Could not connect to the System Event

External hard drives have become essentials as they store data. However, they are also prone to issues and one of them is the “The device is not ready”. You could encounter this error when you try to access your connected hard drive. This error won’t allow you to access the contents of your hard drive so unless you fix it, you won’t be able to access any of the files on your hard drive. One of the most likely causes of this error is a hardware defect. Aside from that, it could also be due to loose connections, obsolete device drivers, as well as compatibility issues between the operating system and the hard drive. Before you start troubleshooting the problem, you need to determine if you were able to access your hard drive before you encountered the error or not. If not, you need to check the compatibility of the device with your operating system as it could be the reason why you’re getting the error. There are several potential fixes you can check out to fix this error. You can try to check the hardware connections, run the built-in Hardware and Devices troubleshooter, as well as the USB troubleshooter. You could also run the CHKDSK utility or update the drivers of the device or the USB drivers.

Option 1 – Try checking the hardware connections

The first thing you have to do before you further troubleshoot the problem is to check the hardware connections of your computer and see if there are damaged ones, just like with USB ports, it would also affect the overall connectivity of the device with the computer. So if you notice some irregularities in the connecting cable physically, you might have to buy another one and replace it and then see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 2 – Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooters

• The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
• After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
• From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
• Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
• After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Note: You could also try to run the USB troubleshooter as it could also resolve the problem.

Option 3 – Run the CHKDSK utility

As you know, the CHKDSK utility can help you in identifying the bad sectors in a drive and fix them automatically. Thus, you can run it to fix the “The device is not ready” error when you connect your USB drive to your computer.

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Next, type and enter this command to execute it: chkdsk /f <drive>
• Now, wait until the process is completed and exit Command Prompt.
• Restart your computer and try connecting the USB drive again and see if the error is fixed.

Option 4 – Try to update the drivers of the device

Although you can always update the device drivers using the Device Manager, you might want to try downloading the latest set of drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website. Once you’ve downloaded them, install them right away and then correct the external hard drive.

Option 5 – Update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller driver

If updating the drivers of the device did not fix the “The device is not ready” error, you can try to update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller drivers instead of using the Device Manager. Refer to the following steps:

• First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
• Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
• From there, look for the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option and then right-click on each one of the USB drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.

Note: If it is a regular USB drive, then it will be listed as a USB Mass Storage Device but if you have a USB 3.0 device, then look for a USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller.

• Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Note: If updating the USB Controller drivers didn’t work, you can try to reinstall them instead.

Option 6 – Restart your computer in a Clean Boot State

If the first three given options didn’t work and you still see the error when you connect external devices, you can try putting your computer in a Clean Boot State and then try connecting them again.

• 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.)
• Now try to connect the external devices and check if the error is now gone.

If you are trying to log into your user account on your Windows 10 computer but encountered an error message instead that says, “Your account has been disabled, Please see your system administrator”, read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix this problem. In this kind of scenario, you won’t be able to access your data unless you have access to the administrator account. This problem could be caused by several problems. It is possible that malware has infected your computer and has changed some settings in your computer, especially if your system has been under a malware attack not too long ago. The malware could’ve changed the “Account is disabled” option. The only thing you can do to resolve this kind of problem is to log into your computer using another administrator account and then change the setting. However, if you don’t have a second administrator account, you can just enable the built-in hidden administrator account on your computer. You shouldn’t have any problem enabling the hidden administrator account as it is quite easy when you can log into your account. And in this post, you will be guided on how you can enable the hidden administrator account using the Registry Editor to fix the “Your account has been disabled, Please see your system administrator” error.

To get started, follow the instructions given below.

