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Fix Windows Activation error code 0xC004F078

As you know, Windows 10 has a complicated mechanism for Activation which helps in the verification of a genuine copy of Windows 10. However, there are times when you might encounter some errors during the activation process. One of these errors is the error code 0xc000f074. This kind of error could be due to the Key Management Service or KMS which is unreachable by the client computer or if the key used in the SLSetAuthenticationData function call is incorrect.

This kind of error mostly affects surfaces on computers that are upgraded from either Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. In such cases, you may encounter any of the following error messages:

“Windows is unable to reach your company’s activation service. Please connect to your corporate network. If you are connected and continue to see the error, contact your system administrator. You can also click on the error detail to find the exact error. Error code: 0xC004F074.”

“Activating Windows(R),

(Key hash)…

Error: 0xC004F074 The Software Licensing Service reported that the computer could not be activated. No Key Management Service (KMS) could be contacted.

Please see the Application Event Log for additional information.”

“Error 0xC004F074, SL_E_AUTHN_MISMATCHED_KEY, The Software Licensing Service reported that the key is mismatched.”

To fix the Windows 10 Activation error 0xC004F078, you have to use the correct key for your type of Windows copy or use Command Prompt to reinstall the key or you could also try running the Activation troubleshooter.

Option 1 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

The first thing you can do to resolve the Activation error code 0xc000f074 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.

The Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter will determine if your license key is a valid Windows 10 digital license for an edition that is not currently installed. If it turns out that it’s not, then the troubleshooter will show you how to install the correct edition.

Option 2 – Try to use the correct key for the type of Windows version you have

If the Windows Activation troubleshooter wasn’t able to resolve the error, then you can try using the correct key for your type of Windows version. All you have to do so is check the type of your Windows copy if it’s OEM, retail, or volume. And make sure that you have the correct, valid product key for your operating system.

Option 3 – Try to use Command Prompt to reinstall the key

  • In the Start Search, type “command prompt” and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results, and then select “Run as administrator”.
  • After that, execute this command to uninstall the existing key: vbs /upk
  • Next, you need to install the KMS product key by executing this command: vbs /ipk <The KMS Product Key>
  • Once you’re done, you will see a prompt that’ll tell you whether the operation was either successful or not.
  • To active, the KMS product key online, use this command: vbs /ato
  • Use this command to activate the key using the telephone: exe 4
  • After you’ve activated the KMS product key, restart the Software Protection Service. You can also verify the Activation Status to check if your fix was successful or not.

Option 4 – Contact Microsoft Support for assistance

If you’re at your wits’ end in trying to upgrade your computer, you should consider contacting Microsoft Support for help as they can offer you various options that would make fixing Windows Activation error code 0xc000f074 a lot easier and faster.

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Fix volsnap.sys failed BSOD Error in Windows
The Volsnap.sys is a Windows operating system file that is related to the Volume Shadow Copy Service or VSS. It is known to cause a Blue Screen of Death error. The main cause of the Volsnap.sys Blue Screen errors include conflicts with the RAM, issues with the hard disk, incompatible firmware, corrupted drivers, malware infection, and many more. Despite its many possible causes, its fixes are quite straightforward so won’t have any problem following them. The Blue Screen errors that are related to the Volsnap.sys file are:
  • KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED
  • PAGE FAULT IN A NONPAGED AREA
  • SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED
  • IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL
You might want to try performing System Restore as it could resolve Blue Screen errors like the ones related to the Volsnap.sys before you proceed with the troubleshooting tips given below. To run System Restore, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
  • Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
  • 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 System Restore didn’t help in fixing the Blue Screen error, now’s the time for you to resort to the troubleshooting tips provided below but before you get started, make sure that you create a System Restore point first.

