Why You Need Antivirus Software & How to Select the Right One
Anxiety from all these digital threats lurking everywhere? An antivirus program can help put your mind at ease.
What can a virus do to your device?
A virus is malicious software that can affect pretty much any device and does so in a variety of ways. Be it your computer, your phone or your smart lightbulb - as long as there’s access to the internet, malware can get to it.
How exactly does this kind of attack manifest itself? Well, there’s a wide variety of effects ranging from mild to severe. Among other things, they depend on which type of malware attacks your device - a virus, spyware, ransomware, adware or something else.
These are some of the things you can expect to happen:
Slow performance
System crashes
Theft of data and sensitive information
Connectivity issues
Constant browser redirects
Strange messages sent to your contacts
Interference with files
It really can be the stuff of nightmares. So, if you want to sleep peacefully knowing that your devices are completely safe, you should definitely consider getting an antivirus.
P.S. don’t let its name fool you - an antivirus does indeed protect your devices against more than just viruses.
What is antivirus software exactly?
Antivirus software is designed to help you battle and ward off malware. Basically, it scans your device to detect any suspicious activity and offers tools to get rid of the culprit.
At first, antiviruses were developed to fight against viruses only, but nowadays they cover a lot more ground. Here are some of the biggest benefits of getting yourself a powerful defender.
Advantages of antivirus software
1. It fights those pesky ads
Look, constant ads that pop up everywhere aren’t the absolute worst thing that can happen on your computer. If anything, they are annoying, like when you’re trying to sleep but that one fly in your room just won’t stop buzzing.
Now, there’s a free, well-established solution for that - installing an ad blocker. And we’re about a hundred and ten percent sure you’ve already done that on each and every browser you use.
However, “if I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist” isn’t the most ideal approach for your online safety. Ad blockers can’t block everything and they won’t protect you from potential adware. An antivirus on the other hand offers that layer of protection against malware snuck into pop-ups and spammy websites.
2. It protects you from hackers
Hackers don’t target government institutions only. They’ll target regular people too if they have something to gain.
Credit Clint Patteron Unsplash
There are different types of hacking, such as phishing e-mails, transmission of malicious programs, credential reuse, denial of service and more. In any case, they take control of your device and hijack your data.
The good thing is that, as threats evolve, antiviruses evolve too and there are tons of quality programs on the market that can keep you secure for an affordable price.
3. It keeps your files and data safe
When malware enters your device, it can target pretty much any file and get access to any and all data.
Installing an antivirus program will make sure that every single file, new or old, is monitored at all times, warning you against threats immediately. That way, you can make sure to react before your other files become infected and data is lost or stolen.
Another great thing for data protection is that the best antivirus software normally comes with a password manager, so no one can use malware to steal your passwords.
4. It blocks all kinds of malware
As we already stated, malicious attacks can be performed in many ways and malware comes in in different shapes an sizes, such as:
Trojan horse
Spyware
Ransomware
Adware
Rootkit
RAT (remote access Trojan)
Keyloggers
Worms
Botnets
Credit Growtika Unsplash
Nowadays, antivirus software is designed to fight against all of these types. That’s why more often than not we hear the term 'antivirus' used interchangeably with 'anti-malware,' like in this article.
5. It keeps your children protected
You can’t keep your eyes on your kid every second of the day and you can’t protect them from everything. But at least you can limit their exposure to the threats they can encounter at every corner of the digital world.
An antivirus program will block harmful or suspicious websites and ads, which is great both for you and your children. To take it a step further, though, many such programs come with special parental controls and offer monitoring as well. It’s a great solution for keeping your kids safe online without sounding like the irritating, overbearing, controlling parent who “just doesn’t get it!”
How to pick one
There are definitely lots of different antivirus programs out there, both free and paid. We recommend you look for a paid option, since free ones are unfortunately a lot more susceptible to being compromised through malicious attacks.
Now, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the right software. If you use your PC for basic things then a basic antivirus will suffice. However, the more complex your use and the more sensitive the data you deal with, the stronger it needs to be.
It’s also crucial that you take into account the features it includes. As we already mentioned, some programs have additional security options. For example, depending on the package you select, Bitdefender provides:
Some are included in plans and some are separate products, so make sure to check out all the offers.
And don’t worry if you have multiple PCs or you’re looking for protection for your smartphone or tablet as well; Bitdefender has suitable solutions for your needs. Of course, you can also just pick their classic antivirus software if you’re not in need of advanced protection.
Another important point is how regularly the software is updated and enhanced. The more frequent the updates the better, as bugs can make the program more vulnerable. Other things we advise you consider are user-friendliness, impact on performance, reputation (user reviews especially) and, of course, price.
The bottom line
Fact is: anyone can be a malware victim. Don’t let it be you.
