How to place control panel in File explorer

This post will guide you in fixing the (1058) ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED error you can encounter when trying to launch various games. Usually, this error pops up during startup and prevents you from running the game. In fact, this error has become quite a headache for many users. Some of the games it affects are Smite, Paladins, Far Cry, and many more. In most cases, this error is caused by missing or corrupted game files. It could also be caused by the anti-cheat utility you might have installed along with your games. Whichever the cause is, you can try to check out the possible fixes given below to resolve the (1058) ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED error.

Option 1 – Verify the Integrity of the Game files

This is the first option you can try no matter what kind of issues you are having with Steam games.

• Double click on the game’s icon located on your Desktop and then go to the Library tab in the Steam window.
• From there, look for GTA V from the list of games installed in your library.
• Next, right-click on its entry and select Properties.
• After that, navigate to the Local Files tab and click the “Verify Integrity of Game Files” button.
• Now, wait for the tool to complete checking the game’s integrity. You should see that some of the files may have been downloaded.
• Reopen the game and see if it now runs properly without crashing.

Option 2 – Apply some tweaks in the Service’s startup settings

As pointed out earlier, the error can also occur due to the anti-cheat tools that were installed alongside the game. These tools are usually used by games to check if you are running something which might give you an unfair advantage over other players. These anti-cheat tools include but are not limited to BattlEye, EasyAntiCheat, and PunkBuster. The error might occur if the service’s startup settings are not correctly configured which is why you can apply some tweaks in order to resolve the problem.

• 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 any of the services mentioned above such as BattlEye, EasyAntiCheat Service, or PunkBuster Service. Then right-click on the service and select Properties from the context menu.
• After that, check if the service is started by checking the Service status. If it is started, click on the Stop button to stop the service and if it is already stopped, leave it as it is, at least for now.
• Next, make sure that the Startup type menu in the Service’s properties is set to Automatic before you go on.
• Now confirm any dialog boxes that may appear as you set the Startup type and then click on the Start button located in the middle before you exit Properties.

Note: You might get the following error message when you click on the Start button:

“Windows could not start the service on Local Computer. Error 1079: The account specified for this service differs from the account specified for other services running in the same process.”

If you got the error message above, then here’s how you can fix it:

• 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 any of the services mentioned above such as BattlEye, EasyAntiCheat Service, or PunkBuster Service. Then right-click on the service and select Properties from the context menu.
• Now go to the Log On tab and click on the “Browse…” button.
• After that, type in your account’s name under the “Enter the object name to select” box and click on Check Names then wait for the name to be recognized.
• Then click OK once you’re done and type in the password in the Password field when you are prompted to do so. This should resolve the issue.

Option 3 – Try reinstalling the Anti-cheat program

If the first two options did not work out, you can try reinstalling the anti-cheat program.

• Open Steam from your Desktop or by searching for it in the Start menu.
• After opening the Steam client, go to the Library tab in the Steam window and then look for the Rust entry from the list.
• Next, right-click on the game’s icon in the library and select Properties.
• Now go to the Local Files tab under Properties and click the Browse Local Files button.
• From there, look for BattlEye, EasyAntiCheat, or PunkBuster folder depending on the game, and then double click on it to open the folder.
• Then right-click on EasyAntiCheat_setup.exe or the BattlEye installed file in the folder or PunkBuster and select the Run as administrator option.
• Exit the Steam client by clicking Steam > Exit from the menu located at the top.

The Internet has come a long way from its infant stages and has become so large and huge that it has gained the status of basic human rights. There are very useful information and a lot of great content on it and among them, there are social media websites and other types of websites where you have, most likely placed some personal pictures or other information. One day you might want to cancel some of the services or you would like to take a break from it all. In this guide we will show you how to do exactly that, to delete and remove your data from the internet.

