A Quick Guide to Fixing Error 404

What is Drwtsn32.exe Application Error?

Drwtsn32.exe (DrWatson Postmortem Debugger) is a process file from Microsoft Corporation that runs on Microsoft Windows Operating System. This file is digitally signed from Microsoft Windows Component Publisher- Microsoft Timestamping Service. This file is a type of executable file. It is useful to debug and creates log files when an error occurs during running or program execution. The information logged by DrWatson is used by technical support personnel to diagnose a program error for a computer running Windows. It creates log files in the following location C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataMicrosoftDr Watson. However, when using Internet Explorer, MS Outlook or any other application on Windows, you can experience drwtsn32.exe application error. This error occurs when the drwtsn32.exe file crashes. The error is displayed as:

“DrWatson Postmortem Debugger has encountered a problem and needs to close” "drwtsn32.exe - DLL Initialization Failed" when shutting down

Solution

Error Causes

The ultimate reason behind ‘drwtsn32.exe application error’ is malware and viral infection. Malicious software can enter your PC through downloaded files , browsing on unsafe websites and phishing emails. These viruses can disguise themselves as DrWatson utility. Plus theymay have the same name as this process. However, the best way to detect if it is a virus is to track its location. Malicious software will usually hide in some other location instead of its standard location. However, other reasons for this error also include incompatible software and damaged system files.

Further Information and Manual Repair

a) Scan PC with an Anti-Virus

It is advisable to repair this issue right away especially if the underlying cause is a viral infection typically because viruses can expose you to privacy errors and risks such as cybercrime, identity theft, and data security issues. To resolve it, download a powerful antivirus. Scan your PC with it and remove all the viruses immediately. However, when doing so, you may have to compromise PC performance and halt other PC activities. Anti-viruses are notorious for slowing down PC speed. In addition to this, sometimes you may have to stop other activities on your PC for the antivirus to scan for viruses.

b) Repair Registry Errors with Restoro

Nonetheless, if the drwtsn32.exe application error is related to system file corruption, then this indicates registry issues where all the system data is stored. Registry issues occur if you don’t maintain your PC properly and let invalid, wasted and obsolete files accumulate on your PC. This damages and corrupts the system files and generates such error messages. To repair it, download a registry cleaner. However, the best alternative to resolve drwtsn32.exe application error in seconds whether the error is linked to registry issues or viral infection is to download Restoro. This is a multi functional PC fixer embedded with multiple utilities including a powerful antivirus, a registry cleaner and a system optimizer. It wipes out all the unnecessary files stored in the registry, repairs the damaged and corrupt system files and restores the registry. With the help of the antivirus, all privacy errors and viruses are scanned on your PC and removed immediately. And to ensure your system’s speed is not compromised, it also functions as a system optimizer and increases your PC’s speed significantly. The software is safe and efficient. It has simple navigations and a user-friendly interface which makes it very easy for all levels of users to work around. It is compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve drwtsn32.exe application error today!

Error Code 0xc004f050 – What is it?

Error code 0xc004f050 refers to a problem with activating the Windows key. The problem appears when you try to activate a copy of Windows by using Windows Activation wizard. This happens when the system becomes unstable and critical system files start missing. Though Windows 10 is a free upgrade for Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 8.1 users, the activation error is still an issue. If you already had Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 8.1 activated and did an upgrade successfully, then there should be no problem. This Problem Occurs only when you do a clean install.

Symptoms

When you try to activate a copy of Windows Vista or Windows 7 by using the Windows Activation wizard, you receive an error similar to the one below:

An error has occurred Code: 0xC004F050 Description: The Software Licensing Service reported that the product key is invalid

Solution

Error Causes

• This causes due to an invalid product key.
• This problem may occur if the license validity interval has expired, or if the license is not signed correctly.
• Error Code 0xc004f050 occurs when the system becomes unstable and critical system files start missing.
• Improper way of installing, deletion of some very important system files, misconfigured system files, etc. may also cause this error.
• When you do a clean install, it wipes everything from the Primary Drive and after the install, windows can't find the Hardware ID which is used to verify your license.
• For Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Vista-based computers, this error may occur if you have entered the key for a beta version of the operating system while using the released version of the operating system.

Further Information and Manual Repair

This error is not something that can be fixed in seconds but will require some time and technical knowledge.