You can’t put a price on peace and security, so don’t be reluctant to pay for yours - especially since a lot of options out there are extremely affordable. Is $159.00 a year really too much to pay for cross-platform protection for up to 10 devices? We don’t think so.
Explore your options and protect your files and data before it’s too late.
Recently, a number of users reported that their Google Chrome browser does not remember any accounts, login sessions, as well as passwords. So if you are one of the users who experience the same problem, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on what you can do your Chrome browser does not save passwords, remember accounts and login sessions in Windows 10.
This issue in Chrome could be caused by a lot of factors. It is possible that there is a setting in Chrome that prevents the browser from saving any data. It is also possible that the Google Chrome profile or the Cache folder for Chrome has become corrupted. Moreover, a third-party antivirus program could also be blocking the browser’s functionality in saving data. Whatever the cause is here are some suggestions you could follow that will help you fix the problem but before you do that, you can try to update your Chrome browser to its latest version first. If it didn’t work, then proceed to the given options below.
Option 1 – Try to clear browser cache
Open your Google Chrome browser.
After that, tap the Ctrl + H keys. Doing so will open a new panel that allows you to delete the browsing history and other data in your browser.
Now select every checkbox that you see and click on the Clear data button.
Then restart your Chrome browser and check if you can now complete the download again.
Option 2 – Try to delete the cache files for Google Chrome
The next thing you can do is to delete Chrome’s cache files or its store information which helps it in loading cached webpages faster when you pull them up. However, if it turns out that the cache files are corrupted, then it’s no wonder why Chrome is unable to save passwords. To fix this, you can try to delete the cache files for Google Chrome webpages and you can do it by following these steps:
First, open Google Chrome.
Next, open this address in Chrome – chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
After that, go to the Advanced tab and select all time as well as the first four options.
Now click on the Clear data option and then restart the Chrome browser once the cache has been cleared.
Option 3 – Try allowing Google Chrome to keep local data
If the option to keep local data is disabled in Google Chrome’s settings, it won’t be able to store local data in the browser. Thus, you need to enable it by following these steps:
Open Chrome and enter this address – chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
After that, drag the toggle button off for the “Keep local data only until you quit your browser” option.
Once done, restart Google Chrome and check it fixed the problem or not.
Option 4 – Try to enable the setting that offers to save password
As you know, a lot of websites offers users a choice to save a password and you can also do the same with the Chrome browser. You just have to enable this particular setting by going to the address, chrome://settings/passwords. From there, drag the toggle button for the setting Offer to save passwords, off.
Option 5 – Try to create a new profile for Chrome
If your user profile in Google Chrome ends up getting corrupted, it is most likely the reason why Chrome is unable to save passwords. Thus, you need to create a new user profile. How? Follow the steps below.
First, click on the account icon located at the top-right corner of the profile.
Next, go to the Manage People section and select Add Person > Add.
After that, enter the details to add the new account and then restart Chrome.
Option 6 – Reset Chrome
Resetting Chrome can also help you fix the problem. This means that you will be restoring its default settings, disabling all the extensions, add-ons and themes. Aside from that, the content settings will be reset as well and the cookies, cache, and site data will also be deleted. To reset Chrome, here’s what you have to do:
Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
After that, click on Settings.
Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
Now restart Google Chrome.
Option 7 – Try to clean reinstall Chrome
There are instances when programs leave files behind after you’ve uninstalled them and the same thing can happen to Chrome so before you reinstall Chrome, you have to make sure that you have deleted the User Data folder. To do so, refer to the following steps:
Hit the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser Data” in the field and hit Enter to open the User Data folder.
From there, rename the default folder and name it something else, e.g. “Default.old”.
After that, install Google Chrome again and check if the issue is now fixed.
If you suddenly encounter Error 0x80000003 while trying to execute a random file then read on as this post will show you how you can fix such an error. Obviously, it mostly happens on executable files or .exe files and is most likely caused by the conflict in the execution of some registry files or it could also be caused by missing drivers or it could also be due to some incompatible hardware which is why you’re unable to run the executable file.
When you encounter this error, you will see the following error message on your screen:
“The exception Breakpoint, A breakpoint has been reached, (0x80000003) occurred in the application.”
As you can tell, the Windows Executive STATUS message is a warning and if you are given an option, you must select one of the options from the message box. So if you are running the application in an end-user environment rather than in a development environment, you must contact the supplier of the running application regarding this error message since this shouldn’t be happening when a finished program is running.
Before you get started executing the troubleshooting guide given below, make sure that you create a System Restore Point first since you will be dealing with some critical settings in Windows. Having done this, proceed to the options provided below.
Option 1 – Try to run the CHKDSK utility
Running the CHKDSK utility might also help you resolve Error 0x80000003. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the CHKDSK utility comes in. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.
