5 ways to open task manager in Windows 11

As we near the end of 2022 we look at the current best antivirus software for popular platforms, why they are the best, and why you should get them.

Avira, a great free Antivirus

Avira has been around a long time with its free antivirus version of the larger protection suite. It had its ups and downs but the latest versions are really great. With high-speed scans and low system impact, Avira antivirus is really one of the best free antivirus software currently on the market.

The software itself has also received UI & UX updates making it straightforward and easy to use. The virus scanning engine is the same as in paid version that ranks among the top engines in the world for this type of work. The package also gives you some great browser protection and a good firewall as well, there is really no excuse to skip on this if you want a free solution.

The only thing that we would say is not so great in Avira is reporting some false positives, sometimes even for MS updates, it is rare but it can happen.

Malwarebytes, a powerful Windows antivirus

Malwarebytes Premium is easy to use, simple antivirus solution that shies away from complicated UI, and simply put, it just works. Its scanning engine is well-known and places among the top and best in the world often finding some malware that other can miss.

Another great thing is its integration with Windows itself, it is one of the rare applications that can and will work incredibly well beside your typical Windows protection tools so you can have both of them running at the same time.

Installation and running are really simple and every typical PC user will find it as easy as walking in the park. On the other hand, sadly system impact is a little high and it will have issues running on lower-end systems due to its memory requirements.

Intego MAC Internet Security X9, the best Mac antivirus

Gone are the days when MAC had no virus issues, since MAC rose in popularity among the users, also rose the number of viruses and malware. The system itself has some great protection built it inside but for more security and better control of it, you will need a third-party dedicated solution.

Intego was made by Mac antivirus experts who have been building this kind of software last 25 years. The interface is easy to use and premade presets are really helpful, but the security suite can also be customized to fit your needs and desires.

Since this is only available as a security suite, you are getting a firewall and some other security tools along with your antivirus that will run as a part of it.

The bad side is that scans can sometimes run slow, most of the time they are OK in terms of speed but occasionally they can switch to slower speeds and impact scanning time to some annoying times. Also, there is no webcam protection nor VPN service included where others on this list have them.

Bitdefender mobile security: best Android protection

While protection is not only needed for your gaming or workstation, software suites that are dealing with mobile and tablet security exist. The best of them is the Bitdefender antivirus mobile suite. Low on system resources and low on performance impact with the really great virus detection rate Bitdefender is at the top of suites for your phone.

Consistent high virus detection packed with low battery impact is great but the suite comes with tons of other tools as well like browser security tools, email protection, and real-time link and notification protection.

The application will always scan each file and newly installed application in the background and alert and cut off any found threat. App itself is easy to install and use and most of the time it will do everything in the background for you but offer you customization if you need it.

The package also includes VPN and application lock that will let you protect the critical applications from being accessed as well as an online account scanner. Anti-theft and anti-loss tools, which allow you to find, remotely lock or wipe a stolen or lost device, add yet another layer of protection.

One thing that is missing from this great package is fraudulent call protection. Newer Android phones have this feature inside but it would be nice if Bitdefender had it as well.

Bitdefender, the best antivirus software

Now that we have covered specific cases of each platform, there is one player that has all of them covered and with a quality product, that player is BitDefender and it is great. Personally, this is my protection suite of choice and as I type this it is running in the background.

Bitdefender has it all, low system impact, as a matter of fact, it is one, if not, the lowest performance impact engine on the market currently and that is packed with a great and highly consistent virus & malware detection suite. Along with real-time malware protection, browser security, and anti-spam tools, you also get anti-phishing defenses, ransomware protection, and a strong firewall.

Bitdefender scores are very high in both the zero-day threat and real-world protection tests at AV-Test, an established organization that tests antivirus software. Despite being tested against tens of thousands of well-known and widespread malware threats, the software consistently achieves a 100% blocking rate.

The suite also comes with a restricted free VPN and with parental controls as well. Webcam and microphone protection are also included in the suite and on top of all, it has great pricing plans and constant discounts.

