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Types of Malware Attacks & How to Battle Them

Afraid of the growing threats online? As you should be. But we’re here to show you what kinds of malware are out there and what you can do to keep them at bay.

Malware definition

Malware comes from the term malicious software. It’s software designed to attack and exploit devices and networks to the advantage of the hacker who made it.

Malware can be transmitted in different ways. Most commonly this happens via infected USB drives, downloadable files or malicious websites. Depending on the type and ultimate goal, the consequences of a malware attack can range from negligible to catastrophic.

Credit Ed Hardie on Unsplash

What kinds of malware are there?

1. Virus

A virus is typically spread via infected files, websites or links. It’s one of the oldest malware types and one of the most difficult to get rid of. That’s because, once activated, it replicates itself - hence the name. 

It can perform different kinds of attacks, depending on what the creator wants to achieve. The main characteristic of a virus is that it really doesn’t show itself until you activate the host. So that’s a scary thought for sure.

2. Adware

Sometimes an ad blocker isn’t enough to fight off unwanted ads. And some of them can, unfortunately, be malicious. They may redirect you to infected sites or prompt downloads of risky files. Even just opening a malicious site can lead to data theft.

So, definitely be careful when clicking around. Even if an ad seems completely legitimate, you can never be too sure.

3. Ransomware

Through ransomware, cybercriminals gain access to a user’s data and use it to extort them for money. Basically, the user is threatened with data deletion or even exposure if a ransom isn’t paid by a specific deadline.

This is a particularly nerve-wracking type of malware. If it targets an individual, it preys upon their sense of anxiety, fear, guilt and even shame. If it targets a business (which is a lot more common), it preys upon not only that business’s profit but also every single one of their customers and their data.

4. Trojans

This type of malware disguises itself very well as a legitimate-looking program. Once you download it, hackers can get full access and control of your device, data and network. They can even be hidden in games, apps and attachments. They cannot self-replicate, though, so we guess that’s… good news?

5. Worms

Worms can replicate, just like viruses, but you don’t need to actually activate the infected program for them to get going. They can be used for various purposes, ranging from data deletion to file encryption to support a ransomware attack.

Credit Growtika on Unsplash

6. Spyware

Spyware refers to malicious software that stays hidden on your computer and monitors your activity. The best-known type is keyloggers. This can be used to steal sensitive data like passwords and banking information.

7. Rootkits

Rootkits are among the most dangerous types of malware. They allow administrative access and full control of a device, which lets hackers continue hijacking all your data and monitoring your activity without your knowledge.

8. Botnets

Botnets are networks made up of bots - computers that cybercriminals have infected with malicious software. Bots and botnets give hackers remote access to users’ devices and allow them to spy on your camera, take screenshots, memorize passwords and launch Distributed Denial of Service attacks. This one truly makes your hair stand on end.

What can you do about it?

You know the old adage - better safe than sorry. And trust us, malware attacks are such a pain in the you-know-what that you really don’t want to be sorry.

Luckily, there are simple solutions that can shield you from most digital threats these days. What you want to be looking at is a solid antivirus program. Well, technically, you need an antimalware program, but since the latter evolved from the former, we still mostly refer to them as antivirus software.
The majority of antimalware programs these days don’t just shield you from potential risks online, but include additional features as well. For example, some Bitdefender antivirus packages also include parental control and a VPN. And Bitdefender is not just for PCs either - it offers protection for your beloved iPhone or Android as well. You can throw in a password manager in there too, for an additional layer of security.

Credit Dan Nelson on Unsplash

If you aren’t too concerned about all these various threats or feel like you don’t need extra security, you can at least take a step to protect your information from being exposed to lurking cybercriminals as you’re browsing. This can be done through a good VPN like Surfshark, which hides your identity in the digital space and prevents your data from being tracked.

Choosing the right protective software is especially important if you have children with access to the Internet, since they’re unfortunately even more vulnerable to malicious attacks. If you aren’t sure what the right kind of antimalware program is right for you, you can reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help keep your entire household or office digitally secure.