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How to Delete Your Google Account

Google is arguably one of the most visited places on the Web. It stores a huge amount of data for delivering personalized content. It saves personal information, web searches, watched videos, location data, etc. You can view a summary of the data saved by different Google services by visiting your Google Dashboard. To delete personal data from Google, go to myactivity.google.com. Select the Delete activity by from the left menu to start deleting activities. Select All time to delete all of your activities from different Google services. You can also delete files saved to Google services, such as Google Photos, Google Drive, and Keep. Just visit the site, select the files, and delete them. Note that Google retains some information even after you delete all data. They do this to meet business needs and legal requirements. These will be deleted when you delete your Google account altogether.

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How to Delete Your Facebook Account

Facebook stores a huge amount of data for each user. Some of the personal information stored in Facebook’s databases includes name and email, check-ins, location, images, videos, events, etc. You can view and download all of your personal data using Facebook’s information download tool. However, you will need to delete your account altogether for removing your personal data from Facebook. Follow the below steps to delete your Facebook account.

1. Log in to your Facebook account and go to Settings & privacy > Setttings.
2. Select Your Facebook Information.
3. Select Deactivation and Deletion.
4. Select Delete Account.
5. Select Continue to Account Deletion.
6. Select Delete Account.
7. Enter your password and click Continue.

It can take up to 90 days for Facebook to delete your personal data from the Internet. You will not be able to access any of the data once the deletion starts. However, you can cancel this within the first 30 days.

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How to Delete Your Twitter Account

Twitter has also followed in the footsteps of Facebook when it comes to harvesting your personal data. It utilizes this information for delivering personalized ads and tweets. You can download an archive of all of your personal data from Twitter. It makes it easy to monitor what information is available to the platform. Click the More button from the left menu and head over to Settings and privacy. Follow the below steps to download your personal information.

1. Select Download an archive of your data from the Your Account section.
2. Select Request archive from under the Twitter data section. Enter your password when prompted.
3. It will take some time for Twitter to make the data available to you. You’ll receive an email once the data is ready to be downloaded.

It would be best if you also restrict data sharing and off-site activities. Head over to Privacy and safety and inspect the options under the Data sharing and off-Twitter activity section. Look in the Interests and Your advertiser list sections from the Ads preferences tab. You can disable Twitter from tracking you in the Off-Twitter activity tab. Uncheck the options from the Data sharing with business partners and Location information tabs. Finally, you need to deactivate your account for deleting all personal information from Twitter. You’ll have 30 days to reactivate the account. After that, Twitter will begin erasing your information from its systems. Note that they can still retain some information subjected to platform regulations.

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How to Delete Your Instagram Account

Instagram has risen to prominence in the last couple of years. The company collects a huge amount of personal information from its users, including media, name, email, and much more. You’ll need to deactivate your account altogether if you want to delete everything Instagram knows about you. Head over to the Delete your account page and select the reason you want to delete it. Enter your Instagram password to verify your identity, then click on the Delete button. Instagram will hide your account details for the next 30 days and delete all personal data after the given period.

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How to Delete Your TikTok Account

TikTok is another emerging platform that has become quite popular among millennials. Users share a lot of personal information through personalized music videos. You need to delete your TikTok account permanently to remove all personal data from TikTok. To do this, head over to Me, then tap on the … icon in the top-right corner of the window. Select Delete account from under the Manage Account section. Follow the instructions provided there to continue deactivating your account. Like Instagram, TikTok also offers a 30-day time period to allow users to change their minds. It will delete your personal data from the Internet after this period.

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How to Delete Your Snapchat Account

1. Go to Snapchat’s Accounts Portal and log in with your name and password.
2. Select the Delete My Account option.
3. You’ll be taken to the Delete Account page directly.
4. Retype your password once more.
5. Click on the yellow Continue button.

Do keep in mind that Snapchat will hold on to your data for another 30 days, just in case you change your mind and decide to return. If you do decide to come back, all you need to do is visit the Accounts Portal again and log in to your account. This will reactivate your account. While your account is in this deactivated phase, your friends will not be able to contact you or interact with you in any manner on Snapchat. After the 30-day period has elapsed, your account will be permanently deleted.

We Couldn't Install Windows Technical Preview 0x80070070 - 0x20005 -- What is it?

