Fix ERR TUNNEL CONNECTION FAILED error

If you suddenly encounter Activation Error codes such as 0xC004E016, 0xC004F210, 0xC004F034, and 0xC004F00F on your Windows 10 computer, then they all point to the same issue – Invalid Product Key or Version mismatch. When you see any of the aforementioned error codes above, it indicates that you are either entering a wrong product key or you are using an incorrect ISO when installing it on your computer. In such cases, you may see either of the following error messages:

“You are running Windows 10 Pro, but you have a valid digital license for Windows 10 Home.” Or: “The specified product key is invalid or is unsupported by this version.”

If you got the error code 0xC004F00F then it means that you’ve entered a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows to activate Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home. It could be that you have a key from your work and you accidentally use it on your Home PC. If you got the error codes 0xC004E016, 0xC004F210, then it means that you have entered a product key that is meant for a different edition or version of Windows. On the other hand, if you got the error code 0xC004F034 instead, then it means that you have entered an invalid product key or a product key for a different Windows version. Whichever error codes you have, refer to the possible solutions given below to fix the Invalid Product Key or Version mismatch Activation Error in Windows 10.

Option 1 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

The first thing you can do to resolve this Activation error is to run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter. To do so, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and then select Activation.
• After that, click on the Windows Activation and then troubleshoot. This will help you address most of the commonly found activation issues in Windows devices.

Option 2 – Try purchasing a new license

There is an exception offered by Microsoft – if you are connected to a Microsoft account prior to the hardware change, then you can most certainly use the same license key to reactivate Windows 10 again. Microsoft calls this an “Exception path” which should be fixed easily by the Windows Activation Troubleshooter as pointed out earlier. However, if the Windows Activation Troubleshooter isn’t able to resolve the error you can try purchasing a new license. In such rate case, even if you do have a Microsoft account available on your Windows 10 computer, and if Windows was never activated, this solution will not work. And if you haven’t connected your Microsoft account with your Windows 10 computer prior to the major hardware change, then your only option left is to purchase a new license. For you to do that here are some steps you can follow.

• To purchase a new Windows license, the first thing you have to do is click on the Start button > Settings > Update & Security.
• From there, go to Activation and select the “Go to Microsoft Store” option.
• After receiving your new license, you need to go back to Update & Security then go to Activation and select the “Change product key” option.
• Now update your Windows 10 computer using the new key and it should automatically activate your computer.
• Next, you have to create a Microsoft account or connect to your existing local account to your online account.
• Once the system links the key and the account, you need not buy a new license in case something like this happens again.

Note: If you are an IT administrator, you need to keep in mind that there is a limit to the number of times you can reactivate Windows on your computer. Moreover, if you don’t see any option to reactivate the license, and it is a work computer, you need to contact your organization’s tech support.

Option 3 – Try activating Windows 10 via mobile phone

Activating Windows 10 can also be done using your phone. Just note that you have to call Microsoft to do so.

• In the Start Search box, type in “Slui 4” and tap Enter.
• Next, select your country and click on Next.
• Keep the window open and call the toll-free number of the country you’re from.
• Afterward, a confirmation ID should be given by the automated system which you must take a note of.
• Finally, in the box on the window, type in the confirmation ID and click on the Activate button. That should do it.

When it comes to booting an operating system on a computer, one of the most essential pieces of software you can use is the UEFI. In fact, a lot of users now prefer to use UEFI instead of BIOS. It also depends on whether the UEFI or the BIOS is supported on the motherboard. Recently, a number of users reported an issue with UEFI where they were unable to find it under the Advanced Options screen where it’s supposed to be located. The missing UEFI Firmware settings in the Advanced Options could be caused by several reasons. It is possible that the access to the UEFI menu is blocked or it could also be due to the Extra Fast Startup feature being enabled. It is also possible that the operating system is installed in Legacy mode. There are several options to try to fix this issue. You need to check if your computer supports UEFI or you could also try to disable Fast Startup or bypass the Extra Fast Startup feature. You can also use a boot to UEFI shortcut as well as check the CMOS battery.