The bottom line

The truth is that there’s no way to be 100% protected in the online world. Hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to infiltrate our devices. But malware-battling software evolves along with them and there’s still plenty you can do to keep risks away. Stay safe!

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How to remove Fooriza from your PC

Fooriza is a browser extension for Google Chrome. This extension offers users the latest trending news from the internet. These news widgets are usually sponsored content that the application displays based on your search history or visited links. While this extension is not that dangerous on its own, it usually comes bundled with other Potentially Unwanted Programs and Browser Hijackers that could pose a security risk.

When installed this extension changes your default search engine to yahoo. And while active you might see some additional ads injected into the search results. Due to its bundled nature with other PUP-s and the potential dangers that might come with them, several anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a Browser Hijacker and are marked for removal.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (also called hijackware) are a kind of malware that alters internet browser configurations without the user’s knowledge or consent. These kinds of hijacks appear to be increasing at a worrying rate around the world, and it could be really nefarious and often dangerous too. They’re made to interfere with browser functions for many different purposes. In general, hijackers are programmed for the benefit of internet hackers often through revenue generation from forced advert clicks and site visits. However, it isn’t that harmless. Your internet safety is compromised and it is extremely irritating. Additionally, hijackers can make the whole infected system vulnerable – other destructive malware and viruses would seize these opportunities to get into your PC effortlessly.

Indications of browser hijack

Signs that your web browser is hi-jacked include: 1. your browser’s home page is suddenly different 2. you find yourself constantly directed to a different web page than the one you actually intended 3. default web engine is changed 4. you’re getting new toolbars you haven’t seen before 5. you may find numerous pop-up ads on your computer screen 6. your web browser gets sluggish, buggy, and crashes frequently 7. you are blocked to access those sites of anti-malware solution providers.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way to your computer

Browser hijackers infect computer systems in numerous ways, including via a file-share, a drive-by download, or an infected e-mail attachment. They are usually included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plug-ins, or browser extensions. Also, some freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your PC through “bundling”. Some of the most well-known hijackers are Fooriza, Babylon Toolbar, Conduit Search, OneWebSearch, Sweet Page, and CoolWebSearch. Browser hijacking could lead to serious privacy issues and even identity theft, disrupt your web browsing experience by taking control over outbound traffic, drastically slows down your personal computer by consuming lots of resources, and cause system instability also.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Some hijackers can be simply removed by deleting the freeware they came with or by deleting any add-ons you have recently added to your system. At times, it can be a challenging task to discover and remove the malicious program since the associated file will be running as part of the operating system process. You should think of carrying out manual repairs only if you happen to be a tech-savvy person since there are potential risks associated with messing around with the computer registry and HOSTS file. Installing and running antivirus software on the affected system can automatically erase browser hijackers and other malicious applications. SafeBytes Anti-Malware detects all kinds of hijackers – such as Fooriza – and eliminates every trace quickly and efficiently.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Safebytes Anti-Malware?

Every malware is bad and the degree of the damage will vary greatly with regards to the type of infection. Some malware is designed to interfere with or prevent things that you wish to do on your personal computer. It may not allow you to download anything from the internet or prevent you from accessing some or all of the websites, in particular the antivirus websites. If you are reading this, you probably have infected by malware that prevents you from installing a computer security application like Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are a few actions you can take to get around this problem.

Get rid of malware in Safe Mode

If the malware is set to load at Windows start-up, then booting in Safe Mode should avoid it. Just minimal required programs and services are loaded when you boot your PC in Safe Mode. The following are the steps you should follow to eliminate malware in Safemode. 1) At power on, press the F8 key while the Windows splash screen starts to load. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and press Enter. 3) When you are into this mode, you should have access to the internet again. Now, obtain the malware removal program you need by using the internet browser. To install the software, follow the guidelines within the installation wizard. 4) Once the software is installed, allow the diagnostic scan to run to eliminate viruses and other malware automatically.