1. First, you need to start your computer and ensure that you are on the error screen. From there, you will see the Power options located on the right-hand side.
2. Click on the Power options and tap and hold the Shift key and then select Restart.
3. After that, the Advanced Boot Options will appear and from there select Troubleshoot > Command Prompt.
4. Next, you have to select your user account and enter the user account’s password to open Command Prompt.
5. After opening Command Prompt, open your screen and type “Regedit” and then tap Enter on your keyboard.
6. Now select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in the Registry Editor and go to File > Load Hive.
7. Afterward, you have to open the Windows installation drive and go to the location – WindowsSystem32Config
8. From there, you should find a file named “SAM” – select this file and click the Open button.
9. Next, you have to enter a key name. You can just input whatever you prefer.
10. Once done, navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEkey_nameSAMDomainsAccountUsers
11. From this path, you will see a key named “000001F4” – select this key and double click on the “F” entry that you can find on the right-hand side of the screen.
12. After that, look for the value data line labeled “0038” which should show 11 in the first column. You have to replace it with 10.
13. Once done, click on the OK button and close the Registry Editor and the Command Prompt to restart your computer.
14. Now once your computer has restarted, sign in to the Administrator account and open the Computer Management window. You can just search for it using the search bar in the Taskbar.
15. After you open Computer Management, go to Local Users and Groups > Users – where you can find all the user accounts. Look for your deleted user account and right-click on it and select Properties and then unmark the checkbox that says “Account is disabled”. This should fix the problem.

Valve has announced the first gaming PC handheld console: Steam Deck. At its core, Stead Deck is just a portable, small PC in little casing. It uses AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU architecture, has 16GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. It is a portable device with both a touchpad and joystick packing a seven-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x800 (16:10 aspect ratio). The screen has an ambient light sensor for automatic light adjustments same as your modern mobile device. Stating to Valve battery will hold up from two to eight hours depending on the activity of the user and what exactly he is doing. The handheld comes also with a carrying case.

Steam Deck operating system and software

Out of the box, Steam Dock comes with the latest Valve’s version of SteamOS 3. Just for comparing, the steam box was coming SteamOS 2, so this new Linux-based OS is aimed to provide better performance and better compatibility. Naturally, all Linux games in your Steam library will work right out of the box but Valve has something called PROTON inside OS, it is emulation software based on Wine that will supposedly let you play all of your Library games on a given OS. One big thing to mention here is that this is PC after all meaning that if you do not like having SteamOS on it you can install Windows instead and so far as we know it will support Windows 11. Now with Windows 11, you will be able to play all of your Steam games and run any kind of Windows software on it including EPIC store, battle.net, and others.

Cost and release date

The initial release date is set for December 2021 and today on July 16^th Valve is opening you can reserve your copy if you want to pre-purchase. Follow this link if you want to reserve your copy. Reserve your Steam Deck device The price of the device will depend on the memory capacity which you would like to have. Please note that each of the 3 offered devices will have the same hardware, the only difference will be in memory available, and the most expensive version will also have anti-glare screen, everything else is identical. 64GB model will be $399, 256GB model will have the price of $529 and largest one with whooping 512GB will be $649

Conclusion

Valve ventures into the digital hardware domain again but it is unsure will they make it this time. Both Steam machine and their controller were in long run failed and later unsupported products so perhaps some customer caution is advised. Although having a handheld PC is tempting I would advise seeing how the overall market will accept this contraption before throwing money into it.

Steam Deck release is almost upon us and more news comes to light. The Latest officially confirmed technical detail is that the user will have access to device's BIOS and that dual booting will be officially supported. This, of course, means that you will be able to have both Proton and Windows on your device letting you play anything that you wish if the hardware is strong enough. Valve also said that you can launch OS from an SD card! This of course will save space available for games themselves, especially for entry models with less than one available. All of this information really pushes Deck into the territory of a handheld PC and not just another console and I must admit that this announcement left a smile on my face.

Error code 0x800ccc0f - What is it?

Error code 0x800ccc0f is an error that occurs when users attempt to send/receive emails in Outlook or Outlook Express. Though information regarding the error is limited and sometimes difficult to decipher to those unfamiliar with error code issues, the following are possible symptoms users can expect when this error occurs:

• Unexpected termination of the connection
• Inability to access email messages sent to one’s account
• Inability to send email messages

Solution

Error Causes

Errors in Outlook or Outlook Express may occur due to a multiplicity of reasons. It may be due to a problem with your network connection or the server. You may also encounter this problem after an extended period of inactivity.