Option 1 – Try checking if your computer supports UEFI

The first thing you have to do is to verify if your computer supports UEFI. If your computer does not support UEFI, then it’s no wonder why you don’t see the UEFI Firmware settings in the Advanced Options.

Option 2 – Try turning off Fast Startup

• First, boot your computer in Safe Mode.
• Once your computer is booted in Safe Mode, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in “control” to open the Control Panel.
• Next, click on the Hardware and Sound section and click on Power Options.
• Afterward, select the “Choose what the power buttons do” option from the left side menu pane.
• Now click on Change settings that are currently unavailable and uncheck the entry that says, “Turn on fast startup (Recommended)”.
• Then click on Save Changes and restart your computer and see if it has fixed the problem or not.

Option 3 – Try bypassing the Extra Fast Startup feature

As mentioned, the missing UEFI Firmware settings could be due to the Extra Fast Startup feature. To fix it, you have to disable this feature. All you have to do is tap and hold the Shift key and click on the Shutdown button from the Start button. This will boot your PC with the UEFI booting from the beginning and then use the hotkey for your motherboard to boot into the UEFI setup.

Option 4 – Try using a boot to UEFI shortcut

• Right-click on any empty space on your Desktop and select New > Shortcut.
• This will open a new mini window. And here, you have to type this in the text field: shutdown /r /fw
• After that, click on Next and name the desktop shortcut and then click on Finish.
• Next, right-click on the newly created shortcut and select Properties.
• Click on the Advanced button and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• Now click OK to save the changes made. Each time you execute this shortcut, your computer will automatically be booted to the UEFI Firmware Settings.

Option 5 – Try to check the CMOS battery

Another thing you can do is check the CMOS battery physically on the motherboard and see if it has to be replaced since a damaged CMOS battery can also cause the issue with the missing UEFI Firmware settings.

Option 6 – Set your computer from Legacy to UEFI

If applicable, you can try to set your computer from Legacy to UEFI to resolve the problem.

• In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that, execute this command: mbr2gpt.exe /convert /allowfullOS
• Now, wait until the process is completed since you can track its process on your screen.
• Once it’s done, go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Startup options and from there, click on Restart Now. This will restart your computer and give you advanced options.
• Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options where you will see further options including System Restore, Startup Repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery, and UEFI Firmware Settings.
• Now select the UEFI Firmware Settings. This will take you to the BIOS. Boot Mode is typically available under Boot > Boot Configuration. Once you’re there, set it to UEFI and then save the changes you’ve made. After that, your computer will restart.

There are times when you encounter some issues while your Windows 10 computer. One of the errors you can encounter in the update process is the “Something went wrong, error code 0x8007042B”. This kind of error might be caused by several reasons and it could also pop up in lots of cases like upgrading to a new feature update or a new build using the Media Creation tool or Windows Update Assistant. There are times when the Windows Update error code 0x8007042B is followed by another error code like 0x2000d. Whatever the extra error code that follows, the core issue still remains the same. To resolve the problem, here are some options that could help. And while going over these troubleshooting tips, you have to keep clicking the Update button right after you carry out a troubleshooting option.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Background Intelligent Transfer Service

The Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS is a part of the Windows Update service and is the one that manages the background download of Windows Update, as well as scans for new updates and so on. And if Windows Update is experiencing some problems, you can try restarting BITS but make sure that you have admin privileges to do so.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Windows Services.
• From the list of Services, look for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and double-click on it to open Properties.
• After that, you need to set the Startup type to “Automatic (Delayed Start) and click on Apply.
• Now click the Stop button to stop BITS and then click the Start button to restart the service.
• Click OK to save the changes made and then restart your PC.