Method 1:

Re-insert the product key by using the Change Product Key tool:

1. Click Start, click Computer, and then click System properties on the toolbar.
2. In the Windows activation section, click Change product key.
3. If you are prompted for an administrator password, type the password or click Continue.
4. In the Product key box, type the product key, and then click Next.
5. Follow the steps in the Windows Activation Wizard to complete the activation process.

Method 2:

Activate Windows by using the automated telephone system:

1. Click Start, and then click Computer.
2. Click System properties on the toolbar, and then click Click here to activate Windows now in the Windows activation
3. If you are prompted for an administrative password, type it and click Continue.
4. Click Show me other ways to Activate.
5. Click Use the automated phone system and follow the instructions.

Method 3:

1. Clean install Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 8.1 using the installation disk and activate your copy.
2. Now, download all the updates to see the Windows 10 Upgrade notification or download Windows Media Creation Tool and use the option Upgrade this PC to get Windows 10 right away.
3. Once the upgrade is done, check the Activation Status. It will be fully activated as it should be. The Error code 0xc004f050 should not appear anymore.

If you want to get rid of the old Windows installation folder, then use the Windows Media Creation Tool to create a Flash Drive. Clean Install Windows 10. Now, every time when it asks for a product key, skip it. After installation is complete, Windows will automatically identify and activate your Copy. NOTE: Clean Install will make Sure you cannot roll back to your previous Windows 7 or Windows 8. So do it only if you are confident of using Windows 10 from here on. To verify the Windows activation status, follow these steps:

• Click the Start button, and then click Computer.
• Click System properties on the toolbar, and then view the activation status in the Windows activation section.

There are times when you see a message in Windows Defender saying, “The Threat Services has stopped, Restart it now” when you try to use it. This kind of error is usually fixed by simply clicking on the Restart now button. However, if the error still appears even after you restart your computer and you see another message that says, “Unexpected error, Sorry, we ran into a problem”, then continue reading as this post will guide you in resolving this issue in Windows Defender. Before you proceed with the given fixes below, you have to create a System Restore point first. This way, you can always undo any changes you’ve made in case something goes wrong.

Option 1 – Make sure that the Windows Defender Services are started

The Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection service is the one that protects your computer from advanced threats by monitoring and reporting security events that happen on your computer. This is why you have to make sure that this, as well as other required services in Windows Defender, are set to their default values and are started. To do so, follow these steps:

• In the Cortana search box, type “services” and click on the Services icon to open the Services Manager. Alternatively, you can also tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run prompt and then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Services Manager
• After opening the Services Manager, look for the following services and make sure that their Startup type is set to their default values:
  • Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection Service – Manual
  • Windows Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service – Manual
  • Windows Defender Antivirus Service – Manual
  • Windows Defender Firewall Service – Automatic
• You can right-click on each one of the listed services and then select Start to start them.
• And if some of the services don’t have their default values, just double-click on the Services to change the Startup types and select the correct option from the drop-down menu of the Startup type under the Properties box.
• Next, set up the Startup type of these services to Automatic and then click on the Start button if the services are not running yet.
• Now click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and then see if it fixed the problem or not.

Option 2 – Try modifying some entries in the Windows Registry

If the first option didn’t work in fixing the problem, you can try to alter some entries in the Windows Registry using the Registry Editor.

• First, tap Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this registry path: HKLMSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindows Defender
• From there, look for the “DisabledAntivirus” and “DisableAntiSpyware” DWORDS from the right pane and change each one of their values to “0”. On the other hand, if you don’t see any of these DWORDS, you can create them instead and give each one of them a 0 value.
• To create a DWORD, simply right-click on any empty space and select New > DWORD. Then name them both as “DisabledAntivirus” and “DisableAntiSpyware”.
• Afterward, set the value of the newly-created DWORDS to 0.
• Now exit the Registry Editor and reboot your PC to apply the changes made and then check if it has fixed the error in Windows Defender or not.

The World of Superhero movies has gone through some interesting variations, from good ones to bad ones, from big-budget ones to small ventures, even from large well-known characters to niche ones. No matter what you think of some of them no one would disagree that since the release of Iron Man and starting Marvel cinematic universe superheroes movies exploded in popularity. Following the Superhero craze, let’s see what is coming up in comic books transferred to big screens with their release dates.

