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Fix fatal device hardware error on Windows

This post will help you fix the request that failed due to a fatal device hardware error on your Windows 10 PC. You can encounter this error when that hard drive/SSD on your computer is damaged physically and the system is either unable to access or perform read/write operations in it. Aside from hard drive/SSD, this error can also happen to removable drives.

This kind of error is not uncommon and in most cases, the hardware is physically damaged due to which you are not able to perform operations. However, there are a couple of fixes that you can try to resolve the problem before you go ahead and back up your data and move them to a different drive. What exactly causes this error? It’s actually self-explanatory and it gives you an idea that the drive is either corrupted or in a bad state. To resolve the error, follow the given options below carefully and see which one worked best for you.

Option 1 – Verify the hard drive using SMART attributes

In case you don’t know, Windows has a built-in feature of SMART analysis which analyzes the hard drive/SSD and checks all the parameters by performing some minor operations. To use it, follow these steps:

  • Tap the Win + S keys and type “command prompt” in the field then right-click on the related search result and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • After opening Command Prompt as admin, type the “wmic diskdrive get status” command and hit Enter.
  • You should get a result after that, and if you see that it’s “normal”, proceed to the next option below.

Option 2 – Use the CHKDSK utility

When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. This error check utility can help with several issues in the system.

  • Tap the Win + S keys to open the Search box.
  • Then type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening an elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:

CHKDSK [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]]

Note: In the command given above, “[/F]” will try to fix the system errors while “[/R]” will be the one to fix the bad sectors.

  • Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your PC, just tap Y and reboot your PC.
  • If CHKDSK is not able to find any errors, tap the Win + E keys and navigate the access window. From there, right-click on the concerned drive and click on Properties.
  • After opening Properties, click on the tab Tools and then click on the “Check” button under the Error-checking section.
  • Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.

Option 3 – Format your drive

You can try formatting your drive since this problem also occurs on removable hard drives. In addition, if your drive is not properly initialized, this error will really pop up. Thus, you need to make sure that the hard drive is initialized and that the correct partition style is selected.

  • To get started formatting your drive, tap the Win + E keys and then go to the access page of the drive.
  • Next, right-click on the drive and select Format.
  • After that, uncheck the “Quick Format” option and then format your drive properly.
  • Now once the formatting process is finished, unplug the drive and plug it back in afterward.
  • Check if the error is already fixed. If the drive is not initialized, tap the Win + R keys and hit Enter.
  • After opening the Run dialog box, type “diskmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Disk Management.
  • From there, right-click on the drive volume and select Initialize Disk.
  • Next, select the correct partition type and proceed.

That should fix the problem, if not, follow the next advanced option below.

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Gaming has come a long way since its infant days and grown from spending some free time between coding to full e-sport events watched worldwide. As have some basic peripherals been upgraded like gaming keyboards and gaming mouse so have headsets been receiving similar treatments. In today's article, we are presenting you with some of the best headsets specifically designed and made for gaming purposes. If you are looking for headphones for music listening look elsewhere, these bad boys are all made for replicating precise audio positioning and similar technology specifically tailored for games.

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Razer Blackshark V2

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Logitech G Pro X

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SteelSeries Arctis Pro

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HyperX Cloud Stinger

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Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT

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Xbox Wireless Headset

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Razer Kaira Pro

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SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless

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Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero

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HyperX Cloud Alpha

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Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2

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Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2

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Razer Barracuda X

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Downloading skin

Once you have chosen desired skin and while on the skin details page, scroll to the middle of the page just above the Related Skins sections with two options: Direct Download and External Download. Now usually I would recommend Direct download but in this case, I would advise going with External Download for the simple reason that the External link will send you to the developer's website where there is a higher chance to get the latest updated skin.

Installing it in Steam

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Option 2 – Try to update or rollback or uninstall the Network Adapter drivers

You might also want to update, roll back or disable your Network drivers to fix the “This operation failed as no adapter is in the state permissible for this operation” error.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “devmgmt.msc” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
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  • After that, restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the netio.sys Blue Screen error.

Option 3 – Try to run the Network Adapter troubleshooter

To run the Network Troubleshooter, refer to these steps:
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  • 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 4 – Try to reset the Network

You might perform a Network Reset to resolve the problem if none of the three given options above worked. This will reset the entire network configuration including your IP address. To perform Network Reset, follow these steps:
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  • 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.
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Switching to Dark mode in Windows 11

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  • After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.
If performing System Restore didn’t help in fixing the problem, then try the two given options below.