BitDefender is really a great package and it might sound too good, but after years and years of personally using it I have not had single malware or virus issue, the only thing that I would put as a negative is that system is severely slowed down when system scans are performed so be sure to run or schedule them when you are not using your computer. This, of course, can put some people off and I will admit it is a serious drawback but for me, the security of my workstation is more important than leaving the computer for 20 or so minutes in order to perform a full scan of the system.

NVIDIA is undeniably the market leader as a Graphics Card manufacturer. Recently, NVIDIA came about a feature known as NVIDIA Share. This feature allows users to carry out a number of tasks such as streaming, recording, and sharing their gameplay with other users. NVIDIA Share allows users to take multiple snapshots of the gameplay which brings in capabilities to get the memories of the moments that happen during an awesome game. However, as of late, there were reports that NVIDIA Share is not working or responding. So if you are one of the users who are currently facing this issue, then read on as this post will guide you in resolving it. Make sure to follow the options given below carefully for a successful result.

Option 1 – Try to update the drivers from the official site of NVIDIA

The first thing you can do is to update the drivers from the official site of NVIDIA. And in case you don’t know the type of Nvidia graphics card that your computer is on, follow the steps below:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next type in “dxdiag” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
• From there, you can see what type of Nvidia graphics card that your system is on.
• Take note of your graphics card information and then look for the best drivers for your operating system. Once you’ve downloaded and installed the file, restart your PC.

Option 2 – Try to roll back the driver to the previous version

If the first option didn’t work for you, then it’s time to roll back the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “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 NVIDIA Drivers and expand them.
• Next, select the driver entries that are labeled appropriately.
• Then select each one of them and double click to open a new mini window.
• After that, make sure that you’re on the Driver tab and if you are not, just navigate to it then click the Roll Back Driver button to switch back to the previous version of the NVIDIA Drivers.
• Now restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.

Option 3 – Try disabling NVIDIA Share

If the first two options given above didn’t work then you might want to try disabling NVIDIA Share. In case you didn’t make any modifications to the driver, chances are either your driver is out of date or there are some issues with the installation of the drivers. For you to find out, you need to first check if your NVIDIA drivers are really up to date. Once you’ve confirmed it, you can now disable the NVIDIA Share feature. Just refer to the steps below to do that.

• Search for the NVIDIA GeForce Experience in the search box and then click on the appropriate result to open it.
• After you open the NVIDIA GeForce Experience, go to the General tab.
• Next, scroll down to the NVIDIA Share section and then select the toggle to turn off this feature.
• Now restart your computer and try to check if there are any updates available for the NVIDIA Graphics card and install them again if there are any.

One of the most useful and efficient command-line disk management tools is the DISKPART utility. It can be used to manage, delete or create new hard drive partitions. However, despite its efficiency, there are still times it could face some errors like the “No usable free extent could be found”. You can encounter this error when you create a partition. This error could be due to insufficient disk space which is why it is not able to carry out the operation. It is also possible that the disk is not recognized by the system. And since there are only four recognized primary partitions, when you try creating a fifth one, you will get this error. In addition, this error could also occur if the disk has been partitioned using the MBR disk partitioning format. To fix the “No usable free extent could be found” error, here are some suggestions you can follow.

Option 1 – Free up disk space using Storage Sense

The error could be caused by insufficient disk space in your computer and so you need to free up disk space using Storage Sense to fix the problem.

• Open Setting > System > Storage from the WinX Menu.
• From there, you will see a list of all the local and connected storage devices along with the details on the free space. Make sure that Storage Sense is on.
• Next, find a link that says “Free Up Space” and click it to open.
• After that, a screen which is the built-in program in Windows 10 will appear and will scan your computer for the following junk files so you can free up disk space:
  • Windows Upgrade Log Files
  • The system created Windows Error Reporting Files
  • Thumbnails
  • Temporary Internet Files
  • Previous Windows Installation Files
  • Delivery Optimisation Files
  • DirectX Shader Cache
• Choose the files you want to get rid of and then click on the remove files option. Note that you’ll have an idea of the total size as you select any of the junk files listed above.
• Now go to the “Free Up Space Now” section and click the Clear Now button. This will get rid of all the temporary or junk files in your computer and should hopefully fix Error 1310.