Some Windows users have been experiencing errors in an attempt to upgrade to Windows 10 OS. This includes the “We Couldn’t Install Windows Technical Preview 0x80070070 – 0x20005” error code. If you’re one of the many users who’ve encountered this error, you might want to check the available space on your device. Error code 0x80070070 – 0x20005 occurs when you do not have the required space to be able to install the upgrade.

Solution

Error Causes

Just like the other alternatives of error code 0x80070070 – 0x20005 such as 0x80070070 – 0x50011, 0x80070070 – 0x50012, and 0x80070070 – 0x60000, We Couldn't Install Windows Technical Preview 0x80070070 - 0x20005 is most likely caused by the following:

• Insufficient disk space in your computer
• Incomplete installation or improper deletion of applications
• The device is infected with virus or malware

Further Information and Manual Repair

In order to upgrade to Windows 10, you need to have at least 40 to 50 GB of free space in your device. Thus, you need to free up some space in order to successfully upgrade your system to Windows 10. See below for the manual methods you can employ to solve your problem.

NOTE: It would be best to seek help from an experienced technician if you are not confident enough to perform the manual methods yourself or you can alternatively make use of an automated tool.

Method One: Clean Up Your Device

1. Click Start then browse Afterwards, click on This PC.
2. Right-click on Local Disk (C:) then choose
3. Under the General tab, click on Disk Cleanup.
4. Once the Disk Cleanup window appears, check all items you want to clear down, making sure that the recycle bin is empty and clear any temp files, as well as error logs. Click OK once you’re done.
5. Repeating the same process above, clear down your system files as well to ensure that the old OS files from your previous system are taken down by clicking on Clean up system files in the Disk Cleanup window.

 Method Two: Uninstall Unused Applications

Sometimes, there are unused applications just lying around your device. This may take up your needed space from your device for a system upgrade. Uninstalling these applications can make space that will eventually elude error code 0x80070070 – 0x20005 along with its alternatives – code 0x80070070 – 0x50011, code 0x80070070 – 0x50012, and code 0x80070070 – 0x60000.

1. Open the Control Panel then select Programs and Features.
2. Check on unused applications on your device
3. Right-click on the unused application then select

 Method Three: Remove or Archive Files

If there are tons of images, media, videos, or documents that you rarely use but will still be needing in the future, you can move these files to another drive where Windows 10 will not be installed on.

If there are no secondary drives in your device, consider using a USB Drive or external hard disk. Another option you can do is making use of cloud storage programs like One Drive or Google Drive. In this way, you’ll still have access to these files even if it’s not in a physical location while making larger space in your device.

Method Four: Scan Your Device For Viruses

Most Windows users download applications or software regularly. These applications or software might come from unsafe sites where you might have accidentally downloaded a virus or malware along with the legit application or software you intended to download.

With that said, it is highly recommended to download and install in your device a reliable and powerful antivirus. Using an antivirus, you can now perform an overall scan of your device’s system. Once you’re able to detect and remove any suspected virus or malware, you’ll now be able to get rid of the error code 0x80070070 – 0x20005. After solving the issue, you can now resume upgrading to Windows 10.

Method Five: Download An Automated Tool

Can’t seem to put up with the long and technical manual repair process? You can still fix this error by downloading and installing a powerful automated tool that will surely get the job done in a jiffy!

As you know, the Windows Update process takes compatibility seriously. The Windows Updates need to be compatible with the hardware as well as all the installed applications in the computer else the Windows Updates will only get stuck in the process. Two of the Windows 10 errors that shows up during this case is the error 0xC1900208, 0x4000C. These error codes are caused by incompatible applications which means that there might be an incompatible app installed in your computer that’s blocking the upgrade process and prevents it from finishing. That’s why you need to make sure that all the applications on your computer are updated to their latest versions and then check the compatibility. So if there are any incompatible apps, be sure to uninstall them and then try doing the upgrade once again. Take note that these error codes are just among many compatibility issues that the Windows Update throws up. Since the error is caused by a compatibility issue, you have three options – first, you can update the incompatible application to the latest version, second, uninstall the application or trick Windows and make it seem like it’s compatible.

