Mode issue in a Clean Boot State
The issue with Sleep Mode might be caused by some third-party programs installed on your computer. This program might be the one that puts your computer to sleep and so to isolate this possibility, you have to put your PC in a Clean Boot State using 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.)
After that, try to put your computer to sleep again.
Option 4 – Try to run the Power Efficiency Diagnostics Report
You could also try to run the Power Efficiency Diagnostics Report to fix the problem. This tool is helpful and will help you analyze the status of the battery but note that this can be quite overwhelming especially if you’re not well-versed in this matter.
Option 5 – Try to update the BIOS
Updating the BIOS can help you fix the ATTEMPTED_WRITE_TO_READONLY_MEMORY BSOD error but as you know, BIOS is a sensitive part of a computer. Even though it is a software component, the functioning of the hardware depends on it largely. Thus, you must be careful when modifying something in the BIOS. So if you don’t know much about it, it’s best if you skip on this option and try the other ones instead. However, if you are well-versed in navigating the BIOS, then follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “msinfo32” in the field and press Enter to open System Information.
From there, you should find a search field on the bottom where you have to search for the BIOS version and then press Enter.
After that, you should see the developer and version of the BIOS installed on your PC.
Go to your manufacturer’s website and then download the latest version of BIOS on your computer.
If you are using a laptop, make sure that you keep it plugged in until you have updated the BIOS.
Now double click on the downloaded file and install the new BIOS version on your computer.
Now restart your computer to apply the changes made.
Note: If updating the BIOS didn’t help, you might want to consider resetting it instead.
California's Department of Fair Employment & Housing has widened its anti-discrimination lawsuit against Activision Blizzard and claims the publisher has been shredding vital documents relevant to the ongoing investigation.
A recent report from Kotaku described the department as offering poorly paid, highly insecure positions, with a culture of hostility towards LGBTQ+ testers. The DFEH's rewording of "employees" to "workers" now hopes to take these contractors' experiences into account.
"As a contract employee, I feel there's a lot of pressure to excel, impress, and move through the ranks as fast as you can before your contract ends and you're forced to go 3 months without income or find another job," Axios reports one worker saying. "I take pride in what I do, but it feels like it's never enough."
Activision's contentious hiring of union-busting third-party law firm WilmerHale "directly interferes" with its own investigation, it says. By going to WilmerHale, Activision appears to be claiming that all work related to the investigation is privileged and can't be shared with DFEH.
The suit also claims that Activision HR shredded documents related to "investigations and complaints", against its legal obligation to retain them during the investigation. The relevant parts of the updated lawsuit were shared by Axios reporters Stephen Totilo and Megan Farokhmanesh, the former also noting that the DFEH "fixed their misspelling of Bill Cosby's name".
"DFEH is also informed and aware that documents and records have not been maintained as required by law or by the DFEH's Document Retention Notice," the complaint reads, "including but not limited to documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel and emails are deleted thirty days after an employees separation."
Speculation and answer from Activision Blizzard
Blizzard employee Jessica Gonzalez suspects that the costs of fines associated with destroying these documents may have been an easier blow for Blizzard to take than any penalties drawn from their existence in helping the lawsuit go through.
In an email to Kotaku, Activision denied the shredding allegations and issued a statement outlining steps it had taken to improve company culture—including the ousting of high-level executives like Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. The full statement reads:
"Throughout our engagement with the DFEH, we have complied with every proper request in support of its review even as we had been implementing reforms to ensure our workplaces are welcoming and safe for every employee. Those changes continue today, and include:
Several high-level personnel changes
Revamped hiring and recruiting practices requiring diverse interview panels
Greater transparency on pay equity
Expanded and improved training and investigative capabilities for human resource and compliance staff
Created investigation teams outside of business units to support greater independence
Restructured divisions to support greater accountability
Enhanced review processes to include evaluation of managers by employees
Clear boundaries on workplace behavior with a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and other actions that diminish or marginalize.
"We strive to be a company that recognizes and celebrates the diverse talents and perspectives that lead to the creation of great, globally appealing entertainment. We have provided the DFEH with clear evidence that we do not have gender pay or promotion disparities. Our senior leadership is increasingly diverse, with a growing number of women in key leadership roles across the company.
