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DuckDuckGo for better privacy

Many of us are taking the google search engine for granted and it is no true that it has crawled in almost every spore of our digital lives but if we wanted a little more privacy? Do we have options or we are destined to use google and send our information to this company. What if we really wanted that our searches are well safe, secure, and private? We could try other search engines like BING but since BING belongs to Microsoft we would exchange only one company for another without making any progress in the privacy battle. Enter DuckDuckGo.

DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that’s been online since 2008. Find websites, maps, videos, news, and more without tracking your searches and serving you targetted ads. It took DUckDuckGo as you can tell sometimes to gain ground and to be recognized but finally, it got the attention it deserves. Its big breakthrough happened in September of 2014 when Apple offered it as a default search engine in Safari and since it has gained more and more ground. It seems people care about their privacy after all.

Since then DuckDuckGo has been gaining ground and all the major browsers have integrated it as an option for a default search engine.

In this article, we will show you how to switch to DuckDuckGo and set it as your preferred search engine in all major browsers.

  1. Google Chrome

    Launch Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper right.
    Choose settings.
    Choose Search engine in the list on the left of the screen.
    Click on the drop-down box next to Search engine used in the address bar and choose DuckDuckGo.

  2. Mozilla Firefox

    Launch Firefox, click on the three lines hamburger menu icon in the top-right corner of the window.
    Click on Preferences.
    Click on Search in the menu to the left of the screen.
    Under Default Search Engine, click the drop-down box and choose DuckDuckGo.

  3. Microsoft Edge

    Click on the three dots menu button in the top-right corner of the window
    Then select Settings.
    Click on Privacy, Search and Services in the menu that appears on the left
    Scroll down to the Services menu and choose Address bar and search.
    Click the dropdown menu next to Search engine used in the address bar and choose DuckDuckGo.

  4. Apple Safari

    Click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen
    Then click Preferences.
    You can also use the Command+, shortcut to quickly bring up Safari’s Preferences.
    Click on the Search tab, then choose DuckDuckGo under the Search engine drop-down box.

  5. Opera

    Click on the Settings cog button in the sidebar on the left of the screen.
    Under Basic settings scroll down until you see Search engine and a drop-down box.
    Select DuckDuckGo from the list.

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While installed Email Access Online monitors the user's browser activity and records visited websites, clicked links, and bought products, this data is later used to serve partner ads if the user looks for the covered categories, additionally, it will hijack your new tab page, changing your search engine to Yahoo to allow easier ad placement.

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About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious code has taken control over and modified the settings of your web browser, without your consent. Browser hijacker malware is designed for many different reasons. The idea is to force users to visit specific websites which are aiming to increase their visitor traffic and generate higher advertisement income. It may appear naive, but the majority of such websites are not legitimate and can present a significant risk to your online safety. In a worst-case scenario, your internet browser could be hi-jacked to download malicious software that can do a lot of damage to your PC.

Major signs that your internet browser has been highjacked

There are many signs that could indicate a browser hijacking: 1. the home page of the web browser is changed suddenly 2. you observe new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, usually directed to ad-filled or porn websites 3. the default search engine is changed and the web browser security settings have been brought down without your knowledge 4. you see unwanted new toolbars added 5. your internet browser will display constant pop-up windows 6. your web browser starts running sluggishly or presents frequent errors 7. Inability to navigate to particular sites, especially anti-malware and other computer security software websites.

So how does a computer get infected with a browser hijacker

There are a number of ways your computer can get infected by a browser hijacker. They usually arrive through spam e-mail, via file sharing websites, or by a drive-by-download. They could also come from add-on software, also referred to as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions, or toolbars. Browser hijackers sneak to your computer in addition to free software application downloads that you unintentionally install along with the original. The presence of any browser hijacker on your system could substantially diminish the web browsing experience, monitor your internet activities that lead to critical privacy concerns, create system stability problems and finally cause your PC to slow down or to a practically unusable condition.

How to repair a browser hijack

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What you can do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Antivirus?

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Make use of Safe Mode to fix the issue

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Run anti-virus from a pen drive

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Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

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Registry: HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\675942D5-E956-4670-9ADE-6982CF23558F
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Error Causes

If certain files are missing in Windows Update on your system, you will most likely experience error code 0x80070002. These missing files prevent Windows Update from functioning properly even in cases where an update is downloaded on your PC.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Manual repair methods are necessary to resolve issues related to many Windows error codes. To fix Windows Update error codes like error code 0x80070002 in Windows 10, users will need to apply several procedures that include stopping and restarting the Windows Update service. Note that the methods listed below must be done in the order they are listed. This is because they work in conjunction with each other to repair and replace corrupted update files that may be preventing your Windows Update service from functioning correctly.

Method One: Stop Windows Update Service

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  • Step one: Type Control Panel in the Search box near the Start button
  • Step two: Select Control Panel
  • Step three: Type Administrative Tools in the search box
  • Stop four: Select Administrative Tools
  • Step five: Click Services, then search for Windows Update
  • Step six: Right-click Windows Update service, then select Stop
After you have successfully stopped the service, proceed by deleting temporary update files in the SoftwareDistribution folder.