Option 1 – Try updating the application or software

As mentioned, you can try updating the concerned application or software to its latest version to resolve the compatibility issue and in turn, fix the errors 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C. Note that depending on where you had installed the application, your steps will change. So if you have it installed directly from the website, refer to these steps:

• Look for the built-in option to check the updates since the most application has this option.
• You also have the option to go to the website of the application and check if there is a new version available. If there is, download and update the app.

On the other hand, if you have downloaded the app from the Microsoft Store, here’s what you have to do:

• Open the Store and click on the three dots located at the top-right of the window.
• Next, click the Download and Updates option.
• From there, check if there is an update available for the store. If there is, update it.

Option 2 – Try to uninstall the application or software

If updating the app or software to its latest version didn’t help and you’re still getting the error 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C every time you attempt to install the Windows Updates, you may have to uninstall it. You will need to use the usual Program and Features to uninstall it if you have downloaded it from the website.

• In the search box, type in “control” and then click on Control Panel (desktop app) among the search results.
• After that, select Programs and Features from the list which will give you a list of all the programs installed on your computer.
• From there, look for the concerned program and select it and then uninstall it.

Note: If you have downloaded the app from the Windows Store, you can simply right-click on it from the application list and then uninstall it.

Option 3 – Try bypassing the Upgrade Advisor

There are times when a software developer fails to pass the compatibility test for their apps. It could be that they work on Windows 10 upgraded version but just didn’t pass the compatibility check. So if you are pretty certain that the app really works on Windows 10, you can just bypass the Upgrade Advisor.

In Windows 11 by default inside the Start menu, there is recommended section that contains recently opened folders, documents, and files. If you do not wish this section and do not want recent items in your Start menu there is an easy way to turn it off.

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open settings
2. Click on Personalization
3. On the right side scroll down and click on Start
4. Click on the switch beside Show recently opened items in Start, Jump lists, and File Explorer
5. Close settings

Settings will be automatically applied and there will be no more recommended items inside your Start menu to create clutter, it will be nice and clean.

Error Code 0x80070004 on Windows 10 – What Is It?

Some users trying to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 reported experiencing installation rollback with error code 0x80070004. This error normally appears when the Computer Name is set to names that can’t be used for the computer. It’s also possible this error occurs if users or program files folder were redirected to a different partition.

Solution

Error Causes

The Error code 0x80070004 on Windows 10 is normally caused if any of the following were used as the Computer Name and the user tried to upgrade to Windows 10:

• System (or SYSTEM)
• SELF
• LOCAL
• Network

Failure to fix this error message might result in others, including error code  0xc0000001. 

Further Information and Manual Repair

If you don’t solve this error, you won’t be able to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to Windows 10. Note that this error will continuously bring you back to the original OS unless fixed.

Please note that if you’re not confident in doing these steps, you might want to consider seeking the help of an expert or using an automated tool that will help fix this.

Here are a few methods to try.

Method 1: Check and Change the Computer Name

The most common cause of this error is if your computer uses any of the following reserved names:

• LOCAL
• System (or SYSTEM)
• Network
• SELF

These reserved names are not meant to be used as computer names. If this is what your computer uses and you try to upgrade to Windows 10, you will surely get this error. Check your computer name and if you see any of the reserved names, change it right away.

Changing Computer Name in Windows 8.1

If you’re trying to upgrade from Windows 8.1, you can change the name of the computer by following these steps:

• Step 1: Open the Start menu then simply type “rename computer”. After that, choose “Rename this computer”
• Step 2: A dialog box will open. Just click the “Change” button
• Step 3: A new dialog box will open. Type the new name. Click Apply then Ok.

Changing Computer Name in Windows 7

If you’re trying to upgrade from Windows, you can follow the steps below to change the name of your computer.

• Step 1: Go to the Start menu then on the Computer section, right-click the mouse and choose “Properties”.
• Step 2: A new dialog box will appear. Go to “Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings” then click “Change settings”. In case you’re asked for administrative access, make sure to grant it.
• Step 3: Find the “Computer Name” tab then click “Change”
• Step 4: Change the computer name and click Ok.