Use an alternate web browser to download the anti-malware application

Some malware might target vulnerabilities of a specific web browser that block the downloading process. The ideal way to overcome this problem is to select an internet browser that is known for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to help keep you secure online.

Run anti-malware from your USB drive

Another option is to make a portable anti-malware program on your USB stick. Do these simple actions to clean up your affected PC using a portable antivirus. 1) On a clean PC, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Put the USB drive into the clean PC. 3) Double-click the executable file to run the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place in which you would like to put the software files. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Disconnect the USB drive. You may now use this portable anti-virus on the affected computer. 6) Double-click the antivirus program EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove malware automatically.

How SafeBytes Anti-Malware Keep your Machine Virus Free

Nowadays, an anti-malware program can protect your PC from different types of internet threats. But how to decide on the best one amongst plenty of malware protection application that’s available out there? As you might be aware, there are many anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few of them do a good job in removing malware threats while many will ruin your computer by themselves. When searching for an antimalware program, purchase one that gives dependable, 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 anti-malware is a very effective and easy-to-use protection tool that is designed for end-users of all levels of IT literacy. With its cutting-edge technology, this application will assist you to get rid of several types of malware including computer viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, adware, ransomware, and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its enhanced features. These are some of the great features included in the software.

Active Protection: SafeBytes provides real-time active checking and protection against all known computer viruses and malware. This utility will constantly monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the latest threats. Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Using its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can detect and remove the malware threats hiding in the computer system effectively. Extremely Speed Scanning: This application has got one of the fastest and most efficient virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are highly accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Web Filtering: SafeBytes checks the links present on a web page for possible threats and alerts you whether the website is safe to explore or not, through its unique safety rating system. Light-weight: SafeBytes gives total protection from online threats at a fraction of the CPU load because of its enhanced detection engine and algorithms. 24/7 Assistance: You may get high levels of support round the clock if you’re using their paid software. All in all, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program as it has lots of features and can identify and remove any potential threats. You now may understand that this particular software does more than just scan and delete threats on your computer. So if you’re trying to find a comprehensive antivirus program that’s still simple enough to use, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is just what you need!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you want to perform the removal of Fooriza manually rather than employing an automated software tool, you may follow these steps: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, choose the offending program to remove. In case of suspicious versions of browser plug-ins, you can easily remove them through your web browser’s extension manager. It is also advised to factory reset your browser to its default condition to fix corrupt settings. Finally, examine your hard disk for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to remove leftover application entries following uninstalls. Please note that only experienced computer users should try to manually edit the system files mainly because deleting any single vital registry entry leads to a major problem or even a computer crash. Moreover, some malware keeps replicating which makes it tough to remove. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is recommended.
Files: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\nnamllomkmngnaklpijbbaokmonnkcne %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\nnamllomkmngnaklpijbbaokmonnkcne
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Fix fatal error C0000034 applying update
Fatal error C0000034 happens during the installation of the Windows update and if you are one of the unlucky users who sadly run into this, keep reading as we will provide solutions to this error and how to get around it. Start from point 1 to the bottom and hopefully you will have your PC back into working order in no time.
  1. Run Windows Update troubleshooter

    Usually, a built-in Windows troubleshooter can solve issues painlessly and fast, my advice is to try this as the first option, it is a simple and clean solution worth trying and in 90% it solves the issue all by itself.
  2. Do a clean boot

    Using task manager, remove all nonessential applications and services from starting up, reboot your computer, and once it is cleanly booted try re-running the update process again, if the issue was running the application this time everything will work since the problematic application is not running.
  3. Reset Windows update components to the default

    This solution requires you to use the Reset Windows Update Agent Tool to reset Windows Update components to default or use this PowerShell script to reset Windows Update Client. You can also manually reset each Windows Update component to default and then re-run the update.
  4. Disable firewall and antivirus

    Altho not likely it is still a possibility that some firewalls and antivirus can detect windows updates as malicious software and cut them off. If everything else failed, disable the firewall and your PC protection and when it is fully disabled try updating.
  5. Do automatic startup repair

    This should be the last thing to do but if everything else failed, do it. Perform Windows 10 Startup Repair. Once the startup repair completes successfully, you can re-run the update. The update should install without errors.
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Fix 0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL) in W11
0x0000007c error inside Windows 11 is a printer error that is manifested when Windows users are trying to connect to a shared network remote printer. Error is displayed by the message:
Windows cannot connect to the printer. Operation failed with error 0x0000007c.
If you are experiencing this type of annoyance, fear now we are providing you with several solutions to this problem.