Option 1 – Check if the Volume Shadow Copy service is running and restart it

The first thing you need to do is check if the Volume Shadow Copy service. To do that, refer to the following steps:
  • Click on Start and type “cmd” and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results.
  • Then select the “Run as administrator” option to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After that, type “net stop sdrsvc” and hit Enter to execute the command in stopping the Volume Shadow Copy service.
  • Next, type the “net start sdrsvc” command and hit Enter to start the service again.
Note: You can also restart the service using the Windows Services Manager.
  • In the Cortana search box, type “services” and click on the Services icon to open the Services Manager. Alternatively, you can also tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run prompt and then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Services Manager.
  • From there, look for the Volume Shadow Service (sdrsv) from the list of services. Its Startup type should be set to Manual by default.
  • Restart the service and if you don’t encounter any error while you turn it on, re-run the backup service and see if the backup process runs successfully.

Option 2 – Try checking the Memory for the Errors using Memory Diagnostic Tool

The Memory Diagnostic tool in windows can help resolve the Volsnap.sys Blue Screen error by checking and automatically fixing any memory-based issues. To run it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type mdsched.exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
  • After that, it will give two options such as:
    • Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
    • Check for problems the next time I start my computer
  • Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.
Note: After you select your preferred option, your computer will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them and if there’s no issue found, then it’s most likely not a memory-based issue so you should try the other options given below.

Option 3 – Try to update or rollback your device drivers

If the first option didn’t work for you, then it’s time to either update or rollback the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions. Whichever applies to you, refer to the steps below.
  • Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
  • Then go to the section of IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers as well as Storage Controllers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
  • After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
  • Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
  • Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.
Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer.

Option 4 – Try to run the CHKDSK utility

Running the CHKDSK utility might also help you resolve the Volsnap.sys Blue Screen error. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the CHKDSK utility comes in. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
  • Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
  • Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 5 – Run the System File Checker Scan

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 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
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.
  • Restart your computer.

Option 6 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like Volsnap.sys. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
  • Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  • From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.
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Fix rtf64x64.sys Blue Screen error on Windows
rtf64x64.sys Blue Screen error happens in random intervals but it is a regular occurrence, it can happen when playing games, when watching movies, or even when the computer is idle. in this article we will guide you on how to resolve this error from the most simple steps you could take and do not worry, altho the error seems dreadfully and scary, it is nothing to worry about. If you can boot Windows normally after error great, proceed with instructions, else reboot into safe mode or use installation media to boot.
  1. Use official Microsoft online troubleshooter Microsoft has an online blue screen troubleshooter that was made specifically for this kind of situation. Go to Troubleshoot screen error and answer questions needed. Most of the time this will be enough to solve any blue screen issue.
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An Easy Guide to Fixing Error 115

Error 115 - What is it?

Error 115 is a type of GameGuard redundant execution error.  If you have GameGuard installed on your PC, then you will most likely experience this error code. GameGuard is basically an anti-cheating robot toolkit developed by INCA Internet. It is installed to block possibly malicious applications and common methods of cheating on multiplayer online role-playing games. But at the same time, this software is infamous for error pop-ups. Error 115 is displayed on the Windows screen when a game has been executed multiple times or you have left the game running without logging out. Error 115 is displayed in the following format:
GameGuard Execute Error: 115 ‘There are multiple events of game execution or GameGuard is already running. Close the game then try again.’

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

The error 115 may appear on your Windows screen due to multiple reasons. These include:
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  • Antivirus Conflict
  • Firewall Conflict
  • Registry Overloaded with Bad and Invalid Entries
This error may cause a great deal of inconvenience to you if you love to play multi-player role-playing games over the web like Blood Feud, 9Dragons, Phantasy Star Universe, and Alliance of Valiant Arms. To avoid such inconvenience, it is advisable to fix this error immediately.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some easy do-it-yourself methods to resolve the error 115 on your PC. These methods require no technical expertise.

Method 1 - Terminate the Game Already Running on Your System

To resolve the issue, hit ‘Ctrl+Shift+Esc’ to launch Task Manager. Here you will find a list of applications running on your system, terminate the gaming application to resolve error 115.  If this doesn’t work, then restart your PC.

Method 2 - Disable Antivirus Programs or Firewall Temporarily

Sometimes this error may appear on your computer screen because of antivirus or Firewall security conflict. These programs often block gaming applications and software like GameGuard and because of that, you are unable to play online games on your system. To fix the issue, try disabling these programs on your PC temporarily.