"We share DFEH’s goal of a safe, inclusive workplace that rewards employees equitably and is committed to setting an example that others can follow."
California and RIOT
Beyond Activision Blizzard, California's DFEH has also probed into League of Legends creator Riot Games, accusing the studio of dragging its heels over sexual harassment allegations dating back to 2019. Riot denied the allegations, telling us that it "will never retaliate against anyone for talking to any government agency".
So, you have finished with work, game, movie, music, email, or whatever on your PC, you look at the clock, it is late, you decide to go to sleep or outside, you click on the power button and choose shutdown. Now when a PC is shut down you feel good and go with your business but the next time you power it up you get the same error like the computer never really shut down in the first place. You wonder why and reboot it, just in case and all of the sudden error is gone.
If something similar has happened to you or you had the feeling that after shutting down your computer has not really felt like shutting it down, do not seek professional help, everything is OK with you because when you click on shut down, your computer does not really shut down!
Truth is that Microsoft has changed how to shut down works and how rebooting works in Windows with an update but has not publicly said anything about it so some users may experience this feeling of not shutdown phenomenon and might even think there is something wrong with their PC.
Why this change?
A few years ago shutdown button and option in Windows were really shutting down OS, but things changed when Microsoft wanted to increase boot-up speed. Now when that decision was made shutdown option was changed. So, what was changed? Well in order to increase Windows booting time, the shutdown will now turn off power to PC components and it will look like everything is indeed shutdown but the Windows kernel will actually be saved to a hard drive with all settings and just awaken once the PC is turned back ON. This will result in all errors and other stuff being just still present same as they were once the system was instructed to be turned off.
Rebooting your PC will now clear kernel and file from the hard drive and you will get a clean system startup without any issues tied with the kernel itself.
Workaround
Now that we know why and what change has been made to Windows logical question is can we shut down our PC at all properly? Luckily for us, the answer is yes and we will not need any external application to do it, we can still do it inside Windows itself and it is quite quick and easy.
Bringing back the old shutdown
In order to bring the old shutdown functionality of your PC please follow the instructions but be aware that by doing this your PC will boot a little bit slower since it will have to load the kernel from scratch each time computer is turned ON.
First thing is to go to settings and go to System
Then once you are inside the system, navigate to the power and sleep and click on it to select it. Once you have it selected to all the way to the right and click on additional power settings.
When you click on advanced power settings you should be led to the control panel's power options. Inside this panel click on top left link where it says Choose what the power button does.
Inside options, you will need to untick the box next to Turn on fast startup (recommended), this option has been ticked ON by the Windows update and probably without notifying you. Option means exactly what was described, it will save kernel state on the hard drive for faster boot time but sadly it can cause some issues since it will never be reloaded from 0.
If you are unable to uncheck the box click on the text beside the shield icon that says: Change settings that are currently unavailable (you will have to be logged in as administrator).
Conclusion
Altho turning off fast startup and shutting down the PC completely will for sure extend your bootup time I still believe that it is the right choice since sometimes a lot of clutter and bad things accumulate over time inside the OS and can cause a vast variety of problems in a long run. So stay safe and shut down that PC as it used to be in the past.
Error code 707 is a typical Gmail error. Gmail is an email service provided by the largest internet giant Google Inc. It is an email service that is most widely used by web-based email providers with more than 425 million active users worldwide.
The error code 707 is usually displayed in any one of the following formats:
“Oops... the system encountered a problem (#707)”“Server error occurred and your email was not sent (error 707)”
Solution
Error Causes
The error code 707 may be triggered due to many reasons. These include:
Enabled Lab ‘Background Send’ feature on Gmail
Web browser history and cache is full of junk content
Outdated browser
Though this error code is not fatal it is advisable to fix it right away to avoid inconvenience and to ensure your email is sent right away without any delays.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Here are some of the easy DIY methods to repair and fix the error code 707 on your PC. These methods are simple and do not require any kind of technical expertise. So, even if you are not technically sound, you can repair the error code 707 on your system in no time.