Option 1 – Try fixing the Proxy Settings

  • In the Cortana search box, search for Internet Explorer and then click on the related search result.
  • After that, tap the Win + T keys on your keyboard and click on Internet Options.
  • Next, navigate to the Connections tab and click on LAN Settings.
  • Then click on the Advanced button and delete all the entries in the list generated in the Exceptions section. And if the Advanced button is disabled because the “Use a proxy server for your LAN (These settings will not apply to dial-up or VPN connections)” option is disabled then you are good to go. Now proceed to the next step.
  • Tap the Win + X keys or right-click on the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) or you could also search for “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • If a User Account Control appears, click on Yes to proceed. After that, type each one of the commands listed below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type each one of them.
    • netsh winhttp reset proxy
    • net stop wuauserv
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  • Now restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not by checking for Windows Updates again.

Option 2 – Try setting up Automatically Detect the connection settings

  • Type in “internet options” in the Cortana search box and then click on the related search result.
  • After that, navigate to the Connections tab.
  • Next, click on the LAN Settings button located under the Local Area Network (LAN) settings section.
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  • Now restart your computer to apply the changes made successfully.
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Option 1 – Try running the nvcplui.exe file as an administrator

  • Tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer and navigate to this path: C:/Program Files/NVIDIA Corporation/Control Panel/Client
  • After that, look for the exe file and right-click on it, and then select the Run as administrator option.
  • Next, select Yes if a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears.

Option 2 – Try to restore the most recent version of the folder

The next thing you can do to fix the error is to restore the most recent version of the folder where the nvcplui.exe file is located. Keep in mind that this option is tricky so you have to be careful.
  • Tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
  • Next, navigate to this path: C:/ProgramData/NVIDIA DRS
  • From there, right-click on the DRS folder and select Properties.
  • After that, go to the Previous Versions, System Protection, or System Restore tab in the Properties window.
  • Now restore the most recent version of the contents inside that folder. This will revert the old working configuration of DRS.

Option 3: Restart the process of the NVIDIA Control Panel

  • Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
  • After opening the Task Manager, look for the process named NVIDIA Control Panel Application.
  • Once you found it, expand it and right-click on the NVIDIA Control Panel sub-process, and click on End Task.
  • Now try opening the NVIDIA Control Panel from the Start Menu and see if it now works fine or not.

Option 4: Restart the NVIDIA Display Driver Service

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
  • After opening the Services window, you will see a list of services. From there, look for services named “NVIDIA Display Container LS” and double click on it to open its Properties.
  • Now make sure that the service is Started. If it isn’t, you need to start it, otherwise, you need to Stop it and Start It again. You also have to make sure that the Startup Type is set to Automatic.
  • Do the same for the NVIDIA LocalSystem Container service.
  • Restart your computer and check if the problem’s fixed.

Option 5– Try updating the drivers from the official site of NVIDIA

If both the first and second given options didn’t work, you can also try updating the drivers from the official NVIDIA website. And in case you don’t know the type of Nvidia graphics card that your computer is on, follow the steps below:
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  • Next type in “dxdiag” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
  • From there, you can see what type of Nvidia graphics card that your system is on.
  • Take note of your graphics card information and then look for the best drivers for your operating system. Once you’ve downloaded and installed the file, restart your PC.
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BringMeSports is a browser extension developed by Mindspark Inc. that lets you watch live sports streams, follow sports scores, and catch up on the latest news from the sports world. BringMeSports installs an extension into your browser that replaces your default home page with the MyWebSearch starting page, it also replaces your default search engine, shows additional ads, and while running, collects personal and web browsing data that is later sent back to be Sold / Forwarded to serve ads. While browsing the internet with this extension installed, you will see additional ads and sponsored links appear in your search results. It may even show pop-up ads. Several anti-virus scanners have marked this extension as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a type of unwanted software, commonly a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in web browser’s settings. Browser hijacker malware is created for many different reasons. The idea would be to force users to visit particular websites that are trying to increase their website visitor traffic and produce higher ad income. Although it might appear naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and therefore always regarded as security risks. Browser hijackers can even allow other harmful programs without your knowledge to further damage your personal computer.

Signs of browser hijack

There are various symptoms of browser hijacking. Here are a few of them: 1. you notice unauthorized changes to your Internet browser’s homepage 2. you find re-directed to websites you never meant to visit 3. the default search engine is changed and the web browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge 4. you’re finding new toolbars you have never seen before 5. you observe numerous ads pop up on the browsers or computer screen 6. your web browser gets slow, buggy crashes frequently 7. you are blocked to access those sites of computer security solution providers.