Method 3 - Clean and Repair the Registry

The error 115 may also occur because of the registry issue with Symantec. Follow these steps to enable the game to run:
  • Go to your start menu then find Run then write Regedit.
  • Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. To proceed, go to SYSTEM then CurrentControlSet, and then Services.
  • Look in the list for SysPlant and click it. Then look for the word 'Start', right-click on Start, and select rename.
  • Rename 'start' to 'DWORD: 00000004’ then close Regedit and reboot your PC to activate changes.

Method 4 - Download and Run Total System Care.

This process can be slightly tricky and a bit time-consuming. Therefore it is advisable to download Restoro. This is a cutting-edge, easy-to-use PC Fixer deployed with a powerful registry cleaner. It removes all the unnecessary files cluttering the registry like bad and invalid registry entries. It fixes the damaged registry and enables it to resume back to its normal functioning. Click here to download Restoro.
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How to Fix msrtn32.exe error or high CPU usage
If your Windows 10 computer slows down, the first thing you can do is to check the status of the resource usage in the Task Manager. In such cases, it shoots up to even 1000% which causes the system to either hang or freeze since some programs are using a major chunk of system resources. And this is the case with msrtn32.exe. Msrtn32.exe is a malicious file that may try to steal your digital currency. It can get installed on your computer when you install a browser plugin or extension that can modify the default settings of browsers, the content of web pages, search results, as well as display tons of intrusive ads. So if you see msrtn32.exe under the Processes tab of the Task Manager If you see msrtn32.exe under the Processes tab of your Task Manager, refer to the suggestions given below to get rid of it and restore your computer’s normal function. Before you proceed, take note that this executable file is found in the following location:
C:/Program Files(x86)msrtn32

Option 1 – Delete the folder where msrtn32.exe is located

The first thing you can do is to go to C:/Program Files(x86)/msrtn32. From there, look for the malicious executable file and delete its folder. If you are not able to delete the folder, make sure that you’re logged in as administrator and then try again.

Option 2 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

Since you are dealing with a malicious file, if you weren’t able to delete the folder where the file is located, you can scan your computer using the built-in Windows Defender program and then eliminate the malicious file. Follow the steps below to do so:
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
  • Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
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Malware Guide: How to Remove BitCoinMiner

What is BitCoinMiner Malware?

BitCoinMiner is a Malware created with the intent to force computer systems to generate crypto-currency, namely Bitcoin. This is done without the consent and knowledge of a computer/system holder. This unwanted file bears no digital signature or publisher since the creators of such a heinous invention do not wish to be known. Technical details about BitCoinMiner Malware include:
Product Version: 1.0.0.0 Original File Name: crss.exe Entry Point:  0x000C5AAE

Assessment of BitCoinMiner Malware

After installation of the BitCoinMiner Malware, there were no visible signs of an infection or program files installed. However, based on research, BitcoinMiner Malware utilizes the CPU’s resources (est. to be about 50%). Computer users have reported that they recognized an unknown process utilizing the majority of their processing space. the bitcoin miner is used by the creators to penetrate a user’s system, in effect coercing each infected system to mine Bitcoins covertly. After years of mining, a user might discern that their computer is moving slouchy and may even encounter various forms of BSODs.   After Bitcoins have been mined in the infiltrated system, the cyber currency is then returned/ sent to the creator of the malware. This venture is a sly and deceptive way to earn Bitcoins since the currency is gaining much popularity.

Further Information on BitCoinMiner

BitCoinMiner works covertly. There are no obvious traces of this program running on a computer system. However, once a computer system is infiltrated, the computer user will realize that their CPU resources are strangely being used up, even while the computer idles. Another expression of BitCoinMiner is the addition of cookies of various sorts to a computer system. These include:
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  • Advert (Adware) cookies
  • Casale Media (Spyware) cookies
  • Atwola (Spyware) cookies
  • Adtech (Spyware) cookies
Once BitCoinMiner is present on a computer system, it can potentially slow it down and also create back doors as a means to install other unwanted and harmful programs. To completely remove BitCoinMiner Malware from your computer, click here to download and install Spyhunter.
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How to Fix Error 118

Error 118 - What is it?