List of upcoming movies

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Sept. 3, 2021 Trailer Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Oct. 15, 2021 Trailer Eternals, Nov. 5, 2021 Trailer Spider-Man: No Way Home, Dec. 17, 2021 Trailer Morbius, Jan. 28, 2022 Trailer The Batman, March 4, 2022 Trailer Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, March 25, 2022 Thor: Love and Thunder, May 6, 2022 DC League of Super-Pets, May 22, 2022 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, July 8, 2022 Black Adam, July 29, 2022 Trailer Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2, Oct. 7, 2022 The Flash, Nov. 4, 2022 The Marvels, Nov. 11, 2022 Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Dec. 16, 2022

One of the great remote assistance software that helps you remotely access and control computers is TeamViewer. However, despite how efficient it is, there are still times when it throws up some errors and one of them is when TeamViewer is not able to connect and throws an error that says, “No connection to partner, Partner did not connect to router, Error Code WaitforConnectFailed”. This kind of error in TeamViewer mostly occurs when the Partner computer is not connected to a network. On the other hand, it could also occur when they are connected to a network so there are various causes for this issue. It could also be that the installation of the program itself was at fault or there is an incompatibility between the TeamViewer versions installed on both the computers and so on. Although there are several causes for this error, the potential fixes are still the same. You can try to restart the network or allow Full Access Control to TeamViewer or flush the DNS cache. For more information, refer to the following options but before you proceed, make sure that both your Windows 10 computer and TeamViewer program are updated to their latest stable versions.

Option 1 – Reboot your router

The first thing you can try to do to fix the error is to simply restart your router. All you need to do is reboot the router from its Admin panel or you can also turn it off manually and turn it back on after a couple of seconds so that it can completely reboot. Once you’re done, try accessing your server again and see if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Allow Full Access Control to TeamViewer

• First, open TeamViewer, and then from the Menu bar, click on Extras.
• After that, click on Options and select Advanced from the left side navigation panel.
• Next, click on the “Show advanced options” button located on the right-hand side.
• Then select Full Access from the drop-down menu of the Access Control option under the “Advanced settings for connection to this computer section”.
• Now click OK and check if the error is now fixed or not.

Option 3 – Try to flush the DNS configuration

You could also try to flush the DNS configuration in your computer to fix the error. How? Refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + X key combination and click on the Command Prompt (Admin) option or you could also search “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, enter each one of the commands given below sequentially in order to flush the DNS cache.
  • ipconfig/release
  • ipconfig/renew
  • ipconfig/flushdns
• Now type the exit command to close Command Prompt and then restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed.

On the other hand, you could also try to reset Winsock as well as the TCP/IP.

Option 4 – Run the Network Adapter troubleshooter

To run the Network Troubleshooter, refer to these steps:

• Open the Search bar on your computer and type in “troubleshoot” to open the Troubleshoot settings.
• Next, scroll down and select the “Network Adapter” option from the right pane.
• Then click on the Run Troubleshooter” button.
• After that, your computer will check for any possible errors and will pinpoint the root cause of the problem if possible.
• Restart your computer.

Option 5 – Try to perform Network Reset

You might perform a Network Reset to resolve the problem if none of the four given options worked. This will reset the entire network configuration including your IP address. To perform Network Reset, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
• From there, go to the Network and Internet section.
• Next, scroll down and look for “Network Reset” under the status pane.
• After that, click on Network Reset and then on Reset now to start resetting the network configuration. Once done, check if it is able to fix the error or not.

Sqlite3.dll Error - What is it?

Sqlite3.dll error is a typical example of DLL errors. This error message occurs when the system fails to access Sqlite3.dLL (Dynamic Link Library) files shared by certain programs to run on the PC. The error is displayed in the following format:

"Cannot find the file sqlite3.dll (or one of its components)"

Followed by:

"Error starting program.. A required .DLL file sqlite3.dll was not found."

Solution

Error Causes

The sqlite3.dll error message may pop up on your computer screen due to the following reasons:

• Missing sqlite3.dll files
• DLL files affected due to viruses and malware on your system
• Registry overloaded with invalid entries
• Disk fragmentation

Whether the cause for the sqlite3.dll error code on your PC is malware invasion or registry issues, it is recommended to resolve it immediately before the damage sets in. Such errors can expose your PC to serious threats like privacy errors, data breaches, identity thefts, cybercrime, system failure, crashes, and valuable data loss.