Since the error could be due to one of many issues, several solutions are recommended. However, note that these suggestions require you to make changes that come with various risks. Be sure to implement these instructions correctly to avoid causing more problems to occur.

If you are not confident that you will be able to successfully implement the solutions below, get help from a certified Windows technician or IT professional.

Further Information and Manual Repair

As with other error codes, manual procedures are available which users can take to correct the problem. To implement manual repair, follow the methods suggested below:

Method one: Troubleshoot your Internet Connection

Since error code 0x800ccc0f may manifest itself due to an issue with your network, you can seek to rectify the problem by first checking your connection. To do this, open an Internet browser. Type a valid web address in the address bar and click Enter.

If you are unable to access the website, you may then seek to fix the Internet connectivity issue by using Microsoft Automated Troubleshooting Services. These free tools are available for download on Microsoft’s website.

Not only can these tools fix your Windows Firewall – if this is the cause of your connectivity issues. These automated troubleshooting tools can also resolve other issues related to your Internet browser or network.

However, if after downloading and running these tools error code 0x800ccc0f still persists in Outlook or Outlook Express, implement the solution below.

Method two: Verify your Network Connection

Verifying your network connection is another way you can resolve your Outlook issues, i.e. once the issue is in fact a network-based problem.

To verify your network connection, make sure your computer’s network devices are turned on and fully functioning. Also ensure that the cables that connect your computer to a network are secure. You may also contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to verify your connection.

If there is no issue with your network and error code 0x800ccc0f persists, you will need to implement method three.

Method three: Check your Firewall or Router Settings

Problems with sending or receiving email messages based on the 0x800ccc0f error code could also be due to configuration issues for individuals who connect using a router. If this is a misconfiguration issue, you may be able to resolve the problem by bypassing the router and connecting through your modem.

Before doing this, however, be sure to check if your firewall is turned on as connecting directly can leave your machine vulnerable. Prevent attacks by checking your Windows Firewall setting. After making adjustments where necessary to ensure the firewall is turned on, test your connectivity to ensure you can access a connection. Also, check Outlook to see whether the error message has been resolved. If the error persists, consider the next solution.

Method four: Disable Third-party Security Apps

Third-party apps like anti-virus software can sometimes cause interference, leading to errors. For this reason, check if the antivirus on your device is the source of the issue. Start by disabling the antivirus software. You may also turn off the software’s email scanning feature to verify whether or not that is the cause of the error.

Note that disabling your antivirus is only a temporary solution as it is not recommended that you use your computer without such protection in place. Consider replacing your antivirus or uninstalling and reinstalling for a permanent fix if indeed your issue with error code 0x800ccc0f was caused by interference from third-party apps.

Method five: Automated Tool

Also, consider downloading a powerful automated tool to protect your machine from possible errors in the future.

Some Windows users are encountering the 0x800705b3 error code after failing to install a pending update on Windows 10. Most commonly this particular issue is reported to occur with Integrated webcam drivers updates and Bluetooth adapter driver updates. Follow the guide below in order to fix the issue and update your Windows successfully

Running the Windows Update Troubleshooter

The majority of users that were dealing with this issue reported that the issue was fixed after they ran the Windows Update Troubleshooter and applied the recommended fix.

1. Open a Run dialog box by pressing ⊞ WINDOWS + R. Inside the text box, type ‘ms-settings:troubleshoot’ and press ENTER to open up the Troubleshooting menu. Opening the Troubleshooting tab on Windows 10
2. Once you’re inside the Troubleshooting tab, move over to the right-hand section of the screen and click on Windows Update (under Get up and Running). Next, from the context menu that just appeared, click on Run the Troubleshooter.
3. Once you’re inside the Windows Update troubleshooter, wait until the initial scan is complete and see if a viable repair strategy is found.
4. If the scan has identified a strategy with the potential to fix your ongoing issue, click on Apply this fix and wait until the procedure is complete. Applying the fix Note: Depending on the type of fix that was recommended, you might need to follow an additional set of instructions before the fix will be properly imposed.
5. After you’ve done this, reboot your computer and wait for the next startup to complete.
6. Open Windows Update once again and see if the installation of this pending update is now successful.