Error 118 is a typical Google Chrome error. It pops up when Google Chrome fails to load websites like Facebook. It is usually displayed in the following format:
‘Error Message: Error 118 (net::ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT): The operation timed out.’

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Error 118 may be triggered due to several reasons. This includes:
  • Problems with DNS setting
  • IP Address is filtering websites
  • Cookies and invalid registry entries

Further Information and Manual Repair

To ensure smooth internet browsing on Google Chrome, it is advisable to repair the error 118. If error 118 is not resolved you will be unable to load and access your desired websites. To avoid inconvenience and resolve the issue immediately, try the methods suggested below. These are easy and effective do-it-yourself methods that require no technical skills.

Method 1 - Change Proxy Settings

If your IP address is filtering websites, then you might experience error 118 while using Google Chrome. When this is the error cause, then it is advisable to add a proxy for your PC. To change proxy settings and add a new proxy, simply click on Customize and Control Google Chrome menu. Now click the options button. Under the Google Chrome Options window select the Under the Hood tab. After that in the Network, section click the change proxy settings button. Check Show Suggestions for navigation errors and Use DNS pre-fetching to improve page load performance boxes. Now under Internet Properties, click LAN Settings. Under LAN settings you will see the Proxy Server box, check it, and enter your new proxy settings. Click OK to confirm and save settings. This will hopefully resolve the issue.

Method 2 - Change to Google DNS

When the error is related to DNS settings then try this method to resolve it. Simply set DNS to use Google DNS. Here’s how it’s done:
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  2. Right click to select properties at the bottom.
  3. Check Internet Protocol Version 4 and click properties.
  4. Now check the ‘Obtain an IP address automatically’ box and also select the option that says ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’.
  5. Change Preferred DNS to 8.8.4.4 and Alternate DNS server to 8.8.8.8 now click OK to confirm.

Method 3 - Remove the Bad Entries and Cookies Damaging the Registry

Bad entries and cookies saved in the registry can also trigger error 118. To fix the issue immediately download Restoro. This is PC Fixer with multiple utilities including a registry cleaner. The registry cleaner removes all bad entries and cookies in seconds and repairs the damaged registry. Click here to download Restoro and resolve error 118.
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The application was unable to start 0xc00007b
As you know, Windows programs depend on several operations to get executed and at the same time, there are also numerous parameters that have to be fulfilled for a program to get executed. However, based on some reports, there was an error when some users tried to run a program. This error says, “The application was unable to start correctly (0xc00007b)”. There could be various reasons why this error occurs but the main one is most likely due to an x86 application that is not compatible with the x64-based operating system. To fix this problem, you can run the Check Disk utility or reinstall the application or the Microsoft .NET Framework. You can also try reinstalling DirectX or replace the corrupted DLL file(s). For more details, refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Try running the Check Disk utility

  • In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk <Partition Letter>: /f
  • The command you entered will start to check for errors and fix them automatically. Else, it will throw an error message saying, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like the schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”.
  • Tap the Y key to schedule Disk Check the next time your computer restarts.

Option 2 – Re-enable the Microsoft .NET Framework

You could also try to disable the Microsoft .NET Framework then enable the latest version of the .NET Framework on your PC and check if the error is fixed

Option 3 – Try to reinstall the program

There are times when some supporting module for your application under the hood could have messed up the application where you get the error. To fix this, you have to uninstall the program and then download its latest version from its official site and then install it again. Once you’re done, run the application and see if the error is fixed.

Option 4 – Run System File Checker scan

If reinstalling the program didn’t work, you can also try running the System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the error. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:
  • Hit the Win + R keys 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.
  • Reboot your computer.

Option 5 – Try running the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

Since the error has something to do with the DirectX Graphics APIs, you can run the DirectX Diagnostic tool to resolve the problem.