Note: You can also run the Disk Cleanup tool to free up disk space.

Option 2 – Try to run DISKPART in Command Prompt with administrator permissions

The next thing you can do to resolve the error is to run the DISKPART utility with admin privileges.

• In the Start Search, type “command prompt” and from the search results that appear, look for Command Prompt.
• Once you found it, right-click on it and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that, try to execute the Diskpart operation once again. Note that you also have to specify different size & offset values for the partitioning and then see if you still encounter the same error.

Option 3 – Try to execute the DISKPART clean command

The next thing you can try is to execute the clean command in DISKPART to fix any issues in the disk.

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then execute this command: diskpart
• The command you entered will initiate the DISKPART utility. Now execute this second command to view all the disk connects or all the partitions on those disks formed: list disk
• After that, you need to select one command depending on the list command you executed and then execute this third command: select disk #
• The third command you just executed will select the disk or partition you want to select. Now execute this fourth command: clean
• The command you entered will remove all the volumes or partitions formatting the disk in focus.
• Once it’s done, try to carry out the DISKPART operation you were trying to execute.

Option 4 – Try to update the USB drivers

Outdated USB drivers can also be the reason why you’re getting the error. Thus, you must update them from time to time. You can install the latest version of the USB driver for your system. But you need to check the manufacturer’s website or guidelines to update the driver according to your system. If it happens that the drivers might not be compatible with the version of the system your laptop is using which is unlikely, you can run the driver software in Compatibility Mode in that kind of situation. To update your USB drivers, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, look for the USB Serial Bus controllers from the list of device drivers displayed. If you see a red or yellow sign that shows up against the driver, right-click on the driver’s name and select “Update Driver Software”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
• Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.

Option 5 – Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter or the USB troubleshooter

You can find the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter under the Troubleshooters section of the Windows Settings panel on your Windows 10 PC. You can use this troubleshooter to fix common hardware and external device-related issues without exerting too much effort. If you don’t know where to find it, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Windows Settings.
• Next, navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• You should see the option for Hardware and Devices on your right-hand side where you can also find the “Rub the troubleshooter” button – click on it to get started.
• Follow the next on-screen instructions to fix the basic issues of common hardware and external device.

Note: If you want to, you can also use the USB Troubleshooter to fix the problem just go back to the Troubleshoot page where you can find it.

TotalRecipeSearch is a browser extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark. This extension allows access to popular cooking websites. From the Author: Discover 1000s of tasty recipes – for FREE! Find creative, new meal ideas all in one convenient place!

When installed, this extension changes your default search engine and home page to MyWebSearch.com. While active it will monitor user activity, recording browsing data, visited websites and clicked links. This data is later used to display targeted ads throughout your browsing sessions.

While browsing the internet you will see additional unwanted ads, sponsored links, and even pop-up ads injected into your search results and websites. This extension has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus programs and it is targeted for removal.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means a malicious code has taken power over and modified the settings of your web browser, without your consent. Practically most browser hijackers are made for advertising or marketing purposes. Typically, it will drive users to particular sites which are aiming to boost their ad income. Though it might appear naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and thus always classified as security risks. They not only mess up your web browsers, but browser hijackers could also modify the computer registry, making your computer susceptible to other malicious programs.

How to determine if your browser is hijacked

The typical signs that indicate having this malware on your computer are: 1. you see unauthorized changes to your web browser’s homepage 2. when you key in a URL, you find yourself regularly directed to some other web page than the one you meant 3. the default web browser settings have been changed and/or your default web engine is altered 4. you are finding browser toolbars you have never witnessed before 5. your web browser will display constant pop-up ads 6. websites load slowly and at times incomplete 7. you are blocked to access those sites of security solution providers.