Precisely how browser hijacker infects computers

Browser hijackers attack computer systems through malicious email attachments, downloaded infected computer files, or by going to infected internet sites. They could also come from add-on programs, also called browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions, or toolbars. A browser hijacker could also be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware, and pirated programs. Common examples of browser hijackers include CoolWebSearch, Conduit, Coupon Server, OneWebSearch, RocketTab, Snap.do, Delta Search, and Searchult.com. The existence of any browser hijacker malware on your computer might drastically diminish the web browsing experience, track your online activities that result in troublesome privacy concerns, create system stability problems and eventually cause your computer to slow down or to a practically unusable state.

How you can remove browser hijackers

Some hijackers could be removed by deleting the free software they were included with or by removing any extension you have recently added to your system. Having said that, many hijackers are quite tenacious and need specialized tools to eliminate them. And there’s no denying the very fact that the manual fixes and removal methods can certainly be a complicated job for a novice PC user. Also, there are plenty of risks associated with fiddling around with the system registry files.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Anti-Malware?

Every malware is bad and the consequences of the damage could vary based on the specific kind of malware. Certain malware variants alter internet browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS configurations. In these instances, you will be unable to visit certain or all of the websites, and therefore unable to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this, odds are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download or install Safebytes Anti-Malware software on your system. Although this type of issue will be difficult to circumvent, there are a few actions you can take.

Install in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you could change Windows settings, uninstall or install some programs, and remove hard-to-delete malware. If the malicious software is set to load automatically when the computer starts, switching to this particular mode may prevent it from doing so. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the PC is starting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can try to install your antivirus software application without the hindrance of the malware. After installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of most standard infections.

Utilize an alternate internet browser to download the anti-malware application

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a particular browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. The most effective way to overcome this issue is to select a web browser that is renowned for its security features. Firefox comprises built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you safe online. Create a portable anti-malware for removing viruses Another option is to create a portable anti-malware program onto your USB stick. To run anti-virus using a USB flash drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC. 2) Insert the USB drive on the same system. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, which has a .exe file format. 4) Select the drive letter of the pen drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you want to install the anti-malware. Do as instructed on the screen to complete the installation process. 5) Transfer the flash drive from the uninfected PC to the infected PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the flash drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove malware automatically.