Option 2 – Try to run a System File Checker scan
You can also try to run a System File Checker or SFC scan in order to scan your computer for corrupted files that might be the cause behind the Error 0x80000003. Once it finds any corrupted system files, it will automatically fix them. To run System File Checker, here’s what you have to do:
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:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Restart your computer after the scan is completed.
Option 3 – Perform a Clean Boot
There are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the Error 0x80000003 to appear. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in 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.)
From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.
Option 4 – Run the Memory Diagnostic Tool to check for Memory leaks
Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type mdsched.exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
After that, it will give two options such as:
Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
Check for problems the next time I start my computer
Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.
Option 5 – Try contacting the developer
If you find that you’re getting Error 0x80000003 on only one particular application, then you can try to contact the developer of the software that’s throwing up this error. All you have to do is search the web for the official support channel of the software and discuss the error from there.
ExpressFiles is a program developed by Express Solutions. A number of Anti-Virus programs have flagged this program as a Potentially Unwanted Application. In many instances, it is bundled with additional programs on installation.
The program claims it offers users easy to search for various currently popular search terms. During our testing, the software never displays any search results, no matter the search words.
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. The program defines an exception rule in Windows Firewall, allowing it to connect to the internet without limitations and auto-update itself.
About Browser Hijackers
Precisely what is a PUP?
If you’ve ever downloaded a free application or shareware, chances are high that the computer can get installed with a bunch of unwanted applications. A PUA / PUP (potentially unwanted application / potentially unwanted program) is a software program that comes bundled with free software and you consent to install it on your PC. These are programs you almost certainly don’t want on your computer simply because it doesn’t give any valuable service.
Despite being regarded as very detrimental, PUPs aren’t always viruses or malware One simple difference between PUP and malware is distribution. Malware is normally dropped by silent installation vectors like drive-by downloads while PUP gets installed with the consent of the computer user, who purposefully or unknowingly approves the PUP installation on its PC. Having said that, there is no doubt that PUPs remain bad news for PC users as they can be incredibly damaging to the computer in numerous ways.
Exactly how do unwanted programs look like?
Potentially Unwanted Programs appear in different forms and varieties, however, in the majority of instances, they are adware programs that exhibit irritating pop-up ads and advertisements on websites you explore. In addition, the majority of free programs these days come with some unwanted add-ons; in most cases an internet browser toolbar or browser modification like a homepage hijacker. They’ll keep track of your online routines, redirect your search results to risky websites where viruses can be downloaded and installed, hijack your home page, and slow your browser down to a crawl.
Potentially Unwanted Programs occasionally act quite much like computer viruses or spyware. They might carry keyloggers, dialers, browser hijackers, and tracking components that gather system details, or tracks customer habits and relays this information to third-party firms. Even if the PUPs really aren’t basically malicious, these software programs still do absolutely nothing good on your personal computer – they will take valuable system resources, slow down your PC, weaken your computer security, and make your system more susceptible to trojans.
How do you avoid PUPs?
• Read cautiously before accepting the license agreement as it may have a clause about PUPs.
• Always opt for the custom if you’re presented an option between “Custom” and “Recommended” Installations – never click Next, Next, Next blindly.
• Have a top-notch antivirus program like Safebytes Anti-Malware which can protect your computer from PUPs. As soon as you install this software, protection from malware and PUPs is already switched on.
• Think carefully before you download any kind of shareware or freeware. Disable or get rid of toolbars and browser extensions you don’t really need.
• Only use official product websites for downloading programs. Stay away from download portals altogether as most websites compel users to download the software using their own download manager, which is often bundled up with some sort of PUPs.
What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Anti-Malware?
All malware is bad, but certain types of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer than others. Some malware types modify browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS settings. In these instances, you will be unable to visit some or all of the websites, and therefore not able to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this right now, you have perhaps recognized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked web connectivity. So how to proceed when you want to install an anti-malware application like Safebytes? Follow the instructions below to eliminate malware by alternative methods.
Install in Safe Mode
The Windows-based PC comes with a special mode called “Safe Mode” where just the bare minimum required applications and services are loaded. If the malware is set to load immediately when the computer starts, shifting to this mode may well prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSConfig and locate the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. As soon as you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, and update anti-malware software from there. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of standard infections.
Utilize an alternate internet browser to download antivirus software
Web-based malware could be environment-specific, targeting a specific web browser or attacking particular versions of the web browser. If you’re not able to download the anti-virus application using Internet Explorer, this means the virus is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch to a different web browser such as Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes Anti-malware program.
Install and run antivirus from a Thumb drive
Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB anti-virus software that can scan your computer for malware without the need for installation. Try these simple actions to clean up your infected computer using portable anti-malware.
1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean PC.2) Mount the pen drive on the same PC.3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, which has a .exe file extension.4) Select the drive letter of the USB drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the anti-malware. Follow activation instructions.5) Now, insert the thumb drive into the corrupted PC.6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon.7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically.