How does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

Browser hijackers can enter a computer in some way or other, for example via downloads, file sharing, and email as well. They also come from add-on applications, also called browser helper objects (BHO), web browser plug-ins, or toolbars. Browser hijackers sneak into your computer in addition to free software downloads also that you unwittingly install alongside the original. Popular examples of browser hijackers include CoolWebSearch, Conduit, RocketTab, OneWebSearch, Coupon Server, Snap.do, Delta Search, and Searchult.com. The existence of any browser hijacker malware on your system might significantly diminish the browsing experience, monitor your internet activities that lead to critical privacy concerns, develop system stability problems and ultimately cause your PC to slow down or to an almost unusable condition.

How you can fix a browser hijack

Certain hijackers could be removed by simply uninstalling the corresponding free software or add-ons from the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel. But, the majority of hijackers are very tenacious and need specialized tools to remove them. Novice PC users should not try for the manual form of removal, as it calls for comprehensive computer knowledge to carry out repairs on the computer registry and HOSTS file. Professionals always recommend users to get rid of any malware including browser hijacker by using an automatic removal tool, which is better, safer, and quicker than the manual removal technique. SafeBytes Anti-Malware discovers all types of hijackers – including TotalRecipeSearch – and eliminates every trace quickly and efficiently. Along with the anti-malware tool, a system optimizer, like SafeBytes’s Total System Care, will help you in deleting all linked files and modifications in the computer registry automatically.

Help! Malware Preventing Anti-Malware Installation And Access To The Internet

Malware could potentially cause plenty of damage to your PC. Certain malware variants alter 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 internet sites, and thus unable to download or install the necessary security software to clear out the computer virus. So what you should do if malware prevents you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? Refer to the instructions below to get rid of malware through alternate methods.

Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows start-up, then booting in Safe Mode should prevent it. Only minimal required applications and services are loaded when you start your PC into Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, please do as instructed below. 1) At power-on/startup, hit the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and hit ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have an internet connection again. Now, use your web browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) Following installation, do a full scan and allow the software program to remove the threats it detects.

Obtain the antivirus software in a different web browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, targeting a particular browser or attacking particular versions of the web browser. The best way to overcome this problem is to choose a browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox comprises built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you safe online.

Install and run anti-malware from your flash drive

To effectively get rid of the malware, you need to approach the issue of installing anti-virus software on the infected computer system from a different angle. Adopt these measures to employ a flash drive to fix your corrupted PC. 1) Use another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, with a .exe file format. 4) Select the flash drive as the location for saving the software file. Follow the directions to finish the installation process. 5) Transfer the thumb drive from the clean PC to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes software from the pen drive. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Features and Benefits of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to download anti-malware software for your computer, there are various tools in the market to consider however, you cannot trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is a paid or free software. A few are good ones, some are decent, while some are simply just fake anti-malware programs that can damage your personal computer themselves! You need to be careful not to pick the wrong application, especially if you buy a paid software. When thinking about the highly regarded applications, Safebytes AntiMalware is certainly the highly recommended one. SafeBytes can be described as a highly effective, real-time anti-spyware application that is designed to assist everyday computer users in protecting their computers from malicious threats. This program can easily identify, remove, and protect your PC from the most advanced malware threats such as adware, spyware, trojan horses, ransomware, parasites, worms, PUPs, and other possibly damaging software programs.

SafeBytes anti-malware comes with a myriad of advanced features that sets it apart from all others. Listed below are some of the features you might like in SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes provides an entirely hands-free real-time protection and is set to check, prevent and destroy all computer threats at its very first encounter. They’re highly effective in screening and getting rid of different threats since they’re regularly improved with the latest updates and alerts. Anti-Malware Protection: Built on a highly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal application can detect and get rid of many stubborn malware threats like browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other typical anti-virus software will miss. Fast Scan: This software program has one of the fastest and most effective virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are highly accurate and take a little time to complete. Internet Security: SafeBytes inspects the hyperlinks present on a web page for possible threats and notifies you whether the site is safe to browse or not, through its unique safety rating system. Very Low CPU and RAM Usage: SafeBytes provides complete protection from online threats at a fraction of the CPU load because of its advanced detection engine and algorithms. Fantastic Technical Support: Skilled technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will immediately fix any technical issues you may be experiencing with your security software. Put simply, SafeBytes has formulated a meaningful anti-malware solution that is aimed to protect your computer against various malware. Now you may realize that this software does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your computer. So when you want sophisticated forms of protection features & threat detections, buying SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be worth the dollars!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove TotalRecipeSearch manually, navigate to the Add or Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the offending program you want to get rid of. For web browser plug-ins, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the plug-in you want to remove or disable. It’s also advised to factory reset your web browser to its default condition to fix corrupt settings. If you opt to manually delete the system files and Windows registry entries, utilize the following checklist to ensure that you know exactly what files to remove before carrying out any actions. Please keep in mind that only experienced computer users should try to manually edit the system files simply because removing any single critical registry entry results in a major problem or even a system crash. Also, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.