Option 2 – Try creating Windows 10 ISO media

In this option, you will have to create a Windows 10 bootable media and use it to install the latest Windows 10 version. The most user reported that this option works and the reason why it does have something to do with the Windows Update client since the Windows Updates downloaded from the regular Windows Update client seems to create issues such as the Windows Update error code 0x8007042B. However, issues like this one don’t occur when the very same Windows Updates are downloaded and installed via an ISO file. Take note that when using a Windows ISO file, you will be asked to choose what you want to do with the previous settings and apps. A lot of users opted for the “Not to keep the old Windows settings” option which has resolved the issue. So if you want to keep the previous settings then you must try to update Windows first while keeping the old settings. However, if it doesn’t work, you have to try installing the latest version of Windows without keeping the previous settings.

• Click this link and then click the Download Tool Now button.
• Next, click the “Use the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file)…” option and follow the next given instructions on the screen.
• Now select the ISO file option in step 5.
• After that, you should now have an ISO file.
• Next, go to the location where you’ve downloaded the ISO file.
• Then right-click on the Windows 10 ISO file and select the Open with option and then select File Explorer.
• Now click on “setup.exe” and follow the next instructions that appear on the screen. When asked, you have to select either the Nothing (clean install) or the Keep personal files only option. Take note that you must not select the “Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings since it doesn’t really work.

Option 3 – Run the DISM tool

You can run the DISM tool as well to help fix the error code 0x8007042B during Windows Update. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.

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

Option 4 – Perform a System File Checker scan

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the Windows Update Error 0x8007042B 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 with 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.

Option 5 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing Windows Update Error 0x8007042B. 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. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 6 – Contact Microsoft Support for assistance

If you’re at your wits’ end in trying to update your Windows 10 computer, you should consider contacting Microsoft Support for help as they can offer you various options that would make fixing Windows Update Error 0x8007042B a lot easier and faster.

Error Code 0x8007007e – What is it?

Error code 0x8007007e occurs in Windows 8 or 8.1 when users attempt to, but fail to successfully use Windows Update. When this occurs, Windows 8 or 8.1 users will not be able to access updates or certain web pages. This error manifests itself via the following common symptoms:

• Inability to complete tasks via Windows Update
• Message box displaying error code 0x8007007e message

Solution

Error Causes

Error code 0x8007007e is usually caused by a malfunction within your system. This malfunction may be due to several issues such as malware on your device, or the accidental removal of a registry entry or system file.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To correct issues related to error code 0x8007007e in Windows 8.1, users may need to employ one or several manual repair methods. Users will not necessarily need technical skills to accomplish this task. However, if you are uncertain of your skills or you are unable to resolve the issue after completing the tasks below, consult a Windows repair technician or use an automated tool.

Method one: System File Checker

System File Checker (SFC) enables users to check their system for corrupt or missing system files. You will need to use Command Prompt. To access System File Checker on Windows 8 or 8.1, follow the instructions below.

• Step one: Tap or use the mouse to click Search
• Step two: Type Command Prompt in the Search box
• Step three: Select Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator
• Step four: Type password if prompted by Command Prompt to do so or simply click Allow

Whether you run Windows 8 or 8.1 operating system on your computer, System File Checker will begin to find and repair missing or corrupted system files. If, however, you are unable to successfully complete the task via Command Prompt, repeat the steps above. You may also consider help from a professional or simply move to the next manual repair method listed below.

Method two: Perform a Clean Boot

A Clean Boot will help users determine if error code 0x8007007e in Windows 8.1 is caused by a problem associated with startup programs. Problems may arise when there is conflict among programs that run in the background when users turn on their device. To run a clean boot, follow the steps below:

• Step one: Click the Start button and type msconfig in the search box
• Step two: Click Services tab
• Step three: Click Hide all Microsoft Services box then select Disable All
• Step four: Click Startup tab
• Step five: Select Disable All, then OK
• Step six: Restart the computer then check if you can now update the system

If the Clean Boot is successful, you will be able to successfully update your system without receiving error code 0x8007007e. However, if the error code reappears while you attempt to access updates or web pages, proceed to the next manual repair method below.