Method 1
Sometimes you may experience error code 707 while sending email via Gmail because of the enabled Background send labs feature. To fix this error here’s what you must do: Log in to your Gmail account, click on the Gear Box, and select settings.
Now simply switch to the lab tab under the settings. Here search for Background Send. If you can’t locate it, then scroll down and insert background Send in the find box. Once you find this lab feature, disable it. After disabling this feature, try resending the email.
Hopefully, this will resolve the issue. Nonetheless, if the error 707 still persists, then try method 2 given below.
Method 2
The error 707 may also be triggered if your web browser becomes outdated. If so, then it is advisable to update the browser to resolve the issue. Simply download the latest browser version from a reliable website.
After the installation is complete, log on to your Gmail account and then try to send an email. If the email is sent successfully, then the issue is fixed.
Method 3
Try clearing cache and web browser history. When the web browser history and cache are full of junk files, then you might experience this error on your system. Sometimes this can also lead to registry issues. To remove the error and repair the registry immediately, download Restoro.
This is a multi-functional and user-friendly PC Fixer compatible with all Windows versions and embedded with multiple powerful scanners including a registry cleaner.
It scans your entire PC for such errors. It clears the registry, removes all obsolete and unnecessary files including cookies, web browser history, junk files, and invalid entries, and cleans it right away thereby fixing the error immediately.
Click here to download Restoro and resolve error code 707.
Having the latest applications is often preferred for most users but sometimes we have some old applications which have not been updated or simply we just want to run oldie on our computer because it does everything we need and we do not want to upgrade in order to save some money.
The issue is presented sometimes when we try to run an old application in Windows 10 and some components are missing in Windows itself or the application is simply coded in a way to work on older Windows versions. If by any chance you have this issue then this guide is for you since we are going to show you how to run old applications in Windows 10.
This guide is made in a way to takes into account that the application itself is completely installed on your Windows 10 machine if you can not even install the application you will need to search solution for that particular application since that can not really be generalized and pinpointed issue, every application is different.
Running old applications using the compatibility option
All of that being said, let's start that old app you have. First thing is to locate an executable file or shortcut of the desired application. Once it is located, right-click on it to bring up the menu, and all the way to the bottom you will find properties. Left-click on properties.
The application settings screen will open, in upper tabs locate Compatibility and left-click on it.
After the click, you will find yourself in application compatibility settings.
In this window, you will face different options to run the chosen application in various modes in order to make it run. How settings are self-explanatory and different applications will need different settings sadly we can not cover them all but your safest bet is to run them in an environment where they have worked.
For example, if the application was working fine in Windows XP and required administrator privileges, check Run this program as an administrator and Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows XP.
New malware with extensive spyware capabilities steals data from infected Android devices and is designed to automatically trigger whenever new info is read to be exfiltrated. The spyware can only be installed as a 'System Update' app available via third-party Android app stores as it was never available on Google's Play Store. This drastically limits the number of devices it can infect, given that most experienced users will most likely avoid installing it in the first place. The malware also lacks a method to infect other Android devices on its own, adding to its limited spreading capabilities.
However, when it comes to stealing your data, this remote access trojan (RAT) can collect and exfiltrate an extensive array of information to its command-and-control server. Zimperium researchers who spotted it observed it while "stealing data, messages, images and taking control of Android phones."
What happens when malicious software is installed
"Once in control, hackers can record audio and phone calls, take photos, review browser history, access WhatsApp messages, and more," they added. Zimperium said its extensive range of data theft capabilities includes:
Stealing instant messenger messages;
Stealing instant messenger database files (if the root is available);
Inspecting the default browser's bookmarks and searches;
Inspecting the bookmark and search history from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Samsung Internet Browser;
Searching for files with specific extensions (including .pdf, .doc, .docx, and .xls, .xlsx);
Inspecting the clipboard data;
Inspecting the content of the notifications;
Recording audio;
Recording phone calls;
Periodically take pictures (either through the front or back cameras);
Listing of the installed applications;
Stealing images and videos;
Monitoring the GPS location;
Stealing SMS messages;
Stealing phone contacts;
Stealing call logs;
Exfiltrating device information (e.g., installed applications, device name, storage stats).
How does it work?