Method 2: Fix the “Users” directory issue

If the first method doesn't work, it probably means the computer name isn’t the cause of this error. Another reason why users experience Error code 0x80070004 when upgrading to Windows 10 is if the “Users” directory was relocated. So, when you try upgrading to Windows 10, the installer wasn’t able to find the user profiles on the “%systemdrive%”, where the current operating system is installed.

If you changed or moved any of the Users, Program Data, or Program Files folders, this will cause the error. Before you upgrade to Windows 10, you might be required to reset or reinstall your current operating system (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1).

If you haven’t made any changes or haven’t moved any of the mentioned folders, there’s a great chance that your users' profiles are corrupted. You can also reinstall your current operating system. However, you might want to check for the corrupter user profile first. To do this, follow the steps below:

• Step 1: Go to the Start menu and type System
• Step 2: Click System  then go to the Advanced tab
• Step 3: Go to Settings, which you’ll find under User Profiles

On the Users Profiles, make a copy of all the accounts somewhere. Sign out from the current user account then try logging in back using the accounts you’ve copied. For each account, you get an error, delete it. However, make sure that you don’t delete the UpdateUser and Administrator account ever.

After this is done, try upgrading your operating system to windows 10 again.

Method 3: Try a trusted and secured Automated Tool

If the above methods still not useful, you might want to rely on an automated tool. Find a secured and trusted tool. It will help fix this issue.

If you have just updated your Mozilla Firefox browser as of late and you noticed that it’s showing wrong or no bookmark favicon at all, then read on as this post will provide you with potential solutions that can help you resolve the problem. The basic thing you can do to fix it is to either refresh or reset the cache for favicon and then force restart the favicon service. However, if you’ve already tried this and it didn’t work, then there are still other options you can try. You can try to rebuild the configuration file for the favicon or restart the favicon service. You could also try disabling all the add-ons on your browser or scan your computer for adware. For more details, refer to each one of the options laid out below.

Option 1 – Try to rebuild the favicon configuration file

Mozilla Firefox actually creates a file each time you bookmark a webpage and this is called “favicons.SQLite”. This file is located on your computer and for you to fix the issue in Firefox, you need to rebuild this file and in order to do that, follow these steps:

• First, you need to unhide the hidden files in your computer by enabling the “Show hidden files” option so that you’ll be able to see the hidden files in your computer.
• After that, navigate to this path: C:Usersyour_usernameAppDataLocalMozillaFirefoxProfilesyour_profile_name
• From there, you need to find the “favicons.SQLite” file and once you found it, delete it.
• Next, you have to open the Firefox browser and create the same favicon configuration file which should be automatically created.
• Now check if you can now see bookmark favicons on your Firefox browser or not.

Option 2 – Try to restart the favicon service

If the first option didn’t work, you can try to restart the favicon service instead. Restarting the favicon service can help if you do not see the correct bookmark favicon on your Firefox browser. To restart this service, follow the steps below.

• You need to first open the Firefox browser and in the address bar, type “about:config” and tap Enter.
• After that, you will see a page that displays a warning message. On that page, you need to click the “I accept the risk!” button to proceed.
• Next, using the search box on the page, look for the “devtools.chrome.enabled” option. The value for this option should be set to “False” by default.
• Double click on this option to set its value to “True”.
• Once done, go to Menu > Web Developer > Browser Console or you could also tap the Ctrl + Shift + J keys, alternatively.
• Afterwards, paste this command in the pop-up window that appears and then tap the Enter button: var fS = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/browser/favicon-service;1"] .getService(Components.interfaces.nsIFaviconService); fS.expireAllFavicons();
• Once you’re done, restart your Firefox browser to check if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 3 – Try to disable all the add-ons in Firefox

The next option you can try to fix the problem is to disable all the installed add-ons in Firefox. More often than not, add-ons can cause issues in the browser so it is possible that one of the add-ons in Firefox is causing it to show incorrect or no bookmark favicon. To resolve this problem, you have to disable all the add-ons by opening Firefox and then going to Menu > Add-ons or you could also tap the Ctrl + Shift + A keys. After that, go to the Extensions section and click on the respective Disable buttons for each one of the add-ons. Once done, restart your computer and check if you can now see the bookmark favicons or not.