Protect Your PC & Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to buy anti-malware for your PC, there are lots of brands and packages for you to consider. A few of them do a great job in getting rid of malware threats while some will affect your PC themselves. You need to be careful not to pick the wrong product, especially if you buy a premium program. One of the recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes carries a very good reputation for top-quality service, and clients appear to be very happy with it. Safebytes is among the well-established computer solutions firms, which provide this complete anti-malware application. Using its cutting-edge technology, this application will assist you to eliminate multiples types of malware such as viruses, PUPs, trojans, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers. SafeBytes has got a variety of features that can help you protect your computer from malware attacks and damage. Let’s check out a few of them below: Robust Anti-malware Protection: With a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection which is intended to catch and get rid of viruses and malware which are hidden deep in your computer system. Active Protection: SafeBytes provides real-time active checking and protection against all known viruses and malware. It’ll continuously monitor your laptop or computer for hacker activity and also provides users with superior firewall protection. “Fast Scan” Abilities: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5 times faster than any other anti-malware software. Internet Security: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety score that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you are going to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Lightweight Utility: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly anti-virus and anti-malware solution. Since it utilizes negligible computer resources, this application leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs: with you actually. Premium Support: Support service is available for 24 x 7 x 365 days via email and chats to answer your queries.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove BringMeSports without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised. The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by BringMeSports
Files: C:Program Filesbringmesports_1c chrome extensionbarBringMeSportsCrxSetup.exe C:Program Filesbringmesports_1c chrome extensiont8sql.dll C:Program Filesbringmesports_1c chrome extensionBringMeSportsCrxSetup.exe C:Program Filesbringmesports_1c chrome extensionBringMeSportsCrxSetup.05F72CDF-5595-450B-9BAB-B1F6C606AAEC.exe C:Program Filesbringmesports_1c chrome extensionBringMeSportsCrxSetup.1E4C7E0D-19E7-4C18-ADB3-3D45FC4BE84C.exe C:Program Filesbringmesports_1c chrome extensionBringMeSportsCrxSetup.85D40F0D-233C-463F-8BAB-F6D446902D65.exe C:Program Filesbringmesports_1c chrome extensionBringMeSportsCrxSetup.A94A3339-330B-4B96-B05A-B909E6BB85A1.exe C:Program Filesbringmesports_1c chrome extensionBringMeSportsCrxSetup.EEE1FB37-85E3-49E8-BC44-36CC97CE3B73.exe C:Program Filesbringmesports_1c chrome extensionsqlite3.dll C:Program Files (x86)BringMeSports_1cEI C:Program Files (x86)BringMeSports_1c C:Users%USERNAME%AppDataLocalBringMeSports_1c C:Users%USERNAME%AppDataLocalIAC C:Users%USERNAME%AppDataLocalLowBringMeSports_1cEI C:Users%USERNAME%AppDataLocalLowBringMeSports_1c C:Users%USERNAME%AppDataRoamingMozillaFirefoxProfilesXXX.defaultextensionscffxtbr@BringMeSports_1c.com C:Users%USERNAME%AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUserDataDefaultExtensionsllkjooekcinmdmojmfdjhidbakfpepod Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: F653D037-97FA-4755-98C1-7F382EEB59A7 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: CC53BD19-7B23-43B0-AB7C-0E06C708CCED HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: 002D1BA6-4766-4D7D-82B8-F49439C66F97 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar, value: cc53bd19-7b23-43b0-ab7c-0e06c708cced HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar, value: cc53bd19-7b23-43b0-ab7c-0e06c708cced HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApprovedbc61ca7a-6b81-47ec-b62d-ae1a236cadb9 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved82c7004a-078e-468c-9c0f-2243618ff7cb HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved6285c254-4465-4f8b-a009-5f42ab02c291 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApprovedA8CC25D-66FF-41DF-B3B4-416079EF8F87 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objectsf653d037-97fa-4755-98c1-7f382eeb59a7 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objects02d1ba6-4766-4d7d-82b8-f49439c66f97 HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApprovedf0c8ccc2-baaa-4236-ad0a-22b5a401b9ef HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApprovedA8CC25D-66FF-41DF-B3B4-416079EF8F87 HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objectsf653d037-97fa-4755-98c1-7f382eeb59a7 HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objects02d1ba6-4766-4d7d-82b8-f49439c66f97 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicyfa460720-7b38-421d-981c-66f0ae288fb9 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicya2b4da91-a53c-4a84-b486-40080de13a9b HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy89b7ae32-9c52-41d6-a64d-14d7bdec9c58 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy32a63172-5bcc-4d7e-9fe8-072eee6c287e HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicya2b4da91-a53c-4a84-b486-40080de13a9b HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy89b7ae32-9c52-41d6-a64d-14d7bdec9c58 HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy32a63172-5bcc-4d7e-9fe8-072eee6c287e HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy1856a7bd-de8c-488b-aa7a-5682d13166fc HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerLow RightsElevationPolicy164ea1fc-b0a0-4202-8c65-e4ba4d54a3ae HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStatsF653D037-97FA-4755-98C1-7F382EEB59A7 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStatsCC53BD19-7B23-43B0-AB7C-0E06C708CCED HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettingsCC53BD19-7B23-43B0-AB7C-0E06C708CCED HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings02D1BA6-4766-4D7D-82B8-F49439C66F97 HKEY_CURRENT_USERWow6432NodeMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchScopes8c9ef753-beb6-4582-b653-93ac59274437 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchScopes8c9ef753-beb6-4582-b653-93ac59274437 HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragebringmesports.com HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragebringmesports.dl.tb.ask.com HKEY_CURRENT_USERBringMeSports HKEY_CURRENT_USERMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragebringmesports.dl.myway.com HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEHKEY_CURRENT_USER[APPLICATION]MicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall..Uninstaller BringMeSports_1cbar Uninstall Internet Explorer BringMeSports_1cbar Uninstall Firefox BringMeSportsTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
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Truth about private and incognito browsing
Privacy is a hot topic lately in all circles so naturally themes like private or incognito browsing pop up immediately as discussion topics. Naturally, when discussing private or incognito browsing it is very important to understand what exactly private or incognito browsing is, what does it do and how it works in order to shed some light on is it really private and safe as we are told. So, when you browse the internet normally websites have tendencies to save your browsing data, save cookies, remember passwords, etc in order to provide you with a better surfing experience next time you visit that same site. Private or incognito browsing treats you as a completely new user which is the first time visiting a given website. It clears all your data, including your browsing history, cookies, etc., on exiting. Every website you visit in private or incognito mode treats you as a new visitor, even if you have visited it before in incognito mode. And basically, that's it. So is it really private? No, it is just a non-remembering mode of internet browsing where after your browsing session history and other data is cleared from the browser, but while you are on the internet you are pretty visible to all like any other normal user. There are a lot of misconceptions and wrong thinking about browsing the internet in this mode so let's take a look at some typical ones.
  1. The government and other companies can not track me