Once installed on an Android device, the malware will send several pieces of info to its Firebase command-and-control (C2) server, including storage stats, the internet connection type, and the presence of various apps such as WhatsApp. The spyware harvests data directly if it has root access or will use Accessibility Services after tricking the victims into enabling the feature on the compromised device. It will also scan the external storage for any stored or cached data, harvest it, and deliver it to the C2 servers when the user connects to a Wi-Fi network. Unlike other malware designed to steal data, this one will get triggered using Android's contentObserver and Broadcast receivers only when some conditions are met, like the addition of a new contact, new text messages, or new apps being installed.
"Commands received through the Firebase messaging service initiate actions such as recording of audio from the microphone and exfiltration of data such as SMS messages," Zimperium said.
"The Firebase communication is only used to issue the commands, and a dedicated C&C server is used to collect the stolen data by using a POST request."
Camouflage
The malware will also display fake "Searching for the update.." system update notifications when it receives new commands from its masters to camouflage its malicious activity. The spyware also conceals its presence on infected Android devices by hiding the icon from the drawer/menu. To further evade detection, it will only steal thumbnails of videos and images it finds, thus reducing the victims' bandwidth consumption to avoid drawing their attention to the background data exfiltration activity. Unlike other malware that harvests data in bulk, this one will also make sure that it exfiltrates only the most recent data, collecting location data created and photos taken within the last few minutes.
If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.
Error Code 0x80240016 is an error that appears when the Windows Update tool is unable to complete its operation. While it most commonly occurs in Windows 10, versions of this error are also present in past Windows systems, as well. The steps to resolve the error are the same for each of these systems.
Common symptoms include:
Inability to complete the Windows Update process
Sluggishness or freezing
Crashing of your programs
The message that states “IMAP_LOGINFAILURE”
There are a number of different issues that can cause Error Code 0x80240016, so it is important to follow the steps below to address each of them in turn. While basic users can implement several of the methods, some of the methods may require advanced skills or knowledge.
If needed, always get in touch with a qualified Windows repair professional to assist you in the process of error resolution.
Solution
Error Causes
Error Code 0x80240016 happens when the system believes that another installation is already occurring on your device while the Windows Update tool is attempting to run the installation of its own updates. While there may not always be an actual installation going on that prohibits Windows Update from running, several programs can leave traces of background activity that prevent Windows from proceeding as necessary.
Malicious software can also cause your system to believe that files are in use, so several of the methods to fix the error can address this particular set of issues.
Further Information and Manual Repair
There are a number of different background issues that can cause Error Code 0x80240016 to appear on your machine. Follow the steps below to address each aspect of the error code, making sure to restart your computer after each attempt. If you have difficulty in completing these steps, contact a qualified technician to assist you.
Here are the top methods to resolve Error Code 0x80240016:
Method One: Use the Troubleshooting Tool in Windows Update
The first step to addressing Error Code 0x80240016 is to open up the Windows Update tool and click on the option to run the Troubleshooting Wizard. This can identify many of the issues associated with the error. If this tool makes any changes, make sure to restart your computer after it finishes.
Method Two: Run the Registry Repair Tool
The registry repair tool can be a great resource for Error Code 0x80240016. Use it to run a scan on all of your registry entries and to repair any that may be extraneous, faulty, or missing. This step may take some time, so be prepared to wait a while for it to finish. Always restart your computer after running the registry repair tool so that any necessary changes can fully take effect and be recognized by your device.
Method Three: Scan Your Computer for Malicious Software
Use the Microsoft Security Essentials tool to perform a scan of your computer to see if any malicious software has changed or corrupted your system files. Once all the files had been scanned and problems have been addressed, you can restart your computer to see if the error has been successfully resolved. You can also download a powerful automated tool to rectify Windows 10 error code 0x80240016.
Method Four: Update Your Drivers and Perform Updates for Your Software and Operating System
Another method that can help to address Error Code 0x80240016 is to open up your driver settings from the control panel and scan to see if any updates are needed. If there are updates waiting to be installed, go ahead and perform those updates first, then restart your computer.
Next, check your Windows Update tool to see if there are any program or system updates that need to be performed. Allowing updates to stack up can cause a number of errors on your system, so it is important to keep your updates in check. Restart your computer after you finish this process.