0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL)Update Windows 11

  1. Open the Start menu, click on the settings app
  2. Select Windows update tab
  3. Click on Check for updates
  4. Click on Advanced options
  5. Inside select Optional updates
  6. If there are optional updates click on Download & Install

Run the printer troubleshooter

  1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open settings
  2. Click on Troubleshoot navigation on the system tab
  3. Select Other trouble-shooters
  4. Click on the Run for printer troubleshooter
  5. If the error is found click on Apply this fix

Restart the Print Spooler Service

  1. Right-click on the Start button
  2. Click on RUN
  3. Type in services.msc and press OK
  4. Right-click on Printer Spooler service and select Restart

Clear the Print Spooler

  1. Open services like in the previous step
  2. Right-click Print Spooler and select STOP
  3. Open File explorer
  4. Navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3 (64-bit Platform) C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86\3 (32-bit Platform)
  5. Delete everything inside folders
  6. Go back to services, right-click on Print Spooler and select RESTART

Reinstall Driver for printer

  1. Right-click on Start and select device manager
  2. Double click on the Print queues category
  3. Right-click on the printer and select Uninstall device
  4. Click on Uninstall on prompt
  5. Right-click on the Print queues category and select Scan for hardware Changes
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Microsoft Surface Dial fails to pair with PC
One of the most interesting innovations that were released by Microsoft is the Surface Dial. This only goes to show that Microsoft is very competent not just in hardware but in overall innovation. Although it’s quite a piece of technology and as far as the consensus is concerned, it works pretty well, there are still some issues encountered by users. One of the particular issues experienced by users is that the Surface Dial fails to pair with every Windows 10 PC. At a time of writing, it is still not clear what the cause of the problem really is. However, their possible solutions are provided in this post that might help you resolve the problem. Before you get started troubleshooting the problem, make sure that there are two AAA batteries fitted inside properly.

Option 1 – Check if your PC supports Bluetooth 4.0 LE

In case you don’t know, the Surface Dial only works with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update and later PCs that support Bluetooth 4.0 LE. Thus, you have to check if this is supported or not before you troubleshoot further.
  • Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
  • From there, click on Bluetooth and select “Microsoft Bluetooth LE Enumerator” from the drop-down menu. However, if it is not there, then it simply means that your computer does not support this standard which is most likely why you were unable to pair with other Windows 10 PCs. On the other hand, if you were able to see it, then proceed to the next troubleshooting steps below.

Option 2 – Check if Bluetooth is on

The next thing you have to do is to check if Bluetooth is turned on. As you know, the Surface Dial connects to your computer using Bluetooth and so you need to check if it’s really on or not. Aside from that, you also have to verify pairing.
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Windows Settings.
  • Next, select Devices from the menu and click on Bluetooth.
  • After that, make sure that the toggle switch for Bluetooth is turned on.
  • Now all you have to do is to verify pairing by pressing and holding the pairing button located beside the batteries and then wait for a few seconds until the Bluetooth light begins to flash.
  • Then go back to the Bluetooth section and click on Bluetooth or other devices.
  • From there, click on Add Bluetooth and select Surface Dial.
  • Follow the next instructions on the screen and click on Done once everything is completed. That should fix the problem.

Option 3 – Check if Surface Dial is connected to another PC

If you think that connecting a Bluetooth device to two different PCs at the same time is wise, then think again as it does not really bode well for the overall user experience. Thus, you need to disconnect the Surface Dial from the system that you are currently using. On the other hand, if everything fails, then it’s most likely that the Bluetooth adapter is the one at fault. So you may have to get a third-party device that connects to your system via USB and then see if it works or not.
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How to Repair Error Code 33

Code 33 - What is it?