Further Information and Manual Repair

When it comes to fixing sqlite3.dll error code, you don’t always need to hire a professional and spend hundreds of dollars on the repair. Here are some simple and do it yourself solutions that you can try and resolve the error on your system for free.

1. Check inside recycle bin and restore the deleted file

If this error popped on your computer screen after installing a certain program, then you need to check your recycle bin. This is because DLL files are shared by multiple programs, it might be possible that the program you just deleted also used the sqlite3.dll file to run on your system. And so when you uninstalled the program, the sqlite3.dll file also got removed. To resolve this, check your recycle bin for the file. If you find it, restore it. Once the files is restored, try running the application that was generating the sqlite3.dll error message. If the error still persists, then this means the cause of the sqlite3.dll error is deeper. It could be due to malware or the registry.

2. Remove Malware

To remove malware, run an antivirus. This will help scan for such malicious software on your system affecting DLL files and remove them. However, the drawback is that it may slow down the speed of your PC significantly. And when running it, you may have to stop all other activities on your system.

3. Repair and Restore the Registry

If the cause of the sqlite3.dll error is the registry corrupted with invalid entries and disk fragmentation, then you need to repair and restore the registry. The best way to do this is to download Restoro. Restoro is a powerful and highly functional registry cleaner. It scans your entire PC and detects all registry issues in seconds. It wipes out all the unnecessary and obsolete files including the junk files, invalid registry entries, bad registry keys, temporary internet files, cookies, and browser history. It clears up hard disk space and frees it of clutter. Furthermore, this registry cleaner also repairs the damaged DLL files and restores the registry. Restoro is not only a registry cleaner but is also a system optimizer. This means you can also run it to scan and remove malware on your PC and system instability issues. It boosts your PC’s speed and performance. It runs smoothly on all Windows versions. It is safe, efficient and user-friendly. The layout is neat and the interface is easy to use and intuitive. In just a few clicks you can resolve the sqlite3.dll error and resume using your desired programs. Click here to download Total System Care on your PC to resolve sqlite3.dll error pop-ups.

If you are trying to install a Windows 10 upgrade but was interrupted with an error saying, “0x80070003 – 0x2000D, The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during MIGRATE_DATA operation”, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you sort this problem out. When you get this kind of error while trying to upgrade your computer, although there could be various reasons for this, the primary one is that when you upgrade from one update to another, something stopped the upgrade process to migrate the user data. To fix this error, you can try to run both the DISM tool and the System File Checker to automatically repair any corrupted system files. You could also try checking the free storage space of your primary drive and if you have any file lock apps like BitLocker, consider disabling them for they could also be the reason why you’re getting the error.

Option 1 – Run the DISM tool

Running the DISM Tool helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10 which might be the reason behind the Windows Upgrade error 0x80070003 – 0x2000D. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.

• Open the Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in this command: 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.
• Once it’s done, restart your computer and then check if the issue is resolved or not on the next startup.

Option 2 – Run the SFC scan

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the Windows Upgrade error to appear. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

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

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

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

• Reboot your PC.

Option 3 – Try checking the free storage space on your primary drive

The next option you can try to resolve the error is to see if you have enough free storage space on the primary drive because if you don’t then it’s probably the reason why you’re getting this error. To fix it, you need to free up some storage space by following these steps:

• 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.
• Now make sure that the Storage Sense feature is turned On then go 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
• System created Windows Error Reporting Files
• Thumbnails
• Temporary Internet Files
• Previous Windows Installation Files
• Delivery Optimisation Files
• DirectX Shader Cache

Note: Once you’re done freeing up space on your drive, try to run the setup file again.

Option 4 – Try disabling BitLocker and other file lock apps

If you are using BitLocker or other file lock apps, then it could be the reason why you’re getting the error. Usually, file lock apps don’t cause any kind of issue, however, if you have something that works on file level like BitLocker, you can try to disable it. Once you’ve disabled it, try to install the Windows 10 Upgrade again and after you do, enable BitLocker again. This should fix the problem.