Option 6 – Try updating or re-installing DirectX

If the DirectX Diagnostic tool didn’t work, you can try to update or reinstall DirectX instead. This can help in fixing the problem because when you reinstall or update DirectX, it will replace the incompatible or corrupted components of DirectX from your computer.
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Disable Windows print spooler in PowerShell
The third time is charm saying goes but not when we are talking about Microsoft. Print spooler is again in focus, in a bad way. This is the third print spooler vulnerability to emerge in just five weeks. While a critical flaw was originally identified and patched in June, a similar flaw came to light shortly after and was subsequently patched (with mixed success). print spoolerMicrosoft is once again advising its customers to disable Windows print spooler after a new vulnerability that allows hackers to execute malicious code on machines has emerged. While a patch fixing the flaw will be released in due course, the most effective workaround currently on the table is to stop and disable the print spooler service entirely.
"An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Print Spooler service improperly performs privileged file operations. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights."

Stop this service right away or you are risking a potential attack.

  1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the hidden menu
  2. Click on Power Shell (admin)
  3. In Power Shell type in the following command to check if spool service is running: Get-Service -Name Spooler followed by ENTER
  4. If spooler service is running type in the next command to stop it: Stop-Service -Name Spooler –Force and press ENTER
  5. Then follow with this command to disable it at startup: Set-Service -Name Spooler -StartupType Disabled followed with ENTER
That’s it, we hope a patch will come soon for all the people that are using network printing and indeed need this service running in order to do work.
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The Windows 10 operating system utilizes a variety of measures in order to track your app launches so that it can boost both your start and search results. It can personalize the start menu based on the apps that you use the most on the Start menu as well as the search results. This way, the App Launch Tracking is definitely useful especially when you want to access your favorite and frequently used apps quickly in the Start menu and search results on your Windows 10 computer. On the other hand, Windows 10 provides users with the ability to control their privacy settings in order to protect the privacy of users. Windows 10 users can either opt to enable the app launch tracking to improve the start menu and search menu or opt to disable the app launch tracking in order to prevent the Windows operating system from tracking that you open if you really value your privacy that much. Whichever setting you prefer, you need to change the privacy control settings as well as make some tweaks in the Windows Registry in order to turn on or turn off the app launch tracking feature.

Option 1 – Turn off or turn on app launch tracking via Settings

  • Go to Settings and click on Privacy.
  • After that, toggle On the “Let Windows track app launches to improve Start and search results” option on the right side of the page under the General Settings to enable the app launch tracking feature.
  • And of course, if you wish to disable the app launch tracking feature, simply toggle Off the “Let Windows track app launches to improve Start and search results” option on the very same page under General Settings.
  • After that, close the Settings window.
Note: Keep in mind that when you disable the app launch tracking feature, the “Show most used app” setting will either be grayed out or labeled as “Disable” on your Windows 10 computer. Thus, if you want to keep viewing the most used apps, just re-enable the app launch tracking feature if you have disabled it.

Option 2 – Turn off or turn on app launch tracking via Windows Registry

Before you proceed, make sure to create a System Restore point
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced
  • After that, right-click on the Advanced folder and then click on New to create a new 32-bit DWORD value.
  • Name the newly created DWORD as “Start TrackProgs” and set its value to “1” to enable the app launch tracking feature.
  • If you want to disable the app launch feature, set “0” as the value instead of 1.
  • Now click OK and restart your computer.
Take note that you still have to create a 32-bit DWORD value even if you are using a 64-bit Windows computer.
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Malware Guide: How to Remove Solimba

What is Solimba?

Solimba is a bundled executable program. It was created to be launched as a promotional tool to get advertisements loaded on a user’s system, upon installation. As a bundle, Solimba offers installation of various programs, with the objective of promoting various products and services. It utilizes unethical techniques, as in the case with adware tactics to influence or for want of a better word, hijack an Internet Browser to affect a website’s result on a search results page. In this assessment, Solimba distributed ads on Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Mozilla browsers, by hijacking various Internet Browsers to change the user's experience. (Images are shown below) Technical details about Solimba PUP include:
Digital Signature:  POPELER SYSTEM, S.L. Entry Point:   0x0000C1DC