Code 33 is a typical Device Manager error. This error code occurs when Windows is unable to start a device that you are trying to use on your PC. The error code 33 is usually displayed in the following format:

“Windows cannot determine which resources are required for this device. Code 33”

Solution

driverfix boxError Causes

Error code 33 may be triggered due to two reasons. One reason can be the translator's failure to find the correct resource for the device driver.

And since this error code is associated with the Device Manager, another reason can be an outdated or corrupted device driver. In most cases, the underlying problem for Device Manager error code is outdated/corrupted drivers.

The good news is that Device Manager error code 33 is not detrimental. However, if the error is not resolved timely, it can lower the functionality and the performance of your PC. You may not be able to use the hardware device.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve code 33, you don’t need to be technically sound or hire a professional computer programmer. Just like any other Device Manager error code, code 33 is also easy to repair.

To help you fix this issue on your system, below are some of the best, easy, and effective DIY solutions.

Method 1 - Configure Hardware Device

Properly configure the problematic hardware device to fix error code 33. It is important to understand that when you install a device that is not plug-and-play, the resource settings are not configured automatically.

This means for such devices you will have to perform device configuration manually.

For device configuration, here’s what you should do:

  1. Go to the start menu
  2. Click Control Panel, then click Performance and Maintenance, and then System
  3. Now on the hardware tab, click on Device Manager and then double click the device you wish to configure
  4. Click the resources tab and then click on the check box next to the Use Automatic Setting
  5. After that click, the ‘Setting Based On’ and then click the hardware configuration you wish to change
  6. Press the ‘Resource Type’ you will like to configure in the ‘Resource Settings’ box
  7. Now go to the Change Settings tab and type a new value for the Resource Type

Method 2 - Update the Problematic Drivers

Code 33 can also be generated due to driver problems. In such a scenario, it is recommended to update the outdated or corrupted drivers.

Identifying all problematic drivers and updating them individually can be frustrating and time-consuming. Therefore to save time and avoid the hassle involved in updating drivers manually, it is advisable to download DriverFIX.

Method 3 - Download DriverFIX to Update Drivers Automatically

DriverFIX is a next-generation and user-friendly program compatible with all Windows versions.

This software is exclusively designed to repair and resolve device driver-related problems and error codes.

Once installed, its intelligent and intuitive programming system detects all outdated, corrupted, and misconfigured device drivers on your PC. It automatically updates all the problematic drivers in a few seconds. It makes sure that the driver versions are the latest and compatible with your operating system.

Furthermore, it also ensures that drivers are continuously updated whenever new versions are available. So, you don’t have to worry about keeping device drivers up to date.

Click here to download DriverFIX to resolve Device Manager error code 33 today!

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SoftwareUpdater Malware Removal Guide

Software Updater is an ad-supported browser extension hijacker that claims to update your PC programs and drivers. In addition to managing the installation of your selected software, this install manager will make recommendations for additional free software that you may be interested in. Additional software may include toolbars, browser add-ons, game applications, anti-virus applications, and other types of applications. The hijacked homepage, softwareupdater.com, did not have valid legal privacy and disclaimer policies on its website as of publication date.

This software adds a Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various times, including system startup. The software has access to all installed applications on your PC and can install bundled products with unwanted malware. It is also commonly distributed in bundles with unwanted software. Several anti-virus programs have classified this software as malware and are therefore not recommended.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious code has control over and modified the settings of your internet browser, without your consent. They’re made to interfere with browser programs for several purposes. The idea is to force users to visit specific sites that are trying to increase their visitor traffic and produce higher ad revenue. It may appear harmless, but most of these sites are not legitimate and could present a severe threat to your online safety. Browser hijackers can even allow other malicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your computer.