Method three: Scan for Malware

Since error code 0x8007007e in Windows 8 or 8.1 can be caused by issues related to malware, it’s important for users to check their system using a powerful antivirus or anti-malware software. If you do not have one on your system, you will need to download such software as soon as possible.

Once you have the software on your PC, run a scan to check if your computer has been infected. If malware is indeed on your device, remove it using the anti-malware tool.

Method four: Run System Restore Tool

Another effective manual repair method relates to System Restore. This tool enables Windows users to restore their computer to an earlier period of time in which the error code was not present. When done properly, it can effectively resolve error code 0x8007007e. Before running this tool, however, be sure you select a time in which all important files and programs are present so as not to lose them.

Method Five: Use an Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 8 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

Connapi.dll Error Code - What is it?

Connapi.dll is a type of dynamic link library file. This file contains small programs like any other DLL file and is called to load certain programs on your PC. The Connapi.dll error message occurs either when using or installing programs. This error message is displayed in either of the following messages:

“Connapi.dll Not Found" "This application failed to start because connapi.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem." "The file connapi.dll is missing." "Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: connapi.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again." "Cannot find [PATH]connapi.dll"

Solution

Error Causes

Connapi.dll error may occur due to numerous reasons on your PC. The most common causes include:

• Missing Connapi.dll file
• Corruption of the Connapi.dll file
• Driver Issues
• Viral Infection
• Registry Issues such as bad and invalid entries

This error may hamper your ability to access your desired programs causing you a great deal of inconvenience. And if the underlying cause of the error is related to the registry, then your computer can be at serious risks like system failure and crash.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve Connapi.dll error code on your PC, here is a list of solutions. These are easy, very simple to perform, deliver the best results, and more importantly require no technical expertise.

Solution 1: Check your Recycle Bin - You May Have Deleted the File Accidentally

As dll files are shared files, it is possible that you accidentally deleted the Connapi.dll file while uninstalling a program from your system. In such a situation, go to the recycle bin and look for the file. If you find the missing Connapi.dll file, simply restore it and then try running your desired program again. If the program runs, then the error is resolved. However, if it still persists, then try other solutions given below.

Solution 2: Update the Drivers

Try updating drivers for hardware devices on the system. To do this, go to the start menu and then Control Panel. Double click on Add or Remove programs icon. Now select incompatible drivers and remove them. After that, restart your PC to activate changes. Now go to the manufacturers’ website to download new drivers and install them on your PC.

Solution3: Scan for Viruses

Another solution is to scan for viruses and malware. Sometimes these can also damage and corrupt dll files on your system. To perform a scan, simply download a powerful antivirus program and run it.

Solution 4: Clean and Restore the Registry

If the error code is still there, then this means the problem is triggered by the registry issues. To resolve it you must clean the registry and remove all the unnecessary and obsolete files like junk files, internet history, temporary files, and cookies. The best way to clean these files instantly is to install Restoro. This is an advanced, cutting-edge, and multi-functional PC Fixer. It has a user-friendly interface and is integrated with powerful utilities like a registry cleaner, anti-virus, and a system optimizer. It is compatible with all Windows versions. The registry cleaning feature scans your entire PC in seconds and detects all the registry issues. It removes all the bad registry entries and unnecessary files. Simultaneously, it also fixes the system files and dll files like Connapi.dll. The anti-virus utility removes all types of malicious software on your system while the system optimizer utility ensures your system performs at its optimum speed. To resolve Connapi.dll error, click here to download Restoro.

What is Error 3?

This is a type of Google Chrome update error code. It indicates a failure to communicate with Google update. The error code is displayed in the following format:

‘Update server not available (error: 3)’

Solution

Error Causes

Error 3 may be triggered by several reasons. These include:

• You are running Vista/ 7 and you have configured Google Chrome to run as an administrator
• Google Update is not registered properly
• Registry issues

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best and effective DIY methods to resolve error 3 on your PC without any professional help. You don’t need to be a technical whiz to try these methods.

Method 1

If the reason for the error cause is related to Google Chrome configured as administrator on your PC, then simply run it as a normal user. This is a common issue with Google Chrome auto-updating mechanism.