If you are starting to get into the “wonderful” world of coding there is a high chance that you have heard of GitHub or Git for short and there is a slight chance that you might be confused about what exactly GitHub is. If this is the case, we are welcoming you to go through our article and find everything about it and why it is so popular and used all around the world.

What exactly is GitHub?

If we want to go all technical and just point the obvious we could say that GitHub is basically a WEB site and cloud service used for storing and managing code in all languages. But to truly understand why you should use GitHub and not Dropbox or any storage service instead you need to understand concepts like Version Control and Git.

Version Control

Version control is meant to help developers to work separately on different parts of codes and update is separately not breaking the original one. Take note that this option is meant when there is a big project and has more than one coder working on it. If you are a solo coder on your personal project this might not be anything groundbreaking for you personally. But let’s now assume that you are part of a team and that your task is to edit only one function of a project and other people working will also have their tasks. With version control, you could take only part of the code and work on it and once you are finished merge it back into the main repository. All changes in the main code are automatically tracked and can be easily reverted back if needed. The good stuff is that rolling back can be used only let’s say on a code you submitted and other changes made to the source can be kept. As you can see this makes a very good and efficient working space and a good coding environment.

Git

Git itself is a specific version control system, an open-source version control system to be more precise created by Linus Torvalds in 2005. It is a distributed version control system, which means that the entire codebase and history is available on every developer’s computer, which allows for easy branching and merging. Currently, over 87% of worldwide developers are using Git on a daily basis.

So GitHub is?

GitHub is a profit company that offers a cloud-based Git repository hosting service, in other words, it automates and makes it easy for everyone to use Git for version control and collaboration. It focuses on user interface and ease of use so even beginner coders can use it right away without any large confusion and using command lines and setting it themselves manually. GitHub also has a free personal plan in which you can host a public code repository completely free. This option placed GitHub very popular with open source projects. If you are a company you can purchase a plan to have a private code repository shared only to members of your team or company.

Conclusion

As stated almost every developer on a planet uses some version of Git, many of them are on GitHub and there is a lot of open source projects on it. Some employers even ask to see your GitHub repository when deciding if they want to employ you, think of it as a portfolio for coders. There is not a single disadvantage and not a single argument against using it, especially it has a personal free option. So if you want to look better and more professional in the coding world go, make an account and place some code on it, share it with the world, and see how it goes. You might even get some help on projects from other coders if you need it.

Oh, gamers rejoice, the Steam autumn sale is just around the corner!!!

The sale starts on November 22nd and lasts until November 29th. A great deal for any gamer, especially for ones that have plenty on their wishlist. Speaking of wishlists now would be a good time to place some interesting titles on them so you can be notified about discounts on them.

If you by any chance are unavailable to participate in the Autumn sale, do not worry, Steam winter sale is coming on December 22nd and it will last until January the 5th so you can save for it.

The best tactic for sale is not to jump on the train right away, it is best to wait until a few days, maybe even until the last 2 days since some games can go even lower on discount in the last days of the sale. Also, there might be also some packages that include games you wish to buy but are packed with other ones in a bundle and even with a higher discount.

So get prepared for the upcoming sale and treat yourself to something nice!