Method Two: Delete Temporary Update Files in SoftwareDistribution Folder

Error code 0x80070002 is unlikely to be resolved without addressing the problems related to missing or corrupted update files. By deleting temporary update files within the SoftwareDistribution folder, you will most likely be able to fix the error code and access updates within the Windows Update service.
  • Step one: Open File Explorer, then open Windows folder in drive C
  • Step two: Double-click SoftwareDistribution folder
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  • Step five: Open the Download folder to delete all files from this folder as well
While attempting to delete these files, you may be asked to enter a password as an administrator. If this occurs, enter the required password to proceed.

Method Three: Restart Windows Update Service

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Error Code 17 - What is it?

Code 17 is a typical Spotify error code. Spotify is a music streaming service. Through this software, PC users can browse songs and search by artist, album, and playlist. Simply put, it is an audio player available for BlackBerry, iOS, and Microsoft Windows desktop. You may experience error code 17 if the process fails when downloading Spotify from the internet. The error message is displayed in any one of the following formats:
Error 17: Spotify has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Spotify could not be started (Error code 17)
Some of the symptoms of this error code are program crash, slow Windows performance, and periodic system freeze.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Error 17 may be triggered by several reasons such as:
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  • Corrupt download
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To use the audio player Spotify successfully on your PC, it is advisable to fix error 17 right away on your system. Delay may cause inconvenience and limit your access to your desired program.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To repair this error code on your PC, you don’t have to hire a professional or be a technical whiz yourself. The good news is that this error is quite easy to fix. You don’t need to be technically sound to resolve it. Here are some proven methods for you to fix error code 17 on your system. So let’s get started:

Method 1 - Make sure that the Windows Installer is running

Sometimes Spotify error 17 may occur if the Windows Installer service is terminated. Therefore before you download, make sure the Windows Installer is running. This is a good way to ensure the error code 17 messages don’t pop up on your PC again. For this here’s what you need to do, first quit all programs. Now go to the start menu and in the search box type RUN, and press enter. In the Open Box, type msiexec /unregister and then press OK to confirm. After that, perform the same steps again, and now in the Open Box type msiexec /regserver and press OK to save. Reboot your PC and try downloading Spotify again. If the program successfully downloads on your system, then this means error 17 is resolved. However, if the error code still persists, then try other methods given below.

Method 2 - Use System Restore to Undo Recent Changes

Another reason for the cause of error 17 is the improper or incomplete installation of Spotify. Improper installations can configure settings and also leave bad entries in the registries. To resolve, use System Restore utility built-in Windows. By using this system tool, you can undo recent changes and resume your computer to its previous condition as it was before the proper installation was attempted. To do this, go to the start menu, then in the search box type System Restore and press enter. Go to System Restore and choose a restore point. Once you’ve selected the point, reboot your PC to activate changes.

Method 3 - Remove Viruses

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Method 4 - Repair the Registry

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Error Code 0xC004C4AE - What is it?

Activation errors in Windows 10 can interfere with your ability to fully use the system. When Error Code 0xC004C4AE appears on your computer, you may see a message that shows that the validation process has been stalled due to binaries that appear to have been tampered with.  

While the text of this message may sound intimidating to people who are not familiar with the inner workings of the Windows 10 system, the basic meaning of the error message is that something has been introduced to the system that is not natively supported in Windows 10. During the Activation process, Windows checks to ensure that all of the Windows elements that are currently on the computer are valid and authentic to the Windows system. Usually, this particular error code refers to a language package that has been downloaded into the system using an outside application, which the Windows 10 operating system does not support. 

Common symptoms include: 

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  • Inability to complete the Windows 10 Activation process 
  • Inability to fully use apps in Windows 10 until the issue is resolved 

This particular error can easily be resolved with a few simple steps. However, if you are not confident in your ability to use the methods below or they do not fully remove the issue on your computer, you may want to seek the assistance of a qualified repair technician who is well versed in the Windows 10 Activation process.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

The most basic cause of Error Code 0xC004C4AE is that an unsupported language package has been enabled in the computer. This most often occurs when third-party applications have been used to introduce additional display languages to your system. While third-party applications that provide language packs are acceptable in some versions of the Windows operating system, the Windows 10 Activation process will not be able to complete if the system detects that one of these unofficial language packs exists on your machine.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are several methods that may be helpful in resolving the basic issue in the display languages that causes Error Code 0xC004C4AE to appear: 

Method 1: Restore Your System to an Earlier Point to Revert Changes 

Use a backup copy to restore your computer to an earlier date, in effect undoing the changes that caused the error. When your system has been restored, you will be able to go through any language packs that are not native to the Windows operating system and remove them before re-attempting the installation and activation of the Windows 10 system. 

