Malware Guide: How to Remove Webguard

In case you didn’t know, the new Windows 10 v1903 has brought tons of new features around Windows 10 Updates. One of these features is the ability to automatically adjust the Active Hours based on your computer activity. This feature is really useful as it tells the operating system when to install the Windows Updates. A lot of users use the Active Hours feature to ensure that the Windows Update won’t force them to restart their PCs to install the update. So if your computer is turned on, it won’t apply the update during the active hours you’ve specified. In addition, the active hours change for many users and they are not that strict. For instance, if you set the active hours between 10 am to 5 pm, Windows Update won’t be forcing you to restart your computer to install the updates at those times. Note that Windows Update allows enabling an option using where it can monitor the active hours in your computer and change it. To configure this setting, here’s what you have to do:

• Frist, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update.
• Next, take note of your current active hours and click on the “Change active hours” link.
• Then toggle the option that says, “Automatically adjust active hours for this device based on activity”. This will change the active hours and if you match it with the previous one, it should be different.

As you can see on the image given above, the earlier active hours were between 8:00 to 17:00 and were changed to 11:00 to 19:00. If you have been using this feature for a while you’ll find how useful and handy it is especially when you’re using your computer and don’t want any notifications like the prompts for Windows Updates to bother you while working.

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2 – Put your computer in a Clean Boot State

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

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

Option 3 – Try to run a System File Checker scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting the “Unhandled exception has occurred in your application” error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Type “cmd” in the Start search and then right-click on the appropriate search result.
• Next, select “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

• Now restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 4 – Install and update Dependencies

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

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

If you are typing inside the Search bar, Cortana, Taskbar, Windows 10 apps, etc., and then everything seems invisible then read on as this post will guide you in fixing this issue. At first, you might think that something is wrong with your keyboard but it really has nothing to do with it. The problem actually lies with the apps from Microsoft Store. Thus, if you can’t type anything in any of the apps from Microsoft Store in Windows 10, refer to the options given below to fix them.

Option 1 – Ensure that ctfmon.exe is running

Ctfmon.exe is a Microsoft process in Windows 10 that controls the Alternative User Input as well as the Office Language bar. In other words, it enables end-users to control the computer using on-screen keyboard inputs, speech, and even pen for various languages. It would be better if you launch the program once by going to the C:/Windows/system32 folder. Doing so will ensure that whatever API is needed for the keyboard typing to work properly again. You also have to make sure that its startup status is not disabled. In addition, you can also try the following steps, alternatively.

• Open the Task Scheduler.
• Then go to Microsoft > Windows > TextServicesFramework.
• And on the MsCtfMonitor, right-click and enable the task.
• Now restart your computer.

This will ensure that all the text boxes will start to work again. And if the task MsCtfMonitor is missing from the list of tasks, you can import it with the XML file from basics.net. Then download and create a task to run it each time you log in to your PC.

Option 2 – Use the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

You might also try running the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter as it can help in resolving issues with the Windows Store apps. This built-in tool can resolve most of the app-related problems. To use it, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshooting > Windows Store Apps and from there, click the start the troubleshooter button. The Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter will scan the computer for any issues with the Windows store apps and will automatically fix them if it finds any.

Option 3 – Re-register all the Windows 10 UWP apps using PowerShell

• First, make sure to close all the running applications on your computer.
• Next, in the Start search, type in PowerShell and right click on the result, and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that, type the following commands to re-register the Windows 10 apps. Make sure to hit Enter on each line:
  • reg delete "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionTileDataModelMigrationTileStore" /va /f
  • get-appxpackage -packageType bundle |% {add-appxpackage -register -disabledevelopmentmode ($_.installlocation + "appxmetadataappxbundlemanifest.xml")}
  • $bundlefamilies = (get-appxpackage -packagetype Bundle).packagefamilyname
  • get-appxpackage -packagetype main |? {-not ($bundlefamilies -contains $_.packagefamilyname)} |% {add-appxpackage -register -disabledevelopmentmode ($_.installlocation + "appxmanifest.xml")}

Option 4 – Try to run the DISM tool

You can also run the DISM Tool as it helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth” which could help in fixing the problem.

• Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • exe /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 5 – Run the System File Checker Scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

• Restart your PC.