    Many people think that the Government cannot trace their identity when they surf privately. This is only a myth. There are many ways by which the Government can reach you if you do something illegal. When you surf online, you are connected with an ISP of your area, which helps the officials track your location.
  2. Virus and other malware can not infect me while in private or incognito mode

    Many people think that private mode protects them from virus and malware attacks. It is not true because malware and viruses can enter your PC through a software download, phishing email, etc. To protect your PC from virus and malware attacks, you should have good security software.
  3. My IP address is hidden when I am in incognito or private browsing mode

    This is not 100% true. If you search “What is my IP” in incognito and standard mode, you will get the same results. This means that websites can view your IP address in private mode also. Using a VPN would be a good option if you want to hide your IP.
  4. I can not be tracked via ads

    Since cookies are deleted after exiting private browsing, many people think that ads cannot track them. When you surf in incognito mode, the browser saves cookies in a temporary mode, allowing ads to track you during your entire private browsing session.
  5. I am not visible when I am in incognito or private

    You may think if you sign in to your Gmail or other social media accounts in private mode, no one will see you online. This is not true. It does not matter whether you have signed into your account in normal mode or incognito mode; others can always spot you online.
In your regular browsing mode, you may have some addons, extensions, themes, etc installed and you can use them. They may track your activities. The data is deleted when you exit the browser. When you use the private browsing mode, the browser is loaded in its original form, typically without the installed addons, extension, themes, etc. The data gets deleted when you exit the browser. This mode doesn’t save data to disk but keeps it in memory during the current session. If you are really concerned about your privacy we have articles about using DuckDuckGo and deep web where you can be sure that your browsing sessions are encrypted.
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How to Turn On or Off Tailored Experiences
In this post, you will be guided on how you can turn on or turn off the Tailored Experiences feature in Windows 10 using three methods – via Settings, Registry Editor, and Group Policy Editor. The Tailored Experiences feature in Windows 10 helps Microsoft in delivering recommendations about Microsoft Products. The diagnostic data that comes with it allows Microsoft to know about its consumers’ experiences as well as collect feedback. To simply put it, tailored experiences are personalized tips, ads, and recommendations that enhance Microsoft products and services for consumer needs. And when you enable this feature, Windows will collect information from your browser, apps, features, and many more. After collecting information, it will offer contents that are tailored based on the data gathered on the lock screen of your computer, Windows tips, and other related functions. On the other hand, the diagnostic data is the one that allows Microsoft to get feedback from the customer. So if you’ve noticed some prompts when you use Windows that ask you about the experience, that’s actually a part of the diagnostic data. A lot of users find this feature useful. However, there are also skeptical ones that don’t share the same sentiments. If you are one of the skeptical ones, you actually have the option to turn this feature off if you do not want Microsoft to show ads, recommendations, and so on. It is also recommended that you enable the Diagnostic Data collection as you can choose to delete any collected data, as well as control the feedback frequency from Automatic to Once a day, or once a week, or to never. As mentioned, there are three methods you can choose from to either turn on or turn off Tailored Experiences. You can do it via Settings, Registry Editor, and the Group Policy Editor. To get started, follow the options provided below.

Option 1 – via Settings

To turn on or off Tailored Experiences using Settings, refer to these steps:
  • Go to Settings and here, click on Privacy.
  • Next, go to Diagnostic and Feedback.
  • From there, toggle off the control under the Tailored experiences option to turn it off or toggle it on, if you want to turn it on.

Option 2 – via Registry Editor

To turn on or off Tailored Experiences via Registry Editor, follow the steps below.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPrivacy
  • After that, look for the DWORD named “TailoredExperiencesWithDiagnosticDataEnabled” and change its value to 0 if you want to turn it off or 1 if you want to turn it on.

Option 3 – via Group Policy Editor

To turn on or off Tailored Experiences using the Group Policy Editor, here’s what you have to do:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run prompt and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this policy setting: User ConfigurationAdminstrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsCloud Content
  • Here, double click on the “Do not use diagnostic data for tailored experiences” option and select Enabled. Once you do that, you will see the following description:
“This policy setting lets you prevent Windows from using diagnostic data to provide tailored experiences to the user. If you enable this policy setting, Windows will not use diagnostic data from this device (this data may include browser, app, and feature usage, depending on the “diagnostic data” setting value) to customize the content shown on the lock screen, Windows tips, Microsoft consumer features, and other related features. If these features are enabled, users will still see recommendations, tips, and offers, but they may be less relevant. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Microsoft will use diagnostic data to provide personalized recommendations, tips, and offers to tailor Windows for the user’s needs and make it work better for them. This setting does not control Cortana tailored experiences, since there are separate policies to configure it.”
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