Option 4 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

It is possible that the bookmark favicon problem is caused by some adware in the Firefox browser so you have to scan your computer to check by using security programs like Windows Defender.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
• Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
• Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.

0X80070005 - What is it?

0x8007005 is a Windows Error Code. You may come across this error if you don’t have the appropriate permission to install a particular Windows update. It is prompted as ‘Access Denied’ error message. Solution

Error Causes

The error code 0x80070005 usually triggered because of 2 reasons:

1. Some updates require administrative permissions to be installed
2. Due to malware and viruses

Further Information and Manual Repair

If you face this error while installing Windows updates on your PC, it is advisable to fix it immediately. By taking timely actions, you can update your PC easily and in case if the cause of the error code 0x80070005 is malware or some virus, you can stop it from causing more and serious damage to your system.  Sometimes malware and viruses can lead to data loss. To avoid such damages here’s what you need to do:

Cause: Updates require administrative permission

Quick Fix: If the 0x8007005 error occurs on your system due to administrative permission issues, then the best way to fix this error right away is to log on as an administrator. If there are many user accounts on your PC, then to resolve this error, make sure you log on using the user account that has administrator permissions on the computer. Once you log on as an administrator, now try to install the updates again.

Cause: Malware and Viruses

Quick Fix: If the error 0x80070005 occurs because of malware infection, the best way to resolve this error would then be to open your antivirus software and run a scan to detect the malware. However, if you don’t have antivirus software installed on your system, then it is advisable to download the software immediately. Download antivirus software. To be on the safe side download Microsoft Safety Scanner. Click on the run when prompted. Once the scanner is installed on your PC create a shortcut to Safety Scanner on your computer desktop so that it is easily accessible. Now double click on the icon and click on the full scan tab to start scanning for malware and viruses on your system. After the scan is complete, you will see a list of viruses on your PC. Now remove them all by hitting the delete tab and then repair. Now try installing the updates again. By following these quick-fix techniques, you can easily resolve the error 0x80070005 on your system by yourself, without calling an IT professional.

What software are you using to keep your information and all your files and memories safe? 

None? Yikes. Let’s hope no damage has been done to your data yet then. Because with how the digital world has evolved, your data might be getting leaked and you have no idea.

Why do you need to invest in security software?

There’s really no good excuse not to purchase a quality platform for PC protection. Especially since top security solutions are available at such affordable prices nowadays, your wallet would barely even notice it.

At this point, only people who barely use their PCs and have zero sensitive information on them can get away with simply using the built-in Windows 10/11 security software. But we guarantee that those people are extremely hard to find and that you’re not one of them, and here’s why.

Even if you don’t use your computer for things that are very obviously sensitive, such as internet banking, you still have some personal data at risk of being stolen. How so? Well, think about the data you enter into your social media profiles, for example. How devastating would it be if somebody got a hold of any of it? Yep, that’s what we thought.

In the hands of a skilled cybercriminal, your phone number alone could put you at risk of scams, ransomware, identity theft and more. Also think about the stuff you share in texts and social media chats. Think about the websites you visit and how many times you may have accidentally clicked on an ad, which could very well contain malicious software. Those all seem harmless until someone’s actually used them against you. 

Now imagine the dangers involved when you actually store truly confidential data on your PC and browsers. Sends shivers down your spine, doesn’t it?

In the case of a successful cyberattack of whatever type (virus, phishing, worms, etc.), there’s so much that is at stake. Businesses/legal persons will suffer from financial loss and damaged reputation, at the very least. Natural persons may be threatened or exploited, get their banking or medical information and even their identity stolen, etc. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

These are our biggest reasons for investing in Windows PC protection software:

• Cyberthreats are constantly evolving to the point where built-in or free software won’t cut it anymore.

• Those working remotely can have peace of mind knowing both personal and business data is completely secure.

• Businesses using top security solutions ensure their customers trust them. 

• Data breaches are a pain in the you-know-what to handle. Fighting a cyberattack and going back to normal is a demanding process, and not to mention the stress it’ll cause. We’d rather prevent all that by using trustworthy security products!