Installing the pending Update Manually

Whether you’re experiencing this issue with an integrated webcam driver or with anything else, chances are you’ll be able to circumvent the apparition of the 0x800705b3 error by using the Microsoft Update Catalog to find, download and install the pending update manually.

1. Open your default browser and navigate to the root web page of the Microsoft Update Catalog.
2. Once you’re inside the Microsoft Update Catalog, use the search function (top-right corner of the screen) to search for the update that is failing.
3. After the search is completed and you get the list of results, look for an updated driver version that is compatible with your Windows version and CPU architecture.
4. Once you manage to identify the correct Windows Update, click on the hyperlink associated with the update that you want to install, then click the Download button and wait for the process to complete.
5. After the download is complete, use File Explorer to navigate to the location where you previously downloaded the update.
6. When you get to the correct location, right-click on the .inf file and choose Install from the context menu that just appeared. Note: If you have multiple failing updates with the same 0x800705b3, repeat the instructions above with every Windows Update that you’re having trouble installing.
7. At the end of this operation, reboot your computer and see if the problem is fixed at the next computer startup.

Enabling the Windows Installer Service

The Windows installer service is responsible for installing pending updates that get downloaded by the Windows Update component. If this service is disabled on your configuration, none of the updates waiting to get installed will get completed.

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open up a Run dialog box. Inside the text box, type ‘services.msc’ and press ENTER to open up the Services utility.
2. Once you’re inside the Services screen, move over to the right-hand tab of the screen, scroll down through the list of services and locate the Windows Installer service. When you find it, right-click on it and choose Properties from the context menu that just appeared.
3. Once you are inside the Properties screen of the Windows Installer services, access the General tab, click on the Start button to force-start the service. Note: If you can, also change the Startup type to Automatic via the associated drop-down menu. However, depending on your administrator settings, this might not be possible.
4. Restart your computer and wait for the next startup to complete. Once your PC boots back up, attempt to reinstall the driver that was previously triggering the 0x800705b3 error and see if the issue is now fixed.

Performing a Winsock Reset

In case the 0x800705b3 error is related to some kind of network inconsistency (TCP or IP related), you might see Windows Updates failing due to bad data that forces the Windows to abort the installation of new pending updates. In this case, you should proceed by doing a complete Winsock reset procedure to fix the majority of the socket and temporary data-related issues that might cause this behavior. Several affected users have confirmed that this method was the only thing that allowed them to finally fix the Windows Update issue and install pending updates normally. Here are some step-by-step instructions that will walk you through the process of performing Winsock Reset:

1. Open up a Run dialog box by pressing ⊞ WINDOWS + R. Inside the text box, type ‘cmd’, then press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER to open up an elevated Command Prompt. Accessing an elevated CMD prompt Note: When prompted by the UAC (User Account Control) prompt, click Yes to grant admin access.
2. Inside the elevated CMD prompt, type and taste the following commands in order and press ENTER after each one to effectively reset the TCP and IP data that might be responsible for the apparition of the 0x800705b3 error code:

   nbtstat -R
   nbtstat -RR
   netsh int reset all
   netsh int ip reset
   netsh winsock reset

3. Once every command above is processed successfully, you can go ahead and close the elevated Command Prompt and reboot your computer.
4. After the next startup is complete, repeat the installation of the Windows Update that was previously failing and see if the issue is now fixed.

Performing SFC and DISM Scans

If none of the ‘superficial’ causes have worked in your case, you should start considering some type of system corruption that might affect your computer’s ability to complete pending updates that are currently waiting to be installed. In case you find yourself in this particular scenario, you should run a couple of built-in utilities capable of fixing corrupted instances that might be currently affecting the Windows Update component. Our recommendation is to start with a simple System File Checker scan. An SFC scan will cross-check every Windows File against a local archive that maintains healthy copies. In case corrupted instances are found, this utility will swap the corrupted instance with the healthy equivalent.