What is Windows ImageAcquisition High CPU & Disk usage? The Windows Image Acquisition is the driver model in charge of the communication between the graphics hardware and the operating system. There are times when it causes high disk and CPU usage in Windows 10 systems which results in slow performance of the computer. To fix this issue, read on as this post will help you in addressing the problem. The cause of this problem might have something to do with the hardware or the drivers. And so if your computer becomes slow because of the Windows Image Acquisition process, here are some suggestions that might be of help. You can try to restart the Windows Image Acquisition service, run a System File Checker Scan, disconnect & reconnect imaging hardware as well as update and reinstall the drivers and updating the graphics drivers. For a complete set of instructions, follow the given options below.

Option 1 – Try restarting the Windows Image Acquisition Service

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
• From there, look for the Windows Image Acquisition Service and check on its service Status.
• If the Service Status is blank, right-click on it and select Start. And if the service Status is Running right-click on it and select Restart. After that, check if your computer’s performance is now back to normal.

Option 2 – Try running a System File Checker scan

As you know, running a System File Checker scan can help in replacing missing files as well as repair the corrupted ones which might be the reason behind the problem.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

• Restart your computer after the scan is completed.

Option 3 – Try disconnecting and reconnecting the imaging hardware and then update and reinstall its drivers

It could be that the hardware that calls for the Windows Image Acquisition service has some issues which are why disconnecting and reconnecting the imaging hardware like scanners, printers, cameras can help in fixing the problem. In addition, you can also boot your computer in a Clean Boot State so that you can find the problematic hardware by hit and trial method. Refer to the steps below to do so:

• 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.)

Option 4 – Try updating the Graphics drivers

• First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
• After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
• After that, right-click on each entry under the Display Adapters and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
• Now restart your computer.
• After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.

Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it.

The Sysfader iexplore.exe Application Error - What is it?

To understand Sysfader iexplore.exe application error, first, it is important to learn what is Sysfade.exe file. Sysfader.exe is basically an IE (Internet Explorer) application file that provides cool animation effects. These animation effects include fading menus in and out, animated windows and etc. It is responsible for the graphical enhancements for animated pages. The Sysfader iexplore.exe application error occurs when this file fails to execute properly and open animated websites on Internet Explorer. The error code is displayed in the following format:

“SysFader: iexplore.exe – Application Error The instruction at “0×00000000″ referenced memory at “0×00000000″. The memory could not be “read”.”

Solution

Error Causes

The Sysfader iexplorer.exe application error may be triggered due to many causes. These include:

• Sysfader.exe file corrupted by malware and spyware
• Recently upgraded Internet Explorer which resulted in the Sysfader iexplorer.exe application error due to incompatibility issues with the system program.
• Issues with IE configuration
• Damaged registry files
• Damaged DLL files
• Obsolete and bad registry entries

Due to Sysfader iexplorer.exe application error, your Internet Explorer browser may crash. Furthermore if the error is not fixed timely, it may result in even more severe PC problems like system slowdown, system crash and failure. This happens especially when Sysfader iexplorer.exe application error is related to the registry. The registry saves all the activities performed on the computer. This also includes junk files, invalid registry entries, bad registry keys, cookies, temporary internet files, and files of the programs uninstalled. If the registry is not cleaned frequently, these obsolete files overload the RAM causing great deal of damage to the registry. When you try to upgrade your browser, the installation fails and results in browser incompatibility issues because of the previous files of the uninstalled program saved in the registry. Furthermore, the error code may also pop up due to the Sysfader.exe file corrupted by malicious software like spyware and adware on your system if you don’t run an antivirus on your system regularly.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To prevent IE web browser and your PC from coming crashing, here are some solutions that you can try to resolve the Sysfader iexplorer.exe application error:

1. Repair and restore the registry by changing the configuration settings in the Registry Editor Window. This is accessible by typing ‘Regedit’ in the Run window. However, to edit the configuration settings manually and restore the registry, you should be technically sound. If not then making the changes would be slightly complex and time-consuming for you.
2. However, another alternative to this is to download Restoro. Restoro is a powerful, advanced, and highly functional PC repair tool that includes multiple utilities such as a registry cleaner and a system optimizer. The registry cleaning feature scans your entire PC for registry issues triggering error codes like Sysfader iexplorer.exe.It wipes out all the unnecessary and obsolete files and fixes the damaged dll files thus simultaneously restoring the registry. The antivirus utility scans for and removes viruses and spyware from your PC which as we explained earlier could be the reason for Sysfader error code.