If you suddenly see a black border in your computer’s display then you might be wondering how come this happened but worry not for this post will give you a couple of suggestions that could help you resolve the problem. The black bar could appear at the bottom or just the sides of the screen. Whichever it may be, there are options you can check out. Refer to the options givens below and make sure to follow them carefully.

Option 1 – Try checking the screen resolution

You might want to try checking the resolution of your screen.

• Open the Windows 10 Settings and go to Display.
• Next, go for the “100% (Recommended)” option under Scale and layout for the size of the text, apps, and other items.
• After that, select the Recommended setting again under Resolution.

Now check to see if the black bars are still there. They should be gone at this point, but if for some strange reason nothing has changed, then attempt the steps below.

Option 2 – Try updating Graphics & Monitor drivers

You might want to try updating your graphics and monitor drivers if you haven’t updated them for some time now. To do that, refer to these steps:

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

Note: You can also try to roll back the graphics and monitor drivers back to their previous versions if updating them didn’t work. You can also try visiting the manufacturer’s website and download the graphics or monitor driver setup for your operating system.

Option 3 – Try to run the DISM tool

You can also run the DISM Tool as it might also help in getting rid of the black border or bar on your Windows 10 computer. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth” which could help you resolve the problem.

• Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 4 – Troubleshot the problem in a Clean Boot State

There are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the Black border issue. 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.

DiscoverAncestry is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc that presents itself as a web tool to discover the origins or meanings of particular family names. When installed this extension changes your default new tab page to search by MyWay, as well as your default search engine to Search.MyWay.com

While active, DiscoverAncestry logs user browsing information, recording clicked links, visited websites and viewed products. This information is later used to better target personal ads. Browsing the internet with this extension active will result in injection of additional ads, sponsored content and even pop-up ads throughout the browsing sessions.

DiscoverAncestry is usually found bundled with other potentially unwanted software, this combined alongside its aggressive ad injection is why DiscoverAncestry has been marked as a Browser Hijacker, and it is recommended to remove it from your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is regarded as the web’s constant risks that target web browsers. It’s a type of malware program that redirects web browser requests to other suspicious websites. Basically, most browser hijackers are made for advertising or marketing purposes. It redirects you to the sponsored websites and inserts adverts on your internet browser which helps its developer generate income. It might seem naive, but the majority of such websites aren’t legitimate and can pose a significant risk to your on-line safety. In a much worst case, your internet browser could be hi-jacked to download malware that will do a lot of damage to your computer.

Browser hijacking signs and symptoms

There are several symptoms that could indicate a browser hijacking: 1. your homepage is reset to some unknown site 2. bookmark and the new tab are also changed 3. default online search engine is modified 4. you’re getting browser toolbars you haven’t witnessed before 5. you will find random pop-ups start showing regularly 6. your internet browser has instability issues or exhibits frequent errors 7. you are blocked to access the websites of antivirus solution providers.

How does a computer get infected with a browser hijacker?

Browser hijackers can get into a computer by some means or other, for instance via file sharing, downloads, and email also. Many web browser hijackings originate from add-on applications, i.e., toolbars, browser helper objects (BHO), or extensions added to web browsers to give them extra features. A browser hijacker may also come bundled-up with some free application that you inadvertently download and install, compromising your PC security. Common examples of browser hijackers include CoolWebSearch, Conduit, Coupon Server, OneWebSearch, RocketTab, Snap.do, Delta Search, and Searchult.com. Browser hijackers may record user keystrokes to gather 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 stage where it becomes unusable.

Removal

Some browser hijacking can be simply reversed by discovering and eliminating the corresponding malware software through your control panel. However, many hijackers are really tenacious and need specialized applications to remove them. Also, manual removals demand deep system understanding and thus can be quite a difficult task for novices. Professionals always suggest users eliminate any malicious software including browser hijackers by using an automatic malware removal tool, which is easier, safer, and faster than the manual removal procedure. To remove any kind of browser hijacker from your laptop or computer, you should download the following certified malware removal tool – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Along with anti-virus software, a system optimizer tool, similar to Total System Care, will help you repair Windows registry errors, get rid of unwanted toolbars, secure your online privacy, and stabilize programs installed on your computer.