Overview of SafeBytes Anti-Malware
If you are looking to download the anti-malware program for your computer, there are lots of tools in the market to consider nonetheless, you just cannot trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is free or paid software. A few of them do a great job in removing threats while some will ruin your PC by themselves. You need to pick a company that develops industry-best antimalware and has achieved a reputation as trustworthy. When considering commercial tool options, most people opt for well-known brands, such as SafeBytes, and they are quite happy with it.
SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, very effective protection software made to help users of all levels of computer literacy in detecting and removing malicious threats out of their computer. Using its outstanding protection system, this utility will quickly detect and get rid of the majority of the security threats, which include adware, viruses, browser hijackers, ransomware, PUPs, and trojans.
SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a totally new level with its advanced features. Here are a few typical features present in this software:
Live Protection:SafeBytes offers complete and real-time security for your laptop or computer. It’ll regularly monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives end-users superior firewall protection.
Most Reliable AntiMalware Protection:With its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can find and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your PC effectively.
“Fast Scan” Features: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine minimizes scanning times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it will effectively identify and remove infected computer files or any online threat.
Web Protection:SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety ranking to each and every website you visit and block access to webpages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software.
Low CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well known for its low effect on computer resources and great detection rate of diverse threats. It runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you’re free to use your PC at full power all of the time.
24/7 Premium Support: SafeBytes gives you 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and upgrades for the best user experience.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you wish to manually remove ExpressFiles 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 ExpressFiles
Files:
%APPDATAExpressFilescurrent-cloud.html
%COMMONDESKTOPExpressFiles.lnk
%COMMONSTARTMENUExpressFilesExpressFiles.lnk
%COMMONSTARTMENUExpressFilesUninstall.lnk
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFilescurrent-cloud.de.html
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFilescurrent-cloud.en.html
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFilescurrent-cloud.fr.html
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFilescurrent-cloud.ru.html
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesEFupdater.exe
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesExpressDL.exe
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesExpressFiles.exe
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesuninstall.exe
%WINDIRTasksExpress Files Updater.job
%APPDATAExpressFiles
%COMMONSTARTMENUExpressFiles
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFileslanguage
%PROGRAMFILESExpressFiles
Registry:
key ExpressFiles.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREConduitAppPaths.
key ExpressFiles at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware.
key ExpressFiles at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE.
key ExpressFiles at HKEY_USERS.DEFAULTSoftware.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTMagnetsshellopencommand
value $PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesExpressDL.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.
value $PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesExpressDL.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet002ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.
value $PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesExpressDL.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet003ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.
value $PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesExpressFiles.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.
value $PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesExpressFiles.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet002ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.
value $PROGRAMFILESExpressFilesExpressFiles.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet003ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.
Error Code 44 is a device driver error that users encounter when using Windows 2000 operating system and later versions.
It is when the peripheral device that is connected to the computer, such as a printer or a fax machine, cannot be accessed as the programs required for operation interfere with other software on the computer. The error code will pop up with the following message:
“An application or service has shut down this hardware device. (Code 44)”
Solution
Error Causes
Error Code 44 is caused when the program that you are using shuts down the peripheral device installed on your system. It is triggered by the following:
Corrupted system registry entries
Device driver files are outdated
Device driver files are missing
It is critical to fix the Error Code 44 as it can pose serious risks to the wellbeing of your PC.
Further Information and Manual Repair
While bothersome, like other error codes, error code 44 to is relatively easy to fix. Here are ways to help resolve the error.
Method 1 – Restart your PC
The easiest method you can use to solve your PC error code is to simply run a restart of your Windows system. It may be that the error prompted upon connecting the device you have connected is merely a temporary problem, and upon restart, will resume functioning smoothly.
Method 2 – Run the Troubleshooting Wizard
If restarting your PC does not help, you will have to find the exact nature of the problem by running the troubleshooting wizard for the device and address the problem accordingly. To do this, proceed with the following steps:
Run Device Manager on your PC
Click on the program under the installed programs that are creating problems for you
Click on the ‘General’ Tab
Click ‘Troubleshoot’
Upon opening, the Troubleshooting Wizard will ask a series of questions regarding the error. Answer the questions and follow its directions for solving the error code.
After following the directions of the Troubleshooting wizard, make sure to restart your PC for the changes to take effect. Then check if your device is still causing problems.
Method 3 – Manually uninstall and reinstall the device driver
If troubleshooting does not work, you may have to resort to manually uninstalling and then reinstalling the device driver causing the problem.
This would be necessary since the remaining incomplete files due to a partial removal or installation of programs is what contributes to the error code. A fresh install, after uninstallation of the previous drivers, would lead to the completion of the files.
You can do this by firstly logging in as Administrator and opening Device Manager. Select the device that is causing the problem and double click it and make sure that the peripheral is connected properly to the PC.