Performing an SFC scan

Once the SFC scan is complete, reboot your computer and wait for the next startup to complete. After your computer boots back up, initiate a DISM scan. This utility works differently in the sense that it relies on a sub-component of Windows Update to download healthy copies for the corrupted Windows files that need to be replaced. Because of this, it’s important to make sure that you have a reliable Internet connection before initiating this operation.

Doing a DISM scan

After the DISM scan is complete, reboot your computer one final time and see if the issue is fixed once the next startup is complete.

If you’ve been using your Windows 10 PC for a long time now, you might have come across a couple of issues – from minimal ones to critical ones like the Blue Screen of Death or BSOD stop errors. One of these BSOD errors you can encounter is the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Blue Screen error. This particular BSOD error is caused by iaStorA.sys, iaisp64 sys, Netwtw04.sys, nvlddmkm.sys, ndis.sys, wrUrlFlt.sys, and other driver files on Windows 10. This error indicates that a kernel-mode driver tried to access pageable memory at a process IRQL that was too high. When you encounter this error, just like a typical BSOD error, your computer will abruptly stop and you will see a blue screen with an error message saying:

“Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. (100% complete) If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (wrUrlFlt.sys)”

The iaStorA.sys file is a software component that’s related to the Intel Rapid Storage Technology by Intel. It is a software solution supported by Intel Smart Response Technology which allows the PC to communicate with the hardware as well as externally connected devices. The Intel Rapid Storage Technology enables the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express or PCIe storage support, serial ATA RAID or Redundant Array of Independent Disks 0, 1, 5, and 10 support, and the PUIS or power-up in standby is also supported. To resolve this kind of BSOD error, you have to update, roll back or fresh-install the problematic driver. Refer to the options laid out below for detailed instructions.

Option 1 – Try removing the Intel Rapid Storage Technology or IRST drivers

The first thing you can try is to fix the Wi-Fi driver or the Ethernet driver on your computer to resolve the BSOD error. Take note that this option works not only on Windows 10 but also other Windows versions.

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After opening the Device Manager, click on the “IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller” entry and expand it.
• Next, right-click on all the driver entries that are appropriately labeled, and then click on Uninstall device.
• Now restart your PC and check if the problem’s fixed or not. If not, proceed to the next given option below.

Option 2 – Try updating the Intel Rapid Storage Technology or IRST drivers

If you’ve already tried uninstalling the IRST driver but you’re still getting the DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL Blue Screen error when you use your Windows 10 PC, then this means that the drivers might be corrupted or not compatible with the operating system version that you are using right now. So to fix the problem, you have to update your drivers. To do that, follow the steps below.

• The first thing you need to do is to go to your OEM’s website.
• Once you’re already on the OEM’s website, go to the Drivers section and get the latest version for your device and then try to overwrite it.

Alternatively, you can also update the drivers via the Device Manager:

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After opening the Device Manager, click on the “IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller” entry and expand it.
• Next, right-click on all the driver entries that are appropriately labeled, and then click the Update driver option.
• Now restart your PC and check if the BSOD error is fixed or not.

Option 3 – Try using the System File Checker via Command Prompt

System File Checker or 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 that might be causing the DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL Blue Screen error. 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

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.

In today's time, Wi-Fi is a common occurrence, each household has it, on town squares, there are free Wi-Fi hotspots, etc. But sometimes when relaxing at home WI-Fi can fail on us and stop working. If this happens to you do not lose your mind because we have several troubleshooting help tips and ways to get it back quickly so you can continue with your browsing and using your internet.

Restart the Router and Computer

Yes, we will start with this typical cliche in IT and tech in general. Surprisingly this method still proves over and over again to be true and effective. Over time some electric components simply start working a little bit differently, electrostatic electricity can accumulate on some parts and they can cause issues. By turning off the device and leaving it for some time you are discharging accumulated electrostatics and placing it again into normal working mode.

Unplug your router and leave it for at least 30s like that, a full 1 min is recommended, and then plug it back. Turn it on and restart your computer in order to reboot addresses.