Method 2

If the problem still persists, then it is advisable to try re-installing Google Chrome. To do this, first, uninstall Google Chrome. Go to the start menu, control panel, and then program and features. Choose Add and Remove Programs and uninstall Google Chrome. To activate changes, reboot your system. Now reinstall Google Chrome by downloading it from Google Chrome’s official website.

Method 3

If error 3 is triggered because Google Chrome is not registered properly, then try this method to fix the issue.

1. First, verify that GoogleUpdate.exe exists in the location specified in the Windows Registry Editor. For this, go to the Start Menu and then type Regedit in the search bar.
2. Now click OK. The registry editor will appear. Now in the tree view on the left, navigate to the following directory:
3. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{2F0E2680-9FF5-43C0-B76E-114A56E93598}LocalServer32
4. Make sure the default value corresponds to the location of your GoogleUpdate.exe or GoogleUpdateOnDemand.exe file. Also, verify that these files are located in the given path.
5. For instance, if they are located in different locations, then right-click the default value and select Modify.
6. Enter the correct file path and use double quotation marks for example "C:\Documents and Settings%USERNAME%Local SettingsApplication DataGoogleUpdateGoogleUpdate.exe(or GoogleUpdateOnDemand.exe)"

Method 4

Error 3 may also pop up because of registry issues. These issues occur when the registry gets overloaded with obsolete and unnecessary files like cookies, internet history, bad entries, and junk files. In such an event, it is advisable to download Restoro This is a user-friendly and cutting-edge PC Fixer embedded with a registry cleaner. The registry cleaner removes all the obsolete files instantly and repairs the damaged registry thereby resolving all errors including error 3. Click here to download Restoro and resolve error 3.

Website breaches and stealing user data is nothing new in the world of the internet. Although a very unpleasant experience it still happens even on some high-quality websites. In this article, we will not focus on how can you not be the target of this kind of attack, because you really cannot. Weel you can kind of if you decide not to have your data on websites at all, but let's just say that is not something you are willing to do.

So, in this case, you have some social, forum, or gaming accounts but you heard that service has been breached and that your email or password might be stolen. Well in this case all you need to do is of course to login into the service and change your password. But, what happens if you are not aware at all that service has been compromised?

Mozilla foundation has asked themselves this same question it seems and they have decided to help us out. They have placed a free online service where you can just by typing in your email address find out if your email or data has been compromised in any way.

Go to https://monitor.firefox.com/ and check it out, if you find out that there is some website that you did not know was breached, change your password right away, and if you have used the same password for anything else (I hope not), change them as well.

Updating your Windows 10 computer isn’t always as easy as it should be since there are times when you might encounter some errors along the way. One of these errors is the error code 0x80246017 that comes with the error message “WU_E_DM_UNAUTHORIZED_LOCAL_USER”. According to Microsoft, the cause of this particular Windows Update error is that “The download failed because the local user was denied authorization to download the content”. So if you got this error when you tried updating your computer, read on as this post will provide you some suggestions on how you can fix it. Before you troubleshoot the problem using the options given below, make sure that you are logged in as administrator. If you are already logged in as an administrator, follow each one of the options carefully.

Option 1 – Try to check the status of some Windows Update Services

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open Services.
• From the list of Services, look for the following services and make sure that their Startup type is as follows:
  • Windows Update – Manual (Triggered)
  • Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual
• After that, check if the Service status of the listed services above is set to Running. If they’re not, click on the Start button to start these services and then check if you can now enable the Windows Update service or not.

Option 2 – Try to grant Full Control of the System Volume Information directory

• First, tap the Win + X key combination and then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the given menu.
• After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, type the following command and tap Enter to execute it:

c md.exe /c takeown /f "C:System Volume Information*" /R /D Y && icacls "C:System Volume Information*" /grant:R SYSTEM:F /T /C /L

• Once the command is executed, it will run a batch of tasks and will show each one of their statuses on the command line window and once they’re done, exit Command Prompt.
• Now restart your computer and see if it fixed the problem or not.