Upon opening, click on the ‘Driver’ tab and then select ‘Update Driver’. Make sure to refer to the system documentation that you received with your PC or computer to check for the motherboard details and driver specifics.
Method 4 – Use software to automatically download the driver
Manually uninstalling and reinstalling the driver will do the trick, however, it may be time-consuming especially when you would have to resort to your hardware user manual.
Therefore, using a program such as DriverFIX can save you a lot of time and frustration in having your device work properly on your computer.
Driver Assist, with its user-friendly approach to help you fix your PC issues, comes with an integrated database that detects which drivers you need to reconfigure within just a few seconds and downloads it automatically.
It further ensures that your drivers are installed in their entirety leaving no room for any incomplete files to remain that create Error Code 38.
It also has the added advantage of being able to backup and restores your files should there be the slightest possibility of system file damage. DriverFIX is the answer to fixing your PC error codes accurately and quickly.
Click here to download DriverFIX to fix Error Code 44 quickly and effectively!
Error code 0xC004E003 almost always appears when there are damaged files in the Windows operating system. These files could be corrupt for a number of reasons and are usually a serious danger to the life of the computer system. These file errors may be caused by a number of things. Incomplete installation setup, incorrect deletion of hardware or utilities, or an unfinished file erasure. The trigger might also be in the event that the computer system is contaminated with a virus or adware or spyware, or even by the improper shut down of the computer. Any of these scenarios have the possibility to result in the removal or corruption of data of the Windows system data files.
The data system files that are damaged will give linked data and archives that are missing or wrongly linked. These are needed for the proper functioning of the software. This can also happen when or after installing third-party software that might have changed the system files. If it is suspected that a program installation will need to be stopped, it is best to let it run through the setup and then delete it later. While it installs, it is altering program files, and likely rearranging them. Stopping this in the middle can scramble files associated with the program and files vital to the usage of the computer.
Solution
Error Causes
This error will pop up after installing third-party software that has changed the system files. These system files are necessary to finish the activation process. A restore point will be necessary if it is ultimately determined that a system restore is necessary, to bring the computer back to the state it was in previous to the failed installation.
Error code “0xC004E003” appears and does not allow the system to continue the install.
The computer will not allow any further access or installation of the program.
The computer may crash.
The third-party program will not have installed completely or successfully.
The system will not start up correctly.
Personal files are corrupt or missing.
Further Information and Manual Repair
There are several steps that can be taken when the error code 0xC004E003 appears. It is helpful to know that this can occur from trying to install third party software. Going forward, do not attempt to install third-party software that is not trusted, and does not attempt to abruptly stop the third-party software from installing. This may cause the program to corrupt the files or delete important files. Recovering from this error can be easy if there is a recent restore point already backed up in the recovery portion of the system's files.
Method One
Run an error scan. The problem should be resolved after rebooting the computer once these steps have been completed.
Download and save an error code fix utility.
Setup the program and then click the Scan button.
Click the Repair Errors button when the diagnostic has been completed successfully.
Reboot the computer.
Method Two
Best when utilized by an expert.
Start the system up and sign in as the admin.
Click on Get Started, then select Programs, Accessories, Tools, and then System Restore.
On the next screen, click on Restore my PC to an Earlier Period, and then click Next.
Select the most recent system restore date within the drop-down menu of “select restore point”.
Click Next.
Click Next on the confirmation window.
Reboot the system after the system has finished restoring.
Method Three
Another option for restoring. This method can be used by a novice.
Right-click on the Start button, then select Control Panel.
Look for the Control Panel for Recovery.
Select Recovery, then Open System Restore, then Next.
Choose the restore point right before the problematic installation.
Click Next, click Finish.
NOTE: If there are no restore points available, the system recovery may not be turned on. To check this, go to Control Panel, and select Recovery. Configure System Restore, Configure. Then, select Turn on system protection. Having a current restore point for a computer ensures the ease of recovery if any problems with the computer arise.
If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.
For PC users that are blind or have low vision, the Narrator accessibility feature in Windows 10, lets you use your PC without a display or mouse to complete common tasks – it reads and interacts with things on the screen, like text and buttons. The narrator can be used to read and write an email, browse the internet, and work with documents.
In Windows 10, there are a lot of options for Narrator that you can customize. You can change its keyboard shortcuts, personalize Narrator’s voice, enable Caps Lock warnings, and more. You can choose the voice for the Narrator, adjust the speaking rate, pitch, and volume.
To change the default audio output device used to play the voice of the Narrator in Windows 10:
Press the ⊞ WINDOWS + I
From the Settings menu, click Ease of Access.
Click Narrator on the left pane.
In the Narrator window, on the right pane, toggle the button to On to enable Narrator if required.
Scroll down to the Personalize Narrator’s voice section.
For the Select where you hear Narrator’s voice option, click the drop-down and select the audio output device you want from the list. Please know that you will not be able to choose if you do not have multiple audio output devices connected to your Windows 10 computer.