Learn How to Get rid of Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Viruses may cause a lot of damage to your computer. Some malware sits in between your PC and the internet connection and blocks some or all internet sites that you really want to visit. It will also prevent you from adding anything to your PC, particularly antivirus applications. If you’re reading this article, you probably have affected by a virus that prevents you from downloading a security program like Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. There are some actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Install anti-malware in Safe Mode with Networking

In the event the malware is set to run at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Just bare minimum required programs and services are loaded when you boot your PC in Safe Mode. Here are the steps you need to follow to start into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (check out the Microsoft website for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) At power on, press the F8 key while the Windows splash screen begins to load. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and hit Enter. 3) Once you get into this mode, you will have an internet connection again. Now, obtain the malware removal program you need by utilizing the web browser. To install the program, follow the directions within the setup wizard. 4) Right after installation, do a complete scan and allow the software eliminate the threats it finds.

Utilize an alternate browser to download antivirus software

Some malware only targets certain browsers. If this sounds like your situation, utilize another internet browser as it can circumvent the malware. The ideal way to avoid this problem is to opt for a internet browser that is known for their security features. Firefox contains built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to keep you safe online. Create a portable USB antivirus for removing viruses Another method is to download and transfer an anti-malware application from a clean PC to run a virus scan on the infected computer. To run antivirus using a USB drive, follow these simple measures: 1) Make use of another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place where you want to store the software files. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation. 5) Transfer the flash drive from the clean computer to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to identify and clean-up up all sorts of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Lightweight Malware Protection for Windows Computer

If you are looking to purchase anti-malware for your desktop, there are numerous brands and packages for you to consider. A few are well worth your money, but most aren’t. When looking for an antivirus tool, select one which provides dependable, efficient, and comprehensive protection against all known computer viruses and malware. On the list of highly recommended applications by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, well-known security software for Windows computers. SafeBytes is a powerful, real-time anti-spyware application that is made to assist everyday computer users in safeguarding their computers from malicious threats. Once you’ve got installed this software, SafeBytes advanced protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC.

There are lots of amazing features you’ll get with this security product. The following are some typical features present in this software program:

Active Protection: Malware programs aiming to get into the system are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes real-time protection shields. This utility will always keep track of your computer for any suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep current with the latest threats. World-class AntiMalware Protection: Built upon a highly acclaimed antivirus engine, this malware removal tool can find and get rid of various obstinate malware threats such as browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other typical anti-virus applications will miss. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is one of the fastest and most efficient within the industry. It's targeted scanning tremendously increases the catch rate for viruses which is embedded in various computer files. Web Protection: SafeBytes provides instant safety rating about the webpages you’re about to visit, automatically blocking dangerous sites and to make sure that you’re certain of your online safety while browsing the net. Lightweight Utility: This software is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and will not impact your PC efficiency. 24/7 Customer Service: You can obtain totally free 24/7 technical support from their IT experts on any product queries or computer security issues. SafeBytes has created a wonderful anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest computer threats and virus attacks. Now you may realize that this particular software does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your computer. So if you are searching for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based computer, we strongly recommend SafeBytes Anti-Malware software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t want to use an automated tool and prefer to eliminate DiscoverAncestry manually, you might do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and deleting the offending software; in cases of web browser plug-ins, you can remove it by visiting the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You might even want to reset your web browser settings, and also delete temporary files, browsing history, and cookies. To ensure complete removal, manually check your hard disk and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please remember that this is for skilled users only and may be challenging, with wrong file removal leading to additional system errors. Furthermore, certain malware keeps replicating which makes it tough to eliminate. You are suggested to do this process in Windows Safe Mode.

Error Code 0x80070070 - What is it?

Error code 0x80070070 can be presented when there is not enough drive space on the computer to install updates. It is possible to uninstall apps that are not often used, or you may delete or archive files that are no longer needed, you may even add on some removable storage space to free up the internal memory of the computer. The computer needs a significant amount of internal memory in order to be able to update the operating system properly. When the computer fails to have the amount of memory that is needed to perform the update, the error code 0x80070070 will be presented. If this error message is not resolved, your computer might be opened to other error messages, including error code 0x80072EE2.