With Restoro, it takes only a few seconds to resolve this error and repair the registry. If you have system slowdown issues, it takes care of that too. It has simple navigations and a user-friendly interface which makes it very easy to operate even if you are not technically sound. It is safe, efficient, and compatible on all Windows versions including Vista, XP, Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10. Click here to download Restoro and resolve Sysfader iexplorer.exe application error on your PC today!

What Is Error 103?

Error 103 is an error that is usually encountered by those who use Google Chrome. This error is usually generated because of a conflict arising between Google Chrome and the antivirus program running on the user’s computer. Primarily, error 103 is an incompatibility issue. It is not critical in nature. However, since it will disrupt the smooth functioning of the browser, it is strongly advised to rectify this error that is generated due to any temporary conflicts between the logic of the two programs namely Google Chrome and antivirus. In layman's terms, it would be only justified to say that this error has a lot to do with the way programs react to each other in real-time.

Solution

Error Causes

When the error is displayed to the user, it usually states something like ‘chrome error 103 connection aborted’, ‘chrome error 103 err_connection_aborted’ or ‘Error 103 (net: ERR_CONNECTION_ABORTED): Unknown error. This begs the question, what triggers this error? Here it is important to understand that Google Chrome constantly applies to upgrade. In most instances, the upgrades almost go unnoticed. In the meanwhile, there are other programs running on any system such as firewall, Antispyware, or antivirus programs. All such programs govern the functionality of the web browser. Now, when the web browser attempts to update and any programs on the system view the update as a threat, the connection to the internet will be terminated. It is also important to understand that these programs will keep you from upgrading or from doing anything with your browser.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Before we move on to the discussion of fixing the underlying causes for error 103, it is important to understand all those programs that are most likely to generate this error. A list of all such programs is outlined below as follows.

• Kaspersky Pure 3.0
• Kaspersky ONE
• Kaspersky small office security 2013
• Kaspersky internet security 2013
• Kaspersky antivirus 2013

A downside associated with error 103 is that it won’t disappear on its own. That’s why it is important to make some manual changes as there are no tools available online to rectify this error automatically. Follow the steps listed below to easily fix the problem.

• Click on the Start button.
• In the search box, enter ‘expand.exe’.
• Right-click on the file that appears and select the option ‘Open Folder Location’.
• Now, copy the file and paste it at the destination ‘C:\Windows\System32’.
• If you are not able to find the file, it is advised you copy it from Windows Installation Disk.
• Now, click on the ‘Start’ button again.
• Find and select ‘Run’.
• Now enter ‘C: ’ in the search box and press Ok.
• Now right-click anywhere on the screen, select new, and then select folder.
• Rename this folder. Change the name from ‘New Folder’ to ‘Temp’.
• Now go to the Start button again.
• Select ‘Run’ once again.
• Type ‘cmd.exe’ in the command prompt and press Ok.
• Now type Command. Press enter.
• Now type this code as it is: ‘set TMP=C:temp’ and press enter.
• Now restart the browser.
• If it fails, install Google Chrome once again.
• Just make sure everything is in sync to avoid any data loss.

Error Code 0x80070005 – What is it?

Error code 0x80070005 is also known as the “Access Denied” error code because it prevents Windows users from accessing updates on their machines. This error code exists due to a lack of permissions on one’s system files or registry, permissions which are necessary for the updates via Windows Update to complete successfully. Error code 0x80070005 affects multiple versions of the Windows operating system including Windows 8, 8.1, and Windows 10.

Solution

Error Causes

The lack of files or registry permissions which result in the presence of error code 0x80070005 on your device may occur based on several reasons. The most common of these relates to the existence of malware programs on your machine. Malware can disrupt and change system files which are required for the update process to occur. Thus, this error code requires a systematic approach to first find missing or corrupt files, as well as cleaning up malware programs that could be preventing your machine from accessing updates.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Windows 10 users can repair error code 0x80070005 by implementing manual repair procedures. These procedures include the installation of tools like SubInACL.exe which enable users to access information about registry keys and files, thus detecting issues that may be preventing them from completing the update process in Windows Update.