This method is most useful if you keep a regular backup of your system and files. If you do not regularly back up the information on your computer, attempt one of the other methods instead. If you are unsure of how to use a backup to revert your changes or are not comfortable completing this step on your own, contact a certified Windows technician to assist you in the process. 

Method 2:  Revert to an Earlier System to Remove the Language Pack 

If you are unable to restore your system using a backup, the other option to resolve Error Code 0xC004C4AE is to halt your installation of Windows 10 and go back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, from which you will be able to remove the language pack in question. Once the offending language pack has been completely removed from your computer, the Windows 10 Activation process should be able to proceed normally. 

Several versions of windows don’t support language packages, so the best way to prevent this error from occurring is to avoid using any kind of third-party tool to install additional languages onto your Windows system. Activities Language You may be able to use third-party tools to instead complete alternative language actions without installing these languages as language packs. 

If the above solutions do not help you to resolve Error Code 0xC004C4AE on your machine, get in touch with a qualified Windows repair technician, who may be able to perform the operations needed to remove the problematic language pack from your computer and allow the Windows 10 Activation process to continue to completion. 

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Switching guide

All right, now in order to be able to actually switch between your audio output devices make sure that all of them are working and that they are plugged in. For example, make sure that both of your headphones and speakers are turned ON and plugged in. Once you have confirmed that everything is in working order:
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  2. Click on the small up arrow on the right next to your current audio output device.
  3. The list will open, choose, and left click with the mouse button on your choice.
And that's it, you have changed your default audio output device in a matter of seconds. The good thing about this method is that Windows will remember output audio levels for each device.

Potential issue

If by any chance when switching your audio devices this way freezes volume control just go to the task manager and restart Windows Explorer. To restart Windows explorer:
  1. Press CTRL + ESC to open task manager
  2. Right-click on Windows Explorer
  3. Left-click on restart
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live photo

Since the feature was introduced it has been set as the default option when taking pictures so each time you snap one you just capture a small amount of video and audio along. Good thing is that this feature can be turned off and the even better news is that you can edit your old photos to remove back video and audio.

How to share only photo

You can keep your Live Photos but share only a single still typical photo if you wish. Go to the photos app on your phone and select the photo you wish to share. Press the Share button on the bottom left part of the screen and once the Share menu appears tap on the Live button in the upper left corner of the selected photo. The button should turn grey and become slashed and now you can share only still photo. This is only temporary for this one specific share so next time you want to do this you will have to go through the process again.

How to disable Live Photo

If you are not happy with the previous solution and really do not want to turn off the Live feature each time you want to share a photo or you just simply do not want the feature at all there is way to turn if off for good. Take note that you can temporarily not use this feature just by opening the camera, switching to photo mode, and then tapping on the Live photo button on the toolbar that looks like three circles one inside another. This will temporarily turn the Live Photo feature for this session but next time when you open the camera by default it will be turned on again. This is a good approach if you want the feature but sometimes you just want not to use it.

In order to turn it off completely go to the settings of your phone and go to Camera and then preserve settings. inside the preserve setting turn the switch Live Photo to ON position, now go-to camera and again click on the live photo button to turn it off but this time setting will be saved and next time you open the camera it will not be ON.

Editing old Live Photos

As stated before you can edit your old pictures in order to make them stills. You can edit them to remove audio only but keep the video part, or you can completely remove everything and convert them into typical still images.

In order to only remove audio from your Live Photos go to pictures and select one that you wish to change, click on edit, and inside edit tap on the Live Photo icon (three circles). Next tap on the audio icon located in the top left corner of your screen and it will change into the mute icon. Click on done and you are finished.

To completely remove the Live photo go to Photos, select picture, click on edit and select the live photo button again. This time tap and hold the Live button next to the sound until it turns gray with a strike through it. Click on done and you are finished.

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Windows 10 and Windows 11 have automatic dynamic screen brightness depending on the surrounding light inside the room. Please take note that this option is available only on devices with build-in screens like laptops, tablets, and all in one desktop PC. If you are connected with your PC via an external monitor you will not have these settings available and probably feature is not even working.

screen brightness

Some computers will also allow automatic brightness changes also on what is displayed on the screen. This option is meant to save battery life on devices. Microsoft calls this automatic brightness feature Content adaptive brightness control. In order to change this setting, we will go to settings inside Windows.

Disabling automatic brightness inside Windows

Open Settings inside Windows, in Windows 11 press WINDOWS + I to open settings, then click on the system in the sidebar and then go to Display. Click on the small arrow beside the Brightness slider in order to expand a small menu and then uncheck Help improve battery by optimizing the content show and brightness. If you see Change brightness automatically when lighting changes, uncheck that as well. Close the settings and you are good to go, now brightness will always be as set in settings.

Inside Windows 10, go to Settings and then go to System and then in Display under the Brightness and Color section look below and locate the box that says Automatically adjust contrast based on the displayed content to help improve battery and uncheck it, if the box below with text Change brightness automatically when lighting changes exists, uncheck it as well. Close settings and you are done.

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