A lot of users have experienced various issues either in installing a Feature or a Windows Update. One of these errors is the one with the error code 0x80d02002. If you are one of the users who is facing this problem right now, then the working solutions given in this post will surely help. The Windows Update error code 0x80d02002 indicates that Windows 10 fails to upgrade or install as there is some issue with the files that have been downloaded and Windows encounters an error in installing them. Thus, the best thing you can do in such a case is to start the installation from scratch but before you do that, here are some suggestions that might help.

Option 1 – Try to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder

The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. Aside from that, it also contains all the Windows Update History files and once you delete them, you will most likely lose the Update history. As a result, the next time you run the Windows Update, it may result in a longer detection time.

• Open the WinX Menu.
• From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.

net stop wuauserv net stop bits rename c:windowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak

• After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, and rename the SoftwareDistribution folder.
• Next, got to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
• Once all the contents in the Software Distribution folder are deleted, restart your PC and then go back to Command Prompt and input the following commands again.

net start wuauserv net start bits

Since the folder has already been flushed, it will be populated afresh the instant your restart your computer and open Windows Update.

Option 2 – Try to reset the Catroot2 folder

You can also try resetting the catroort2 folder as it is known to fix tons of Windows Update issues including the Windows Update error code 0x80d02002. Both the Catroot and catroot2 are Windows operating system folders that are required for the Windows update process.  So when you run the Windows Update, the catroort2 folders stores the signatures of the Windows Update package and helps it in the installation. It makes use of the “%windir%System32catroot2edb.log” file in the updating process. Afterward, the updates are stored in the SoftwareDistribution folder which is used then by the Automatic Updates in order to execute the updating process. Keep in mind that you must not rename or delete the Catroot folder. Although the Catroot2 folder is recreated automatically by Windows, the Catroot folder isn’t.

Option 3 – Try running the DISM tool to fix the broken Windows Update client

The Windows update/upgrade error 0x80d02002 might be caused by some issues in the Windows Update client so you need to run the DISM tool to repair it. Note that you have to use another computer or another Windows from a shared network to fix it.

Option 4 – Try to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update error 0x80d02002. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button.

Option 5 – Try to run Microsoft’s troubleshooter online

You also have the option to run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter which could help you fix Windows Update errors.

MSASCui.exe is a digitally signed file from Microsoft located in folder C:\Program Files\Windows Defender. It is a component of Microsoft Windows Defender Antispyware. This file is responsible for performing spyware scans. It is already installed in Windows Vista operating system. MSASCui.exe becomes an error code when it is found in another path. It is categorized as a Windows runtime error.

Solution

Error Causes

The cause of MSASCui.exe error is triggered by:

• Corrupt or damaged registry entries
• Virus Infection

The potential risks of MSASCui.exe error are:

• Slow PC performance
• Data loss

When this file becomes an error, it will display messages like:

“This application has failed to start to run on Windows because MSASCUI.exe cannot be found.” “Windows Defender cannot work properly and protect the Windows system effectively”

The message will keep popping up on your computer screen time and again.

Further Information and Manual Repair

When you experience an MSASCui.exe error on your PC, it is advisable to fix and repair it immediately before it causes serious damages to your system. Here are some DIY quick solutions to repair MSASCui.exe error:

Solution 1:

If the speed of your PC reduces significantly and you also see MSASCui.exe error message pop on your screen, then in this case it is advisable to uninstall the Windows Defender program from your PC. To do so, follow these instructions:

• First, open the Windows Task Manager by pressing the “Ctrl, “Alt” and “Delete” keys on the keyboard.
• Now click the ‘Processes’ tab. This will show the currently running processes on your system.
• Scroll down and click on “MSASCui.exe” and then end the process. This will stop the program from running on your PC.
• After this go to the start menu and double click on ‘My Computer’ and click on the C drive.
• Choose the option ‘Program Files’ and then click on the ‘Windows Defender’ folder.
• Now to delete this folder, right-click and select ‘delete’. This will uninstall the program, fix the MSASCui.exe error, and also improve the performance of your PC.

Solution 2:

If you find the MSASCui.exe file located in some other path, then this is an indication of a virus. In this case, it is recommended to run an antivirus program on your PC to scan and delete all viruses. If you don’t have an antivirus program already installed on your system, then you should download it. Once antivirus software is downloaded, simply run it to scan viruses and then click on delete to remove all the viruses on your system. This will help you resolve the MSASCui.exe error caused by malware on your PC right away.