These manual repair methods are listed below with clear instructions that even average Windows users can understand and follow. However, if you attempt the procedures and experience any issues that prevent you from successfully fixing error code 0x80070005, contact a Windows repair technician. Also, consider downloading an automated tool since these tools often help users fix PC performance issues that cause error codes to occur within various versions of the Windows operating system.

Method One: Log on as Administrator to Install Updates

By logging on as an administrator, Windows users may be able to access updates via Windows Update and thereby fix error code 0x80070005 in Windows 10. Follow the steps below to complete this manual repair method.

• Step one: Click the Search bar near the Start button
• Step two: Type User Accounts in Search
• Step three: Select User Accounts
• Step four: Click Manage User Accounts, then type in password if prompted to do so

Once you are logged on as an administrator, go to Settings to access Windows Update. You will be given the option to install the latest updates. Select this option and wait for the process to be completed. If error code 0x80070005 reoccurs, however, you will need to proceed to manual repair method two which requires that you scan for malware.

Method Two: Scan for Malware

This method is very simple. As you scan for malware on your machine, you will be able to detect any malicious programs that may be preventing you from installing updates on your device. This will in turn enable Windows users to clean up their system, fix the error code, and prevent others from occurring.

First, be sure you have a viable antimalware program on your machine. Scan for viruses and other harmful programs using this third-party software. Another option is to run Windows Defender on your machine.

Once you’ve completed the scan and error Code 0x80070005 moved any malware that may be present, attempt to install updates via Windows Update. If the problem causing error code 0x80070005 in Windows 10 is resolved, you will be able to install the updates. However, proceed to the next manual repair method if the error code remains on your device after you have scanned and removed malware programs.

Method Three: Install SubInACL Tool

The SubInACL tool enables Windows users to access security details and other information regarding files and registry permissions. Use this tool to fix files and registry permissions by following the instructions below.

• Step one: Download the SubInACL tool via Microsoft’s official website
• Step two: Run program as administrator
• Step three: Restart machine
• Step four: Go to Settings, Update & security, then Windows Update
• Step five: Reattempt installation of updates

Once you’ve been able to run the SubInACL tool and fix files or registry permissions, your machine should be able to access updates. If error code 0x80070005 reoccurs, however, you may need to contact a Windows repair technician to verify if issues unrelated to permissions are causing the error code to occur.

Method Four: Download an Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 8 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

A lot of users connect to the internet are using VPN on their Windows 10 computers which means that their regions could be different from the actual region of their Windows 10 computers. Thus, if you are facing some issues in updating your computer in this kind of environment, specifically the Windows Update error 0x800F0922, you need to follow the tips given in this guide to help you resolve the issue. When you encounter this kind of Windows Update error, you might see either of the following error messages on your screen:

“Windows could not search for updates, Code 0x800F0922 Windows Update encountered an unknown error” Or: “Windows failed to install the update with error 0x800F0922”

This issue might be caused by two possible reasons such as:

1. VPN issues
2. Not enough space on the System Reserved partition

To resolve the problem, here are some tips that might help:

Option 1 – Try disabling the VPN

As mentioned, if you are using VPN, this could be the reason why you’re getting the Windows Update error 0x800F0922 so the most obvious thing to do is for you to turn off the VPN and try to run the Windows Update once more. And if you use a VPN software that works using their software, you can just completely exit or log-off from its account. On the other hand, if you are using a built-in Windows 10 VPN, you can simply turn it off or delete all the settings you have created there. Although it’s understandable that you might have to use a VPN connection to connect to the work network, you really have to disable it at least until the Windows Update is no longer stuck in the error 0x800F0922. It would be best if you do this when you are not working.

Option 2 – Try to free up space in the System Reserved partition

The System Reserved partition is a part of the hard disk created when Windows is first installed on it. It is where the Boot Configuration Database, Boot Manager Code, Windows Recovery Environment, and the reserves space for the startup files are stored. And as mentioned early on, the error might be due to some insufficient space in the System Reserved partition so the next thing you can do is to increase the space in this partition. Note that it is a complex process so you need to make sure that you have made backups to all your data on the computer. So if ever something goes out of hand, at least you have copies of your important files in case you aren’t able to boot into the system at all.

ShopAtHome Toolbar is a browser extension. This extension tracks information when you visit a website, whether typing in the URL or clicking a link, the Browser App recognizes whether the URL is that of an Affiliate Store, and, if so, may redirect you through the affiliate network site to the Affiliate Store’s website, at which time, a tracking cookie will be placed in your browser. This cookie is the tracking mechanism that will follow your transaction with the Affiliate Store.