Reset DHCP

If simple have you tried unplugging it and plugging it back in did not work let us reset DHCP. Click on the start button and type in PowerShell, then click on Run as administrator. Once inside the PowerShell type in the following command followed by ENTER: ipconfig /release and after the command finishes, type in: ipconfig /renew also followed by ENTER key. Try the connection again.

Reset TCP/IP stack

The next thing that we will try if the previous one failed is to reset the TCP/IP stack to eliminate corruption of settings files. Like in the previous step, press Start and type in PowerShell and click on run as administrator. inside type in: netsh int IP reset and press ENTER key. Wait for the process to finish and reboot your PC.

Reset WinSock

WinSock is yet another part of Windows OS that is responsible for network communication and resetting it could solve the issue. Again go to PowerShell as described in previous steps and type in this time: winsock reset and press ENTER. Wait for the process to finish and restart your computer.

Other things you can try

Change TCP IP setting back to automatic if you have set manual Ip address on your computer.

Update your network driver via the manufacturer's website of your network adapter. There is a chance that somewhat updates are available to address some issues discovered.

Factory reset your router on the back by locating the reset button on it and pressing and holding it for around 10s.

Turn off your firewall and antivirus protection in order to eliminate it from blocking your internet access.

AudioToAudio is a browser extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension allows users easy access to popular audio converting websites.

When installed, it changes the default search engine, home page, and new tab to MyWay.com. While active AudioToAudio gathers user browsing activities such as, but not limited to: visited websites, clicked links, search queries. This data is later used/sold by the Mindspark ad network to better target ads. While browsing the internet with this extension enabled, you will see additional injected ads, sponsored content (such as links to web pages, banner ads, affiliate shop links, etc), and even pop-up ads from time to time if the regular ads are blocked. AudioToAudio has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus applications and is marked for removal by most of them.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a form of unwanted software, commonly a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in web browser’s settings. They are created to interfere with browser functions for various purposes. Typically, hijackers are developed for the benefit of cyber hackers often through revenue generation from forced ad clicks and website visits. However, it isn’t that innocent. Your online safety is compromised and it is also extremely annoying. Some browser hijackers are programmed to make particular modifications beyond the browsers, like changing entries in the computer registry and letting other malware further damage your computer.

How to determine if your browser has been hijacked

When your web browser is hijacked, the following might happen: 1. your web browser’s homepage is suddenly different 2. you get re-directed to sites you never meant to visit 3. The default search page of the web browser is changed 4. discover new toolbars that you simply did not add 5. you see numerous ads pop up on the web browsers or computer screen 6. webpages load slowly and often incomplete 7. Inability to navigate to certain websites, especially antivirus and also other computer security software sites.

How they infect computers

There are many ways your computer or laptop can become infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive by way of spam email, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by-download. They can also be deployed via the installation of an internet browser toolbar, extension, or add-on. A browser hijacker could also come bundled up with some free software that you unknowingly download and install the browser hijack, compromising your PC security. Some of the most well-known hijackers are AudioToAudio, Babylon Toolbar, Conduit Search, OneWebSearch, Sweet Page, and CoolWebSearch.

Removing browser hijackers

Some hijackers could be removed by just uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. But, the majority of hijackers are quite tenacious and require specialized applications to eliminate them. Novice computer users shouldn’t ever attempt the manual form of removal, as it requires thorough computer knowledge to carry out repairs on the computer registry and HOSTS file. Browser hijackers can be effectively removed by installing and running anti-malware software on the affected PC. Safebytes Anti-Malware has a sophisticated anti-malware engine to help you prevent browser hijacking in the first place, and mop up any existing issues. In addition to anti-malware, a system optimizer tool, similar to Total System Care, could help you resolve Windows registry errors, eliminate unwanted toolbars, secure online privacy, and increase overall computer performance.