Option 3 – Try to disable your antivirus program or Firewall

Disabling the antivirus program or Firewall or any other security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.

Option 4 – Try running the DISM tool

You can try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool to fix the Windows Update error. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.

• Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• After that, wait until the process is finished and do not close the window as the process will probably take a couple of minutes.
• Once it’s done, restart your computer.

Option 5– Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

If the DISM tool didn’t work in fixing the error, you could also try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing any issues related to Windows Update including the Windows Update error code 0x80246017. 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. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 6 – Run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

Running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter might also help you fix the Windows Update error code 0x80246017. This online troubleshooter is known to help in fixing Windows Update errors, it scans your computer for issues that might be causing the problem and then fixes them automatically.

In any Windows operating system, Safe Mode is definitely a special environment used for troubleshooting issues as well as system diagnostics. Safe Mode allows you to remove any malware in your computer and troubleshoot issues that can’t be fixed when you’re in desktop mode. This is why Microsoft made sure that the Safe Mode option is not available directly and can only be accessed by pressing function keys such as F2, F8 (depends on what PC you are using) or via MSConfig. To make it easier for you to access Safe Mode, this post will guide you on how you can add Safe Mode to the Boot Menu options in Windows 10. As you know, Windows 10 now has Advanced Startup options that allow you to boot directly into Safe Mode without having to restart your PC and then tapping the special key a couple of times. However, if you really have to always use Safe Mode, it’s best to add it in the Boot Menu options. To do that, simply follow the steps below.

• Select Command Prompt (Admin) option from the WinX menu to open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt, type the bcdedit /copy {current} /d "Safe Mode" command and hit Enter.
• Once the command is executed, you will see a message saying, “The entry was successfully copied to {74a93982-9486-11e8-99df-00270e0f0e59}”. This message indicates that Safe Mode was successfully added in the Boot menu option which means that you can now directly access it and boot your Windows 10 PC in that mode.

To check if Safe Mode was really added in the Boot menu options, you have to open Msconfig. From there, you will also have to use it to configure the boot settings for the Safe Mode entry. To do so, follow the given steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “MSConfig” in the field and click OK.
• Next, go to the Boot tab and find the Safe Mode option which should be located under the default Windows 10 mode.
• Afterward, you need to select the Sage boot option and Minimal. You also have to select the Make all boot settings permanent option.
• Make sure to increase the timeout to at least 10 seconds which will ensure that the menu does not disappear right away.

Note: In similar steps as above, you can add the Safe Mode with Networking and Safe Mode with Command Prompt entries as well. Just simply select “Network” for Safe Mode with Networking and “Alternate Shell” for Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Once you’re done adding any of them, click on Apply and restart your PC. In addition, if you wish to remove the entry, you just have to open MSConfig again and select the entry you want to remove, and then click Delete.

Hive ransomware has been targeting Microsoft exchange servers lately vulnerable to ProxyShell security issues in order to deploy various backdoors. Once the backdoor has been placed various attacks can be performed including but not limited to network reconnaissance, stealing admin accounts, taking valuable data, and even installing and deploying file-encrypting algorithms.

ProxyShell wide abuse

ProxyShell is a set of three vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Exchange Server that allows remote code execution without authentication on vulnerable deployments. The flaw has been used in past by various ransomware like Conti, BlackByte, Babuk, Cuba, and LockFile.

Security vulnerabilities have been reported to be fully patched on May 2021 but how Hive was able to still be successful in exploiting PowerShell and infiltrating into the system there seems to be still some unpatched and open issues.

Hive

Hive has gone a long way since it was first observed in the wild back in June 2021, having a successful start that prompted the FBI to release a dedicated report on its tactics and indicators of compromise.

In October 2021, the Hive gang added Linux and FreeBSD variants, and in December it became one of the most active ransomware operations in attack frequency.

Last month, researchers at Sentinel Labs reported on a new payload-hiding obfuscation method employed by Hive, which indicates active development.