During installation, the Browser App may automatically change the default search engine used by your Web browser, whether via a built-in search box or otherwise, to our search engine. Upon installation and setup, it defines an auto-start registry entry which makes this program run on each Windows boot for all user logins. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times.

Multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in ShopAtHome.com Helper and are therefore classified as potentially unwanted and flagged for optional removal.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a form of an unwanted program, often a web browser add-on or extension, which then causes modifications in the browser’s settings. Browser hijackers can do a variety of things on your PC. The idea would be to force users to visit certain sites that are looking to increase their visitor traffic and generate higher ad income. A lot of people assume that these kinds of sites are legitimate and harmless but that is incorrect. Almost every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is important to classify them under privacy risks. They do not just screw up your web browsers, but browser hijackers could also modify the system registry, leaving your computer or laptop susceptible to other forms of hacking.

Browser hijacking signs and symptoms

Signs that your web browser is hi-jacked include: 1. the home page of your web browser is changed suddenly 2. you find yourself regularly directed to some other web page than the one you actually meant 3. The default search page of the browser is changed 4. you find many toolbars in your web browser 5. you see a lot of pop-ups on your computer screen 6. your internet browser starts running sluggishly or displays frequent glitches 7. Inability to navigate to particular sites, particularly anti-malware as well as other security software sites.

How browser hijacker infects PCs

Browser hijackers infect computers through malicious email attachments, downloaded infected documents, or by checking out infected internet sites. They also come from add-on programs, also called browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions, or toolbars. Other times you may have unintentionally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software program package (generally freeware or shareware). Popular examples of browser hijackers include Conduit, CoolWebSearch, Coupon Server, OneWebSearch, RocketTab, Delta Search, Searchult.com, and Snap.do.

The best ways to get rid of browser hijackers

Some hijackers could be removed simply by uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons from the Add or Remove Programs in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. Sadly, the majority of the software packages utilized to hijack a web browser are deliberately designed to be hard to detect or remove. Besides, browser hijackers can modify the Windows registry so it can be very difficult to fix manually, particularly if you are not a very tech-savvy person.

Help! Malware Preventing Anti-virus Installation And Access To The Web

All malware is inherently dangerous, but certain kinds of malware do a lot more damage to your computer or laptop than others. Some malware sits in between the computer and the net connection and blocks some or all websites that you would like to visit. It might also block you from adding anything on your PC, especially anti-malware applications. If you’re reading this, odds are you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you to download and/or install Safebytes Anti-Malware software on your PC. Do as instructed below to get rid of the malware by alternate methods.

Boot your PC in Safe Mode

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in Safe Mode should avoid it. Just the minimum required applications and services are loaded when you boot your personal computer in Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, please do as instructed below. 1) Press the F8 key repeatedly as soon as your PC boots, but before the big Windows logo shows up. This will conjure up the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have online access again. Now, obtain the virus removal application you need by utilizing the browser. To install the application, follow the guidelines in the installation wizard. 4) Right after installation, do a full scan and let the software delete the threats it detects.

Use an alternate web browser to download a security program

Malicious program code can exploit vulnerabilities in a particular browser and block access to all antivirus software websites. The best solution to avoid this problem is to choose a browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to keep you secure online.

Install and run anti-virus from a USB drive

Here’s another solution which is using a portable USB anti-virus software package that can check your system for viruses without the need for installation. Try these simple actions to clean up your affected computer by using portable anti-malware. 1) Make use of another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Put the USB drive into the clean PC. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation. 5) Now, plug the thumb drive into the corrupted system. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Run Full System Scan to identify and clean-up up all types of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Features