Exit Settings when done.
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USB storage devices, peripherals, and other devices are almost used on a daily basis. And as you know, when removing the USB storage devices, it is recommended to always use the “Safely remove the USB storage device” option in order to prevent data corruption in the USB storage device. However, there are times when you may see the following error message after you use the “Safely remove the USB storage device” option:
“Problem ejecting USB Mass Storage – This device is currently in use, close any programs or windows that might be using this device, and then try again.”
This kind of error message occurs when the device is still interacting with the operating system in the background. There are several ways you can fix this error but before you check them out below, you need to close all the open windows and programs that may be using the USB storage device and then wait for a couple of seconds and then try safely removing it again. However, if you are still getting the same error message, then here are some tips you should try:
Option 1 – Try to use the Task Manager
Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.
After that, look for the running processes and programs hogging on your USB Storage device. The error could be due to a program or process that’s using the USB device. This program or process will hog onto some Disk or CPU while transferring data and interacting with the device.
Once you find the culprits, right-click on each one of them and select End Process or End Task. You could also try to restart the process for “Explorer.exe” and see if it fixes the problem.
Option 2 – Try using DISKPART
The next thing you can try to resolve the issue is to use DISKPART. Refer to the given steps below to do so.
Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run and then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open an elevated Command Prompt.
Next, type and enter this command to execute it: diskpart
The command you entered will initiate the DISKPART utility. After that, type and enter this second command: list disk
Next, type and enter this third command: list volume
The commands you just executed will help you in either listing all the Disk connects or all the partitions on those disks formed and from there, you need to select one command depending on the “list” command you entered. You can execute either of the two following commands:
select disk #
select volume #
After that, it will select the Disk or Partition you want to select.
Now type either one of the following commands:
offline disk #offline volume #
The command you entered will mark the selected disk is Offline. Afterward, try to safely remove your USB Storage device. Just remember that when you plug it back in again, you have to carry out the same method except for the last given command as this time you will have to enter either of these commands in order to get your USB storage device back online:
online disk #
online volume #
Option 3– Try using the Disk Management utility
Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
Then type “diskmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Disk Management utility.
Next, look for the entry for your USB Storage device and once you’ve found it, right-click on it and select Offline.
After that, try to safely remove your USB Storage device again and see if the error is fixed. Note that you need to go over the same steps again if you want to plug your USB Storage device back in but make sure to select the Online option instead of Offline to get your device back online.
WeatherGenie is a Browser Extension that allows users to check the current weather in any town at any time. This extension adds the “Weather:” search option to your new tab, and changes your default search engine to Yahoo.com. It also ads system Registry Entities that allow it to run each time the computer is restarted, several task schedulers are also added to allow it to run at various times during the day.
While installing this extension monitor browsing data from your computer. You may also see additional injected ads, sponsored links, and pop-up ads through your browser sessions.
Weather games have been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus scanners and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer. It is flagged as potentially unwanted for optional removal.
About Browser Hijackers
Browser hijacking is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser settings are altered to allow it to do things you do not intend. Browser hijackers could do a variety of things on your PC. Often, hijackers will force hits to sites of their preference either to increase targeted traffic generating higher ad earnings, or to gain a commission for every user visiting there. Even though it might seem naive, all browser hijackers are harmful and thus always regarded as security risks. As soon as the malware attacks your computer or laptop, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you might be pushed to tackle serious malware threats too.
How you can know whether the web browser is hijacked?
Symptoms that an internet browser is hi-jacked include:
1. you notice unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page2. bookmark and the new tab are also changed3. the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or insecure sites are put into the trusted sites list4. you’re getting new toolbars you have never witnessed before5. you’ll notice random pop-ups start showing on a regular basis6. web pages load slowly and at times incomplete7. you can’t navigate to particular web pages, such as security software-related websites.
How does a PC get infected with a browser hijacker?
There are a number of ways your PC can become infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive by way of spam e-mail, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by download. They can be included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plugins, or browser extensions. Other times you might have mistakenly accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software bundle (generally freeware or shareware). A good example of some popular browser hijackers includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing.
The existence of any browser hijacker on your system might substantially diminish the browsing experience, record your internet activities that lead to critical privacy concerns, diminish overall system performance and cause software instability as well.
The best ways to get rid of browser hijackers
Some browser hijacking can be simply reversed by identifying and eliminating the corresponding malware software from your control panel. But, many hijackers are harder to find or eliminate as they could get themselves connected with certain crucial computer files which allow them to operate as a necessary operating-system process. Besides, browser hijackers could modify the Computer registry so it could be very tough to repair manually, especially if you’re not a very tech-savvy individual.