Method Five: Backup Your Files, Then Reinstall Your Operating System Version
If none of the above methods have completely fixed the problem, you may need to reinstall your operating system. Before doing so, make sure that you have a backup copy of any important programs and files so that you don’t lose anything during the fresh installation.
In today's digital life, when we access the internet daily, browsers are essential almost as our operating system, after all, we do access all of the internet data via them, and having a good, reliable, and personal browser tailored for our needs can make all the difference in the world.
In today's article, we will introduce you to the five greatest browsers of today, we will point their advantages and disadvantages and why should you pick one or another. As with each piece of software, there is not an ultimate browser, better than anything else and we will not favor anyone on this list, the decision which you should use is solely up to you, we are here to provide you with an objective opinion on each one.
All of this being said, let's begin with the countdown in no particular order.
Mozilla firefox.
If you consider yourself a power user or you value your privacy then firefox is the browser for you. It is open source and is packed with great features like reporting when your email has been used for a known data breach, it stops annoying pop-up notifications, stops browser fingerprinting, and many more. Firefox is also a cross-platform browser making it a great choice if you want to transfer and use your data across multiple devices with one account. The downside of firefox however is its speed, this browser is the slowest on this list, I guess features and advantages took their tool in the speed department, but if that is not a concern for you and you feel like the positives outweigh some slower speed, grab it here.
Google Chrome
Chrome browser has been a game-changer when it was released and even today some of its features are still great and needed. It is packed with some great features like tab freezing, for example, it is cross-platform meaning that also as firefox you can change data between browsers on different devices. it is a very expandable browser with tons of extensions and its speed performance is very very good. The downside of Chrome are two things sadly, one of them is its hunger for RAM, the browser takes a big chunk of RAM once it is active and on some older computer with limited RAM it performs slowly, another is telemetry which its sending, in other words, other browsers don’t come with the lingering fear that Google’s just a little bit too involved in all of our lives. But if downsides do not trouble you and you have a decent amount of RAM in your system chrome might be the best solution for you, grab it here and check it out.
Microsoft Edge
Or should I say Microsoft edge 2.0 since this new Edge is completely recoded and rethought, a completely new browser based on chromium. The first version of the edge was an inhouse attempt from Microsoft and it was a disaster, I guess the lesson was learned, and this new edge we have today is a great Browser, it is lightning fast and packed with some great features with one among them standing out I just love, that is the ability to save web pages as applications and truth to be told you have to try this in order to see al great advantages it offers. A very interesting feature is that edge itself wins the speed race from all of the 5 contestants here which is a great surprise. Of course, the downside of annoying Microsoft pushing it to be your default is, well it's Microsoft, as chrome is tied to Google so is edge tied to Microsoft, and the same dreaded feeling that big MS is watching you. If however, you do not concern yourself with these kinds of things, since it is already part of Windows 10, give it a spin and try it, I am sure you will at least love its blazing speed.
Vivaldi
A new kid on the block, relatively unknown Browser Vivaldi offers some great customizable features no other one on this list offers, a very unique and down to each detail customization option, you can literally tweak each and every aspect of this browser making it best customizable and personal browser ever. How it is also based o chromium, every chrome extension works in it naturally. It is very good in speed and constantly updated and developed. The downside, well if you are anything like me, you could spend ages trying to customize it, ages, it has tons of features, and making it really feel and tick as you want can consume a really lot of time. If this thing does not bother you at all, grab Vivaldi here.
Opera
Last but not least, we have another relic of the old browser age, the Opera browser. Packed with great security and great in-house features like a built-in VPN, built-in ad blocker, built-in crypto wallet, etc this browser seems like a swiss army knife. Opera is full of features and it shows once you start using it. The downside of opera is that its look and feel are specifically tailored to a certain type of user and not everyone will find that appealing or attractive, add some great but hidden and hard to come by features and it may go unnoticed. However, I think you should really give it a go since it definitely deserves more attention than it gets. Grab it here and check it out.
That's it, 5 great browsers to look up, I hope that you have enjoyed the read and I hope to see you again here for more articles.
If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.