What is Bandoo?

Bandoo application, specifically product version 5.0.2.4762, is a bundled program. What does this mean? Simply, Bandoo, upon installation, installs additional programs, extensions, and add-ons to a computer and computer’s browser, without the knowledge of the user. This version of Bandoo concentrates on providing features for entertainment and also functionality/tools for backing up your computer files. Once executed, the file installs the iLivid Download Manager Software. Additional tools installed within the bundle include a Movie Toolbar and the thriving search engine ‘Ask.com.’ Technical details about Bandoo include: 

Digital Signature/Publisher:  Bandoo Media, Inc. Product Version: 5.0.2.4762 Entry Point:  0x000038AF

Assessment of Bandoo Potentially Unwanted Program

Interestingly, before the installation of Bandoo product version 5.0.2.4762 was complete, Spyhunter detected that the software was a PUP. After the installation was complete, product version 5.0.2.4762 of Bandoo added add-ons and extensions to both Internet Explorer and Chrome Browsers (these were the only 2 browsers used within the assessment). These appeared in the form of a Movie toolbar, providing quick access to movie trailers, reviews, ratings, and other video functionality, and ‘Ask’ (Ask.com) search engine.

Areas of Infiltration by Bandoo

Bandoo product version 5.0.2.4762 infiltrated several areas of the computer system. After installation, folders were neatly placed as files within all programs. Within “All Programs” there were 3 newly added programs. These included:

• iLivid
• Movies Search App for Chrome
• Movies Search App for Internet Explorer

The iLiVid application seems to be the main offer while the others, namely Movies App for Internet Explorer by Ask was featured as promotions or advertisements. Additionally, just below the 'END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT AND PRIVACY POLICY' a request was made that the user set Ask.com as both their homepage, new tab, and default search engine. This is just another well-concocted plan to get Internet users onto the 'Ask.com' search engine. Along with the 3 programs installed as a bundle,  a new folder was found within the computer's local drive. This program was termed OLBPre.

What is OLBPre?

OLBPre.exe is reputed as dangerous adware that weakens the security settings of a computer system. It's also covertly used for dropping files on a targeted computer, often without the user's consent or knowledge.

Manual Steps for Removal of Movie Search Apps

I found this removal pretty simple. Depending on your Operating System, there will be slight discrepancies in the manual removal steps. Using the Windows 8 (8.1) OS on your computer:

• Step 1: from your desktop, right-click on the ‘Start Button’.  A menu box will then appear.
• Step 2: from the menu box, click ‘Search’.
• Step 3: enter “Programs and Features” within the Input Box.
• Step 4: locate the installed apps. You should be able to see “Movies Search App for Chrome” & “Movies Search App for Internet Explorer”.
• Step 5: right-click on the names of the Apps (the ones you want to remove) when you’ve located them.
• Note: you will have to remove the apps one after the other.
• Step 6: after right-clicking the app, click the uninstall option (probably the only option available anyway).
• Note: If a box appears asking If you wish to ‘block’ or ‘allow’, select the allow option. That’s just the Publisher’s way to annoy you out of uninstalling the app.
• Step 7: follow instructions until the app is fully removed.
• Step 8: Repeat steps for the other app.

Since Bandoo also changed your search engine, you’ll have to reset that manually for Internet Explorer and Chrome. Follow the steps below:

• Step 1: Open your Internet Explorer browser.
• Step 2: Click the tool option located in the top right-hand corner of the page.
• Step 3: Click the “Internet Options” option.
• Step 4: Under the “General” tab, you’ll be able to see approximately 3 buttons. Click the button labeled ‘Use Default”.
• Step 5: At the bottom right-hand corner of the pop-up menu, select the “Apply” button and “OK”. That should do the trick.

Removal for Chrome Extension

This removal is simple.

• Step 1: Open your Chrome browser.
• Step 2: A pop-up box will be visible.
• Step 3: Click the “Remove from Chrome” option.

After removing the extensions/add-ons, perform another scan with Spyhunter. You’ll pick up a few threats. The second scan should clear up everything. To completely remove Bandoo from your computer, click here to download and install Spyhunter.