If you’re planning to purchase anti-malware for your computer system, there are many brands and utilities for you to consider. Some are very good ones, some are ok types, while some are simply just fake anti-malware software that could harm your PC themselves! While looking for an antimalware tool, pick one that provides reliable, efficient, and total protection against all known computer viruses and malware. While considering the dependable software programs, Safebytes AntiMalware is undoubtedly the highly recommended one. Safebytes is among the well-established computer solutions firms, which provide this complete anti-malware tool. With its cutting-edge technology, this application can help you remove multiples types of malware including computer viruses, worms, PUPs, trojans, adware, ransomware, and browser hijackers. SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a totally new level with its enhanced features. Here are a few popular features found in this program: Antimalware Protection: With a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection that is intended to find and get rid of viruses and malware that are hidden deep inside your computer’s operating system. Live Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your PC. It’ll continuously monitor your pc for hacker activity and also gives users sophisticated firewall protection. Extremely Speed Scanning: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has got a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5x faster than any other anti-malware software. Web Filtering: SafeBytes provides an instant safety rating on the pages you are about to check out, automatically blocking harmful sites and make sure that you’re certain of your online safety while browsing the net. Lightweight Application: This software program is not “heavy” on the computer’s resources, so you will not find any overall performance troubles when SafeBytes is operating in the background. 24/7 Customer Service: Skilled technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will quickly fix any technical issues you might be encountering with your security software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove ShopAtHome without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by ShopAtHome

What is DISM Error 1726? Every time you encounter some issues in your Windows 10 computer, especially when it comes to corrupted system files, you can always use the SFC scan and if the SFC can isn’t able to resolve the issue, there is also the DISM tool you can use which usually resolve the vast majority of system file corruption sufficiently. However, there are times when even the DISM commands experience issues as well. Such is the case with the 1726 error: “The remote procedure call failed”.

Some users reported that this DISM problem happens right before the process is supposed to end. According to experts, this error in DISM occurs due to any of the following reasons:

1. A third-party program might have interrupted the DISM operation and is the one that triggered the 1726 error: “The remote procedure call failed”.
2. The error could also pop up when there is a pending corruption repair. This usually happens when you tried to run a DISM command previously that was terminated manually or was halted because of some malfunction.
3. Lastly, the error could also occur because the process that’s responsible for the procedure is disabled or was prevented from running.

Whichever the case is, here are some suggestions that might help you in resolving the 1726 error: “The remote procedure call failed”.

Option 1 – Try updating your PC to the latest Windows build available

Since the problem is specific to certain builds in Windows 10, you need to make sure that your computer is updated before you try other troubleshooting steps. Thus, follow the steps below to update your Windows 10 PC.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “ms-settings:windowsupdate” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Update screen.
• After that, click on Check for Updates and then follow the next on-screen instructions to apply the latest Windows update.
• Once the update has been installed, restart your PC and run the DISM command again and see if the problem is fixed.

Option 2 – Try to change the Startup Type of the Remote Procedure Call service

As stated early on, the error might also be caused by a disabled Remote Procedure Call service or RPC or that it might be prevented from running for some reason. In case you don’t know, RPC is the service control manager for both COM and DCOM servers and it’s responsible for performing object variation requests, exporting resolution as well as distributing collection for the servers. And so if the server is disabled, all programs that are using COM and DCOM including the DISM commands, will not function correctly. Thus, you need to make sure that the RPC service is scheduled to enable itself on every system boot. To do so, here’s what you have to do:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
• From there, scroll down until you see the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service and then right-click on it and select Properties.
• Then go to the General tab and change the drop-down menu next to Startup type to Automatic.
• After that, click the Apply button and then OK to apply the changes made.
• Restart your PC and run the DISM command once again at the next startup.

Option 3 – Try to modify the RpcSs registry key value

If the option didn’t work, you can also try enabling the RPC service using the Registry Editor. Before you proceed, make sure to create a System Restore point first and then follow the steps below afterward.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Registry Editor. And if a User Account Control prompt appears, just click on Yes.
• After that, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Services RpcSs
• After selecting the aforementioned registry key, go to the right pane and double-click on the Start value.
• Next, change the Value data of start to 2 and click OK to save the changes made.
• Exit the Registry Editor and restart your PC and check if the 1726 error in DISM has already been resolved or not.

Option 4 – Try to disable the Windows Search service temporarily

Some users also recommended disabling the Windows Search service for the meantime as it could be the one that’s interrupting the DISM process.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• In the field, type “services.msc” to open the Services window again and hit Enter to open it.
• Next, scroll down over the services list and double-click on the Windows Update service.
• Afterward, go to Windows Search properties and click the General tab and then click the Stop button to stop the service from running temporarily.
• Now try running the DISM commands again and see if the problem’s fixed or not.
• Restart the Windows Search service and then restart your PC as well.