• It helps parents worry a little less about their children’s safety in the online world. 

• Added bonus: with most products, you get an ad-free browsing experience!

Obviously, there are a lot more reasons to get your PC secured. But we think you get it. So let’s cut to the chase and take a look at our 6 favorite protection solutions and the wonders they can do for you.

*Note that in this article we’re looking at products primarily suited for households and home offices, some for small businesses. No enterprise solutions will make the list today, but stay tuned for a future article on those.

Top 6 best PC protection solutions

1. Bitdefender Total & Internet Security\

One of the biggest security product vendors out there, Bitdefender offers several awesome solutions. We want to introduce two of our favorites, Bitdefender Total Security and Bitdefender Internet Security.

Bitdefender Total Security is great for both households and smaller offices. You can choose to protect 5 or 10 devices, and not necessarily just Windows devices. It also works for macOS, Android and iOS. It offers a range of powerful features, such as:

• Real-time data protection
• Webcam and microphone protection
• Device optimization options
• Anti-phishing/-fraud/-spam technology
• Ransomware protection
• Anti-loss and anti-theft tools
• VPN and privacy firewall 
• Anti-tracking technology
• Parental controls
• 24/7 support

Bitdefender Internet Security shares almost all of these features, but there are a few important differences to note. Unlike Total Security, Internet Security has more options in terms of the number of protected devices: 1, 3, 5 or 10. However it’s only compatible with the Windows platform and it doesn’t offer device optimization tools or anti-theft options. Whether or not this is a deal-breaker depends on your needs alone - we still find it a great security tool.

2. ESET Internet Security

An award-winning Windows security product, ESET Internet Security is essential on this list. It has an outstanding protection rate of 99.9% and a range of amazing options you’ll definitely want to make use of. It can be installed on up to 10 devices, making it an awesome tool for your household, home office or a small business. It’s also compatible with macOS and Android.

These are ESET Internet Security’s best features:

• Protection against ransomware and spyware
• Protection against malware specifically designed to avoid detection
• In-depth scans when the computer is not in use
• Firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your PC
• Anti-spam tool
• Anti-phishing and botnet protection technologies
• Tool to scan your router and smart devices for vulnerabilities
• Special browser for secure internet banking 
• Parental controls
• Prevention of unauthorized webcam access 

If you ask us, ESET has it all!

3. Kaspersky Total & Internet Security

Having a deja vu? Didn’t you just read Total Security and Internet Security somewhere? Oh, that’s right - the first entry on our list! But here we’re talking about Kaspersky, a vendor you’ve also definitely heard about before.

Just like Bitdefender, Kaspersky is another one of those renowned names in the cybersecurity world that always make it to every ‘best of’ list. And for good reason - its products really fulfill their purpose. So let’s take a closer look at the two we chose.

These are the features both Kaspersky Total Security and Kaspersky Internet Security have in common:

• Real-time virus and spyware blocking
• Webcam protection
• Wi-Fi security notifications
• Advanced identity theft protection
• Free technical support on several channels
• Remote security management
• Multiple devices (up to 10)

The main difference between Kaspersky Total Security and Internet Security is that the former offers more capabilities. These are the features KTS offers that KIS does not:

• System cleanup
• File shredding
• Password management
• Data backup and encryption

Both are excellent security tools, though we do prefer KTS a little more because of these additional options.

4. Norton 360 Deluxe

Of course one of the industry-leading solutions makes the list. Norton 360 Deluxe can protect up to 5 devices, be it Windows, iOS, macOS or Android. It’s worth noting that its features are best developed for Windows. Here’s what you get with Norton 360 Deluxe:

• Protection against viruses, hackers, malware
• 100% virus protection promise
• VPN included for all devices
• Unlimited VPN on Windows
• Password manager
• Parental controls

So is there anything aside from these standard protection features that makes it such a favorite among us techies? Let us tell you! Norton added a little bit of spice here with two really powerful capabilities. The Deluxe product offers 50GB of cloud backup and dark web monitoring. The latter means the software notifies you if any of your personal information is found on the dark web, which helps protect you against identity theft.