How to determine if your web browser is hijacked

The common symptoms that indicate having this malicious software on your computer are: 1. home page is changed 2. you find new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, typically directed to advertisement-filled or pornography websites 3. the default search engine has been changed and your browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge 4. you find unwanted new toolbars added 5. you may find many pop-up ads on your computer screen 6. your internet browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly 7. you can’t go to specific websites such as home pages of anti-malware software.

Exactly how browser hijacker infects computers

Browser hijackers infect PCs in numerous ways, including via a drive-by download, a file-share, or an infected email. Many web browser hijackings come from add-on software, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or extensions added to web browsers to provide them additional functionality. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your PC through the “bundling” technique. Some of the well-known hijackers are SoftwareUpdater, Conduit Search, Babylon Toolbar, OneWebSearch, Sweet Page, and CoolWebSearch. Browser hijackers may record user keystrokes to collect potentially valuable information leading to privacy issues, cause instability on systems, drastically disrupt user’s browsing experience, and eventually slow down the computer to a point where it will become unusable.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Certain hijackers could be removed by just uninstalling the related free software or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel. In some cases, it can be a tough task to identify and get rid of the malicious piece because the associated file could be running as part of the operating system process. Besides, browser hijackers might modify the Computer registry so it can be extremely tough to fix manually, especially when you are not a very tech-savvy person.

How To Get Rid Of Malware That Is Preventing Anti-Malware Installation?

Malware can cause many different types of damage to PCs, networks, and data. Some malware is meant to restrict or prevent things that you want to do on your computer system. It may not permit you to download anything from the net or stop you from accessing some or all of the internet sites, especially the anti-virus websites. If you’re reading this now, you’ve perhaps recognized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked internet traffic. So how to proceed if you need to install an anti-virus software like Safebytes? Even though this type of problem can be difficult to circumvent, there are a few actions you can take.

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you can change Windows settings, un-install or install some software, and eliminate hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In the event, the virus is set to load immediately when PC boots, shifting into this particular mode can prevent it from doing so. To start the computer into Safe Mode, hit the “F8” key on your keyboard right before the Windows boot screen comes up; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, check “Safe Boot” under Boot tab, and click Apply. As soon as you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you could run the antivirus scan to remove viruses and malware without hindrance from another malicious application.

Switch to an alternate browser

Some malware only targets certain internet browsers. If this sounds like your situation, utilize another browser as it might circumvent the virus. The best solution to avoid this problem is to select a web browser that is well known for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to help keep you secure online.

Install and run anti-malware from your flash drive

To effectively remove the malware, you might want to approach the issue of running anti-virus software on the affected computer system from a different perspective. Adopt these measures to run the antivirus on the affected PC. 1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free PC. 2) Mount the USB drive onto the same computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has a .exe file extension. 4) Pick a thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you want to install the program. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. 5) Disconnect the pen drive. You can now use this portable anti-malware on the infected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the flash drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and get rid of all types of malware.

Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Want to install the best anti-malware software for your computer system? You can find many applications available that come in paid and free versions for Windows systems. Some of them do a great job in getting rid of threats while some will affect your PC themselves. You must be careful not to choose the wrong application, especially if you purchase a paid software. Among few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for the security-conscious individual. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, highly effective protection application made to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in identifying and eliminating harmful threats from their computers. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your PC against infections brought on by different types of malware and similar threats, including spyware, adware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs). SafeBytes possesses a plethora of great features that can help you protect your laptop or computer from malware attack and damage. The following are some of the best ones: Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes delivers complete and real-time security for your laptop or computer. They are very efficient in screening and getting rid of different threats because they are constantly revised with new updates and safety measures. Best AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware application goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard to remove malware that conceals deep inside your computer. Safe Browsing: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating about the web pages you’re about to check out, automatically blocking unsafe sites and make sure that you’re certain of your online safety while browsing the net. Lightweight Tool: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-to-use antivirus and antimalware solution. As it uses minimal computer resources, this application leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs: with you actually. Premium Support: You may get absolutely free 24/7 technical support from their computer experts on any product queries or computer security issues.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove SoftwareUpdater 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 SoftwareUpdater