Common symptoms include:

• Windows cannot install updates properly.
• You might not be able to install any additional programs or apps onto the computer.
• When you check the memory of the computer, it may be very near its full capacity.

Solution

Error Causes

The Windows 10 upgrade error is caused by varying factors including a lack of computer space or resources, malware or virus infestation, or a clogged registry on the computer.  The error code 0x80070070 will present itself when there is not enough free space on the computer to perform the necessary updates on the computer. Too many apps or programs downloaded onto the computer, too many photos, or too much music may also contribute to the lack of storage space on the computer, thus contributing to the error, and the computer not being able to install the updates to the operating system properly.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There is not a lot of information regarding this error code, but there are a few methods to repair it when it does present itself. There are practical and manual steps that can be taken when trying to get the PC up and running. The primary way to solve this problem is to free up disk space and there are several ways to do this. Please do note that if these methods seem confusing or too complicated, do contact a Windows repair technician so that they may properly correct the problem. You will need to know for sure that it is error code 0x80070070 that you are dealing with so that these options are the best bet for fixing it.

Method One: Disk Cleanup

It is important to know how much space there is on the computer to start with prior to trying to free up any space. Use the free program on the computer called the Disk Cleanup tool. This will save time and free up some hard drive space while optimizing the computer to work better.

From the Start menu, browse to the Explore option, and then select This PC. Right-click on the C drive, and then select Properties. Select Disk cleanup. From here, select the options that you would like to clear. Make sure that the recycle bin is emptied of any temporary files or any error logs. Once done, select Okay.

Use this same process to clear the system files after an update from Windows, as they may still have files from the old operating system in place.

Method Two: Remove Unwanted Apps

Go through your computer and remove any unwanted apps that are present. There are sure to be some that you do not use or do not want.

Follow these steps: From the Start menu, select Settings. Then, select System, Apps, and Features. When you have found the program that you would like to uninstall, select it and then select Uninstall. NOTE: some apps that are built into Windows do not have the capability to be uninstalled. Once you have selected Uninstall for the app or program, follow all directions that appear on the screen.

Method Three: Cloud Storage

If there are a lot of media, photos, documents, videos, and the like that are not used on a regular basis, try out cloud storage. These files will still be in your possession and will be able to be accessed from anywhere. There are many applications or websites that cater to this.

Method Four: External Storage Options

If none of the above methods work, add more storage. To acquire more storage, you can incorporate devices such as SD cards, USB flash drives, and even external hard drives.

Method Five: Use An Automated Tool

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.

So you have just got home from that new computer store with your fancy and all-new mouse, screen, keyboard, etc. You plugged in your new component, Windows detected it, installed drivers for it and it is working like a charm. A few months later down the road and the computer starts little by little to slow down. Plug and play is a great concept, and automatic detection is even greater but how time passes old unused stuff piles in your hard drive and in Windows itself thus slowing down your computer and taxing it more and more as new components and software are added. Old drivers from old components sadly are not removed from Windows itself and over some larger period of time they can pile up and slow down your daily operations on the computer or even cause some problems in it. This guide will teach you how to manually remove old unused device drivers from your Windows so it is fresh and like new again.

Making old devices visible

In order for us to remove old drivers, the first thing we must do is make them visible in our device manager, old drivers are hidden and will not show up, we must make this happen. We do this by pressing WINDOWS + X keys on your keyboard to bring up a hidden menu in Windows. Once the menu appears, click on Command Prompt (admin) Once the command prompt with administrator privileges comes on-screen type in it following string: The device manager will open, go to view > snow hidden devices in order to show unused devices.

Removing old device

Open any category and if there is a device that was once used and still has its drivers in the system it will be shown as faded out. Right-click on the device and click on uninstall device to remove it completely from your system. Please always be careful when removing devices so you do not remove the device which is being used by mistake and always double-check that you are removing something that you used to have on your system. This method will show all hidden devices even ones that are hidden but crucial to the system working properly.