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

All malware is bad, but certain types of malware do more damage to your computer than others. Some malware types alter internet browser settings by including a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS settings. In these cases, you will be unable to visit some or all internet sites, and thus not able to download or install the required security software to remove the malware. If you are reading this article, you probably have got affected by malware that prevents you from installing a computer security program like Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are a few actions you can take to get around this problem.

Install in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you are able to modify Windows settings, un-install or install some applications, and remove hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In the event the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting your PC, running it in Safe Mode allows you to download anti-malware and run a diagnostic scan whilst limiting possible damage. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSCONFIG and locate the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can attempt to download and install your anti-malware software without the hindrance of the malicious software. Now, you can actually run the antivirus scan to remove computer viruses and malware without any interference from another application.

Switch over to a different web browser

Malicious code could exploit vulnerabilities in a particular internet browser and block access to all anti-virus software websites. If you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the best plan of action would be to switch to an alternate browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your favorite computer security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install and run antivirus from your Thumb drive

Here’s another solution which is creating a portable USB anti-virus software package that can scan your computer for malicious software without needing installation. Adopt these measures to use a USB drive to fix your infected computer system. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free computer system. 2) Mount the USB drive on the same computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose the USB flash drive as the destination for saving the file. Do as instructed on the screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the uninfected PC to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes tool from the thumb drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all types of malware.

Protect Your PC and Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you’re looking to install an anti-malware application for your computer, there are several tools in the market to consider but you should not trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is paid or free software. A few of them do a good job in removing malware threats while many will damage your computer by themselves. When searching for an antivirus tool, purchase one that offers reliable, efficient, and complete protection against all known viruses and malware. When considering commercial anti-malware software options, most people choose popular brands, like SafeBytes, and are very happy with them. Safebytes is among the well-established computer solutions companies, which provide this all-inclusive anti-malware application. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your PC against infections brought on by various kinds of malware and other threats, including spyware, adware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. Here are a few of the good ones:

Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Safebytes is built on the very best virus engine within the industry. These engines can find and eliminate threats even during the early phases of a malware outbreak. Real-Time Protection: Malware programs trying to enter the computer are identified and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes real-time protection shields. This software will constantly monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat scenarios. Internet Security: Safebytes assigns all websites a unique safety rating that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re going to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Lightweight: SafeBytes is a lightweight application. It uses up a really small amount of processing power as it works in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based computer the way you want. Premium Support: For any technical problems or product guidance, you may get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and e-mail. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program since it has loads of features and could detect and eliminate any potential threats. You now may realize that this tool does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your computer. So when you want advanced forms of protection features & threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware will be well worth the money!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to carry out the removal of AudioToAudio manually rather than utilizing an automated software tool, you can follow these simple steps: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click on the “Add/Remove Programs” and there, select the offending application to uninstall. In case of suspicious versions of web browser plugins, you can easily get rid of them through your browser’s extension manager. You may also want to reset your home page and search engine providers, as well as clear your browser cache and cookies. If you decide to manually delete the system files and registry entries, utilize the following checklist to ensure that you know exactly what files to remove before undertaking any actions. However, this can be a tricky task and only computer professionals could carry it out safely. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. It is recommended that you do the removal procedure in Safe Mode. For more information and manual removal instructions visit www.ErrorTools.com Download Safebytes Anti-Malware: https://errortools.com/download/safebytes-anti-malware/ AudioToAudio is a browser extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension allows users easy access to popular audio converting websites. When installed, it changes the default search engine, home page, and new tab to MyWay.com. While active AudioToAudio gathers user browsing activities such as, but not limited to: visited websites, clicked links, search queries. This data is later used/sold by the Mindspark ad network to better target ads. While browsing the internet with this extension enabled, you will see additional injected ads, sponsored content (such as links to web pages, banner ads, affiliate shop links, etc), and even pop-up ads from time to time if the regular ads are blocked. AudioToAudio has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus applications and is marked for removal by most of them.

Ever gotten an e-mail offer that seemed just a little bit too good to be true? Might’ve been a phishing attempt! These are everywhere and can come in many different forms. 

So what’s phishing exactly, how can you detect it and how can you keep safe?

What is phishing?