You can go for automatic browser hijacker removal by just installing and running a reliable anti-malware application. SafeBytes Anti-Malware discovers all kinds of hijackers – such as WeatherGenie – and eliminates every trace quickly and efficiently. Utilize a pc optimizer together with your antivirus software to repair various registry issues, remove system vulnerabilities, and improve your computer performance.
How To Get Rid Of Malware That Is Blocking Anti-Malware Installation?
Practically all malware is detrimental and the effects of the damage may vary based on the specific type of malware. Some malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your PC, particularly anti-virus software programs. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Refer to the instructions below to get rid of malware through alternative ways.
Remove malware in Safe Mode
Safe Mode is actually a special, basic version of Windows where only bare minimum services are loaded to stop viruses and also other problematic programs from loading. In the event the malware is blocking internet access and affecting your computer, starting it in Safe Mode enables you to download anti-malware and run a scan whilst limiting possible damage. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSConfig and locate the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you’re in Safe Mode, you can attempt to install your anti-malware software without the hindrance of the malware. After installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of most standard infections.
Switch to an alternative internet browser
Some malware mainly targets specific internet browsers. If this is your situation, use another internet browser as it can circumvent the computer virus. The best solution to avoid this problem is to opt for a web browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you safe online.
Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive
Here’s yet another solution which is using a portable USB anti-virus software that can scan your system for malware without needing installation. Follow these steps to employ a USB flash drive to clean your corrupted computer system.
1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC.2) Insert the USB drive on the same computer.3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard.4) Choose the flash drive as the location for saving the file. Follow the instructions to complete the installation process.5) Now, transfer the flash drive to the infected computer.6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the flash drive by double-clicking the icon.7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.
Top Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware
Today an anti-malware tool can protect your computer or laptop from various forms of online threats. But how do choose the best one amongst several malware protection software that is available in the market? Perhaps you might be aware, there are several anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few of them are great but there are many scamware applications that pretend as genuine anti-malware software waiting to wreak havoc on the computer. When searching for an anti-malware tool, pick one which provides dependable, efficient, and complete protection against all known computer viruses and malware. One of the highly recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes carries a superb history of excellent service, and customers are happy with it.
Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions companies, which offer this comprehensive anti-malware tool. When you have installed this software, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will ensure that absolutely no viruses or malware can seep through your computer.
SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. The following are a few of the great ones:
Active Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your PC. It will inspect your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and shields your personal computer from illegal access.
Robust Anti-malware Protection: Safebytes is based on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines can find and eliminate threats even during the early stages of a malware outbreak.
Fast Scan: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine reduces scanning times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it’ll effectively identify and remove infected computer files or any online threat.
Internet Security: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety ranking to every website you visit and block access to web pages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software.
Very Low CPU and Memory Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight tool. It consumes a very small amount of processing power as it runs in the background so you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you would like.
Premium Support: For any technical issues or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and email.
To conclude, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is pretty great for securing your laptop or computer against all sorts of malware threats. Malware problems will become a thing of the past when you put this software program to use. So if you’re looking for a comprehensive antivirus program that’s still easy to use, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is exactly what you will need!
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
To remove WeatherGenie manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the program you want to remove. For internet browser extensions, go to your browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the plug-in you wish to disable or remove. You’ll probably also want to reset your browser to its default configuration settings.
In order to ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard drive and Windows registry for all of the following and eliminate or reset the values as needed. Please keep in mind that only experienced users should attempt to manually edit the registry because deleting any single critical system file results in a serious problem or even a system crash. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. It is advisable that you do the removal process in Safe Mode.
The Recycle Bin is undeniably an important place to make files ready for deletion. To put it simply, it assumes some importance but there are times when it displays an unpredictable behavior. For instance, it just suddenly goes missing and even Cortana is unable to find it. A lot of users have experienced the missing Recycle Bin issue in their Windows 10 computers. If you are one of these users, you might have wondered where the Recycle Bin icon has gone and how you can get it back. Worry not, as this post will provide you a couple of options you can try to bring back Recycle Bin in your Windows 10 computer.
Follow the given options below to get started.
Option 1 – Try to restore Recycle Bin
It could be that you have disabled the Recycle Bin by accident which is why Windows was not able to show it on your desktop. To restore Recycle Bin, follow these steps:
First, click on the Start button and select Settings.
Next, select the Personalization setting and then select Themes from the left pane.
After that, click on the “Desktop icon settings” link under the “Related Settings” heading. This will display a list of icons in the Desktop Icons window.
From there, make sure that you check the checkbox for “Recycle Bin” to make it appear on your Desktop screen once again.
Option 2 – Try to recreate the Recycle Bin
If the first option didn’t work, then it could be that Recycle Bin might have been deleted which is why you fail to restore it. And to resolve this problem, you need to recreate Recycle Bin. Refer to the following steps to do so:
You need to launch the Windows File Explorer first and go to the View tab.