Files: C:Program FilesSoftware UpdaterSoftwareUpdater.exe C:Program FilesSoftware Updatersuscan.exe C:Program FilesSoftware Updater C:Program FilesSoftware Updater cpprest120_xp_1_4.dll C:Program FilesSoftware Updater cpuidsdk.dll C:Program FilesSoftware Updater DriversHQ.SDK.REST.Win32.dll C:Program FilesSoftware Updater msvcp120.dll
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0x80071771, The specified file could not ...
If you are tried encrypting or decrypting a file using the default EFS engine but you receive an error message instead saying, “Error Applying Attributes, An error occurred applying attributes to the file: The specified file could not be decrypted”, read on as this post will help you sort out the problem. If you encounter this error you can use the error code in it. You will most likely get error code 0x80071771. This kind of error occurs when the File Explorer’s copy and paste feature was not able to read the source file being encrypted or decrypted. It could also occur if you try to access a file that has been on another computer previously.

To fix error code 0x80071771 when decrypting or encrypting a file, refer to the instructions provided below.

Step 1: You need to check first if you can decrypt the files encrypted by EFS. However, if you can’t, just proceed and then take full control of the file. Step 2: To take control of the file, open File Explorer and right-click on the partition, and then click on Properties. Step 3: After that, click on the Edit button under the Security tab. Step 4: Next, make sure that “Everyone” is selected under the Group or user names section. Step 5: Afterwards, the Permissions for Everyone section will be activated. Just make sure that all the checkboxes for Allow are checked and then click on the Apply button. Step 6: Once you’re done, click on the Advanced button. This will open a new window labeled Advanced Security Settings. From there, click on the Change link under the Owner section. Step 7: Now type your account name in the field and click on Check Names to verify the account name and click OK. Step 8: After that, select the “Replace owner on sub-containers and objects” option and then click OK. Step 9: Next, select Administrators in the Group or User names list and select Full Control in the Permissions for Administrators panel and click OK.
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Software review series: KRITA
Krita Desktop is a free and open-source painting application. Krita is a full-featured free digital painting studio for artists who want to create professional work from start to end. Krita is used by comic book artists, illustrators, concept artists, matte and texture painters, and in the digital VFX industry. Krita has been in development for over 10 years and has had an explosion in growth recently. It offers many common and innovative features to help the amateur and professional alike. Krita has a user-friendly interface. The dockers and panels can be moved and customized for your specific workflow. Once you have your setup, you can save it as your own workspace. You can also create your own shortcuts for commonly used tools. In addition to painting, Krita comes with vector, filter, group, and file layers. Combine, order, and flatten layers to help your artwork stay organized. There are also three different views on how to see the layers. Krita supports full color management through LCMS for ICC and OpenColor IO for EXR, allowing you to incorporate Krita into your existing color management pipeline. Open PSD files that even Photoshop cannot open. Load and save to PSD when you need to take your artwork across different programs. Krita is the only dedicated painting application that lets you open, save, edit and author HDR and scene-referred images. Furthermore, with OCIO and OpenEXR support, you can manipulate the view to examine HDR images, and use it in the most cutting-edge workflows from the film and visual effects industries.
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Cortana Web Preview is not working in Windows
Recently, a lot of users experience issues after the Windows 10 v1903 upgrade and one of them is that the Cortana Web Preview is not functioning like it’s supposed to. Even though Microsoft has already replaced the unified search where you no longer have to use Cortana, it is still undeniably useful and is packed with some great features, one of which is the Web view. Each time you type a search query, it will open a web view where you can see the results using Bing. However, some users reported experiencing some issue wherein the web view does not show anything and appears to be broken and users have to click on the Open in Browser link. Thus, if you are one of the users who experience the same problem, then this post is for you – it will guide you on what you can do if the web preview in Cortana is not working on your Windows 10 device. To fix the Web Preview issue in Cortana, you can try to restart Cortana or reset it using the Windows Settings app or change the Search filter level. You could also try to run the Windows Store App troubleshooter or re-register or reinstall Cortana. For more details refer to the options provided below.