5. McAfee Antivirus

Don’t be misled by the name of this product. Antivirus software may have started as protection against viruses only, but it’s developed quite a lot. The name simply stuck. All that to say that McAfee Antivirus - another award-winning security solution - protects you against several different threats.

The basic and essential plan allow 1 and 5 devices respectively, while McAfee+ Premium and Advanced work on an unlimited number of devices. The latter two also offer more capabilities, as you can imagine. Here’s what you can expect from all of them:

• Secure unlimited VPN
• File shredder to delete sensitive files completely
• Ultimate safety while browsing
• Protection against hackers
• 100% virus protection promise
• Advanced firewall to block dangerous traffic
• Online support from specialists
• Protection score (shows how safe you are and detects vulnerabilities)
• Identity monitoring (notifies you if any of your information is on the dark web)
• Password management

Unlike the previous products, McAfee Antivirus does not offer parental controls. Otherwise it’s a pretty strong and comprehensive protection tool and might just be the right choice for you!

6. Trend Micro Maximum Security

Last but definitely not least, we’ve got Maximum Security by Trend Micro. And yes, you guessed it, Trend Micro is also an award winner in terms of cybersecurity. Its products have been recognized as industry-leading security solutions by AV-Test since 2003. Among all its fantastic solutions, our favorite for households or small offices is Maximum Security.

You can use Trend Micro Maximum Security to protect 3-5 devices for a year or two years before needing to renew your license. Aside from Windows, it’s compatible with iOS, Android, Mac and Chromebook devices. Here’s what you can expect from this protection software:

• Powerful malware protection
• Phishing detection and prevention (email)
• Password management and protection
• Maximum security for online banking and shopping
• System optimization
• Social media privacy protection
• Parental controls 
• 24/7 technical support
• No notifications during gaming

It’s truly one of the most effective platforms out there dedicated to protecting your digital life. Using this product, ransomware, identity thieves and malicious websites don’t stand a chance.

The bottom line

If you’ve made it all the way here, congratulations, you’ve made the right choice: to invest in securing your valuable data! Now the question is: which one of these 6 awesome antivirus/antimalware products to select?

The paradox of choice is a very real thing - we feel you. As mentioned, it comes down to what your specific needs are. So before you go ahead and purchase your security software, make sure to explore all options.

And if you really can’t handle the decision-making anxiety, feel free to reach out. We’ll happily assist you in finding the right product to keep your digital life secure!

The Windows Defender program can both scan and monitor almost the entire folder on a Windows 10 computer. So if you have a folder that may have files that could trigger an alarm to Windows Security, then it would be better if you add an exclusion to Windows Security. Note that it is okay to do this as long as you’re certain that the contents of the folder you want to exclude are safe and that Windows Defender is only throwing out warnings for nothing. This way, Windows Defender won’t scan those folders in the future. And besides, there are also some Windows folders and files that you may exclude from the Antivirus scans, especially if you want to save your scan time. This kind of feature also comes in handy when you trust a file type or folder or any process that you believe is safe but the Windows Security considers as malicious. To exclude a folder or a file or process or a file type from the Windows Security scan, here are some steps you can follow. Make sure to do them carefully. Step 1: Search for “Windows Security” in the Search box and then click on it from the search results to open it. Step 2: Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Add or remove exclusions. Step 3: After that, on the next screen, click on Add an exclusion > Folder. It will show you a list that includes File, Folder, File Type, and Process. Step 4: Now click on “+Add and exclusion” on the next window and then select a folder you want to exclude and click OK to add it in the Exclusions list. Step 5: Click on the down arrow button to remove it and then click on the Remove button. Note: If you want to only ignore a few file types, it’s better if you configure your antivirus program to ignore these files with a specific extension. This way, it will ignore all of them no matter what their location is. Also keep in mind that when you select a folder, all the subfolders in it will also be excluded from the scan. Thus, you need to understand what you’re about to do. Once you’re done excluding the folder, it is recommended that you protect the folder using the Controlled Folder Access since this folder is not monitored for threat. The Controlled Folder Access will ensure that an external program does not alter it. This way, you can be sure that even though this folder is not included in the scan, it is still secure.