Phishing (pronounced like fishing) is a type of cyberattack that tricks the user into trusting the source and revealing sensitive information. Fishing being the perfect analogy, the bait is a legitimate-looking site, e-mail or file and when you take a bite, your identity, banking information and much more can be revealed and stolen.

Some phishing attempts are incredibly obvious, others are super elaborate. Like with most types of malware, cybercriminals have become extremely well-versed in phishing and anyone can fall for it. To help you recognize and avoid it, we’ll take you through a couple of phishing types and give you tips on what to do if faced with them.

Phishing techniques

E-mail phishing

This is actually the most common type of phishing. A cybercriminal creates an e-mail containing stuff like attractive offers, legitimate-looking attachments or links and makes it appear as though it’s coming from a trusted source.

For example, it looks like it’s coming from your bank or your favorite retailer. The logo looks legit and the structure of the e-mail seems familiar, so you might get tricked into clicking on whatever clickable content is in it.

Unfortunately this exposes your device to malware that hands your data off to the hacker, who can decide what to do with it further.

SMS and social media phishing

Like the above example, you could be approached with lucrative offers or links via text messages or social media messages. Typically, the messages seem relevant to the user as they will be made to look like they’re related to apps or services you’re using.

Voice phishing

Voice phishing attacks are schemes that appear as though they’re coming from a credible number. Normally, you’ll get a call about something related to credit cards or taxes to get you into a state of worry, leading you to disclose personal information on the phone.

Spear phishing, whaling and BEC

Spear phishing normally targets specific individuals within a company who are likely to have access to sensitive data. Spear phishers spend time collecting information they can use to reach out to the individual looking as trustworthy as possible. They’ll typically lead with something relevant, for example mentioning an upcoming company event, and make a seemingly legitimate request.

Whaling is a more elaborate form of spear phishing, which targets people in even stronger positions such as executives or high-value individuals. The ultimate goal is to get them to transfer financial or other sensitive information that can be used to compromise the entire business.

BEC, or Business e-mail compromise, is a specific spear phishing technique carried out via e-mail. While there are many ways this is done, most commonly you’ll see instances where the phisher poses as a CEO or similar executive, or as a lower-level employee in specific positions (e.g. sales managers or financial controllers).

In the first situation, the impersonator reaches out to employees requesting them to transfer certain files or pay invoices. In the second situation, the phisher takes control of the employee’s e-mail account and sends false instructions to other employees in order to obtain data and information from them.

What can you do?

There are many ways you can be aware and spot a phishing attempt. Here are some tips:

• Always check the sender’s address in your e-mails, even when they seem to come from a familiar source.
• In any instance where payment information is requested, be very, very careful.
• If you are receiving attachments you never asked for and definitely didn’t expect, better not click on them. 
• Beware of content that transmits a sense of urgency (sales deals, urgent updates to login credentials, etc.).
• Bad spelling and grammar are usually a telltale sign of phishing.
• Links that look shortened (e.g. Bit.ly) or just suspicious in general - if you have a bad feeling, do not click on them.
• If you are receiving threats, you probably shouldn’t be clicking on anything in that message.
• Always examine first-time senders in detail.
• Block suspicious e-mail addresses, numbers and social media accounts.
• If you are receiving a coupon for free stuff… You aren’t.
• If you’re being asked to update your payment details by a service you use, such as Netflix, chances are it’s an impersonator.

Those are some of the ways to identify and prevent phishing attacks. However, sometimes phishers disguise themselves a little too well or a misclick happens and there you go - you’ve been exposed to malware.

This won’t happen if you invest in powerful protection software from the get-go, though. A good antivirus program like Bitdefender will keep you safe from becoming a victim of phishing scams. In fact, it will protect you from malicious attacks overall.

Be it your household or your business you’re concerned about, there are a bunch of different packages and options available, providing different kinds of cybersecurity services. That’s the only way you can ever really be sure you aren’t at risk of a digital attack.

Summary

Have you ever been targeted by phishers and didn’t know that’s what it was until you read this article? Many can relate. Protect yourself before it’s too late!