Option 1 – Try to restart the process of Cortana

There are times when the running process of Cortana might encounter an error and breaks a particular component of the whole service so the first thing you can do is to restart Cortana’s process in the Task Manager.
  • Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
  • Next, go to the Processes tab and look for Cortana’s entry.
  • Once you find it, right-click on it and select the End task option.
  • Afterward, open Cortana again and see if it fixes the web view problem or not.

Option 2 – Try changing the search filter level

The next thing you can do to fix the Web View is to change the search filter level. All you have to do is go to Settings > Search and change filter level and from there, modify the search filter level and then see if it fixes the problem.

Option 3 – Run the Windows Store App troubleshooter

The Windows 10 Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the Web Preview problem in Cortana. This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app issues. To use the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.
  • Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
  • Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
  • Under the Troubleshoot section, on your left-hand side, scroll down to find Window Store Apps.
  • Then click on the Run the troubleshooter option and follow the on-screen instructions and then see if it fixes the problem.

Option 4 – Try to reset Cortana via Settings

  • Launch the Windows 10 Settings app and go to Apps > Apps & Features.
  • Next, look for the entry of Cortana on the right-side panel and select it.
  • After that, select the Advanced options and then select the Terminate button under the Terminate section.
  • Once done, click on the Reset button under the Reset section.
  • Restart your PC.
  • After your computer boots, launch Cortana again and check.

Option 5 – Try to re-register and reinstall Cortana

If none of the options given above works, you must consider reinstalling Cortana.
  • First, right-click on the Start button and click on the Windows Powershell (Admin) option from the list.
  • Next, type the following command and hit Enter to execute it:
Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
  • After that, execute this second command to reinstall Cortana:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}
  • Restart your computer and check if the Web Preview in Cortana is now working.
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Fix Your PIN is no longer available in Windows
A recent update in Windows 10 has caused a couple of glitches. One of these glitches is having trouble signing into Windows 10. Some users reported that they were not able to sign in to their computers using a PIN and they weren’t also able to reset it either. If you are one of these users, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you resolve issues that you are having in signing in to your computer using your PIN or fingerprint with Windows Hello. When you encounter this issue, you will get an error message on your screen stating:
“Your PIN is no longer available due to a change in the security setting on this device on this device.”

To resolve this problem, you need to follow the steps laid out below carefully.

  • Step 1: The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you are using an administrator account. After signing in as admin, tap the Win + E keys to open the File Explorer.
  • Step 2: After that, under the View menu, enable Hidden items.
  • Step 3: Next, navigate to the following path:
C:\Windows\Service\Profiles\Local\Service\AppData\Local\Microsoft
Note: From there, you should see a folder named “Ngc”. This folder might be the one that’s causing the problem so you are going to fix it by making some changes. This folder contains all the files responsible for any PIN-related settings. So if you are not able to access the Ngc folder, or it has gotten corrupted for some reason during an update here’s how to fix it.
  • Step 4: Try opening the Ngc folder. If you are able to open it, just skip to step 11 but if you can’t open it and you got the “Permission Denied” error message, proceed to the next few steps.
  • Step 5: Right-click on the Ngc folder and select Properties.
  • Step 6: Under Properties, go to the Security tab and click on the Advanced button.
  • Step 7: Next, click on the Change link which corresponds to the Owner field.
  • Step 8: Then click on Object Types and ensure that everything is selected.
  • Step 9: After that, enter your username in the field. You can just use the email that corresponds to your Microsoft account or you can also use the Check Names button to verify it. Now click OK.
  • Step 10: You should now see a change in the owner's name. Just make sure that you enable the checkbox below it which is labeled, “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” and then click Apply and close everything.
  • Step 11: Next, try opening the Ngc folder again. You should now be able to access it. After opening the folder, delete all of its contents and make sure that it’s empty.
  • Step 12: Restart your PC. After your computer has booted, go to the Account Settings and try setting up a new PIN. You should now be able to set up a new PIN and use it to sign in to your PC.
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