Assessment of Solimba Potentially Unwanted Program

Solimba PUP is all about the ads. Once this executable is installed, it penetrates your computer system and sends ads all over your Internet Browser – Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and the likes. For this assessment of Solimba.exe PUP, two installations were carried through. In layman's terms, I actually installed Solimba on two occasions to decipher the true nature of the PUP. It was shocking to find that both installations revealed different bundled programs and advertisements. In the first instance (as shown below), Solimba proved more aggressive in featuring ads for revenue advancements.
 Solimba employed aggressive advertising techniques
It’s important to note that hijacked results resulting from the installation of Solimba. This affected the results of the website on the Internet browser to boost its ranking, even without the use of a search engine. The advertisement displayed on the Internet Explorer search page routes the user to a software installation website. The utility tool in question was a “Windows 8.1 PC Repair” tool used to identify threats present on the Windows 8.1 OS.Advertisement shown on Chrome after Solimba Installation The advertisement displayed on the Chrome Browser search page routes the user to a health and beauty magazine website. This site advocates health and beauty, especially issues concerning weight loss. Several ads were visible on-site, displaying products to assist people in losing weight. During my installation of Solimba, the installation wizard underscored that four programs would be downloaded. These programs included N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop, Lolliscan, PaceItUp, and SearchProtect. Interestingly, only two programs from the list were apparent or obvious. An N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop file was made on the Desktop and SearchProtect was seen in “All Programs”, along with files stored on the computer’s Local Drive. The other programs that were “supposedly” installed remained concealed. A test was done to determine whether these were counted as extensions or add-ons to the varying web browsers but nothing was found on any of the tested browsers – Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox.

Description of 4 Installed Files

N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop

When this file was initially found on the Desktop, a rootkit came to mind. A rootkit was used as a means to an end. Whoever was on the receiving end of this unwanted file would be able to connect to an infiltrated system without the knowledge of the user. After running the file to determine its behavior, nothing much happened. A message appeared indicating that the software couldn’t execute on the computer. That was pretty tricky since, to begin with, I didn’t place that specific file on the desktop but it came along with the territory and so I had to accept it. Further research online into N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop proved very rewarding. A search of the entire file name was not able to do the trick so I had to do research on both terms separately. After landing on N8Fanclub.com, I was nicely asked to disable my adblocker. There seemed nothing harmful about the site. However, due to the fact that it was not what I initially installed, the program was an unwanted program. That’s exactly what Solimba does. It installs several other programs that were not requested by the user in an attempt to make money from advertising. The mere fact that this program got installed meant that it was to promote an online service.

KinoniRemoteDesktop

was a separate program. It was combined with N8Fanclub as a way to allow users to use their PC computer “as if they were sitting in front of it.” A user would be able to make use of a full web browser, watch Flash videos, play games, and even use office applications. This would be done from the user’s Nokia device. This is an advertisement at its best.

Lolliscan

This program did not allow me to see much since it didn’t leave a physical trace behind. However, during the installation, Lolliscan was listed as one of the four programs that would be installed. Overall, Lolliscan supposedly should be able to save people money since this form of the ad focuses on showing coupons when visiting sites such as Amazon. While this seems like a good deal, this ad will invade your personal space and distribute pop-ups at the most inopportune times.

PaceItUp

As the name states, PaceItUp is software added to a browser with the intent to speed your computer. Quite the contrary, PaceItUp does the total opposite since it installs bundled programs that slow down a computer system. PaceItUp is also known for displaying ads and tracking what the user does on his/her computer system.

SearchProtect

It’s known for hijacking your computer’s homepage. In fact, this addition is very stubborn and often possesses a challenge when a request to uninstall is made.

Further Information on Solimba

The second installation of Solimba also had its own dose of bundles to display. In comparison to the first installation, two programs from the bundle were different while two remained the same. two additional programs were installed along with the second installation of this bundle. These were dubbed Optimizer Pro and GamesDesktop. SearchProtect and N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop remained triumphant and unbeatable. They were repeated within the installation. To completely remove Solimba from your computer, click here to download and install Spyhunter.
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