From this tab, select Options and click on the drop-down arrow and then select the “Change folder and search option”.
Afterward, switch to the View tab when the Folder Options window appears on your screen and select the “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” option.
And then unmark the checkbox next to the “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)” option and click on both the Apply and OK buttons, respectively.
Next, go back to the File Explorer and click on “This PC” located on the left bar and go to the C: drive.
From there, you will find a file named “$Recycle.Bin” located at the top.
Open this folder to access its contents and you should see the Recycle Bin icon located at the top.
After that, right-click on the Recycle Bin icon and click on the “Send To” option and then click on “Desktop (create shortcut)”.
It will then confirm and recreate the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop screen.
Note: Even though this icon is quite similar to the original one, it actually differs from it. The difference is that you won’t see if fill up when you delete files and you can’t simply empty it by right-clicking on the shortcut. On the other hand, you can still drag items into it just like with the original one. So when you want to empty the content of the newly restored Recycle Bin, you just have to double-click on the shortcut and right-click on the recycle bin in the window that appears, and select the “Empty Recycle Bin” option. In addition, now that you’ve set up the Recycle Bin shortcut, you have to re-activate the “Hide protected operating system files” to keep the important files and folders in your computer hidden.
Option 3 – Try to repair the Recycle Bin
If both the first two options failed to restore the missing Recycle Bin, then you can try repairing it instead. There are times when the Recycle Bin is removed from the Desktop screen due to some corrupted Windows system files. To fix these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like the missing Recycle Bin. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:
Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the problem is now fixed.
Option 4 – Make sure that you are not in Tablet Mode
Since Windows 10 is designed to work on both desktop and mobile devices, it could be that your computer has slipped into Tablet Mode which explains why you’re not seeing the Recycle Bin. To check if your computer is really in Tablet Mode, follow these steps:
Go to the Start menu and select Settings.
Next, select the System setting and from the left pane select the Tablet Mode.
From there, make sure that the buttons next to the options given below are set to the off position:
As of late, a number of users reported experiencing a problem where their Windows 10 computers get stuck on Airplane mode for some unknown reason. According to the affected users, they were unable to turn off the Airplane mode which means that their computers are also not able to connect to the internet. One of the possible reasons why this kind of issue occurs is that there could be a bug with the airplane mode or it could also be the doing of faulty network drivers or physical switch that’s turned on, and so on. If you are one of the few users who experience the same issue, then read on as this post will guide you on what to do if your Windows 10 computer gets stuck on Airplane mode.
There are a couple of suggestions you can check out to resolve the problem. You can try to check the status of the Radio Management service, flush the DNS cache or you could turn off the airplane mode via system settings. You could also update the network drivers or turn off the physical switch for airplane mode or make some adjustments in the Windows Registry. For more details, refer to each one of the suggestions provided below.
Option 1 – Try to check the Radio Management Service status
First, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “services.msc” in the field, and hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
Next, look for the Radio Management service and select Properties.
From there, change its Startup type to Disabled and click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
Once done, restart your computer and check if you can now turn off the airplane mode.
Option 2 – Flush the DNS cache
You could also try to flush the DNS cache to fix the “ERR_ICAN_NAME_COLLISION” error. All you have to do is open Command Prompt as an administrator and then execute each one of the following commands sequentially to flush the DNS cache:
ipconfig/release
ipconfig/renew
ipconfig/flushdns
Option 3 – Try turning off the airplane mode via System settings
If flushing the DNS cache did not help in fixing the problem, then you might want to turn off airplane mode via system settings.
In the Windows Search bar, type “airplane mode”.
From the search results that appear, click on Airplane mode.
After that, a window will appear where you have to turn off the toggle button for Airplane mode.
Option 4 – Try to update, rollback or reinstall the Network adapter drivers
The next thing you can do to resolve the problem is to update the Network Adapter drivers by following these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “devmgmt.msc” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
Under the Device Manager, you will see a list of drivers. From there, look for the Network Adapters and expand them.
Look for the Broadcom Network Adapter and right-click on it, as well as other network adapters that have an exclamation icon, and update them all.
Restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the problem.
Note: If updating the network drivers didn’t help in fixing the problem, you can also try to roll back the very same drivers from their previous versions and restart your Windows 10 PC. After that, the system itself will reinstall the drivers you just uninstalled. Alternatively, you can also download and install the drivers from the manufacturer’s website directly.
To reinstall the network adapter drivers, refer to these steps:
Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.
Option 5 – Try to turn off the physical switch for Airplane mode
If your computer has a physical switch to turn on or off the airplane mode, then you might want to check that switch if you have one. Chances are, it could be the reason why you’re unable to turn off Airplane mode on your computer.
Option 6 – Try to make some adjustments in the Registry
Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility.
Then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetControlClass
From there, edit the registry value of “RadioEnable” to “1”.
Exit the Registry Editor once done, and restart your computer.