Screen of death colors in Windows 10

From the various report, it is now clear that no one is prone to Ransomware attacks. Cyber-criminals never target any specific field of the user workgroup for this Ransomware attack. But in past few years, it has hugely affected home users, businesses, organizations. We can say, Ransomware victims come in all shapes & sizes. Many business owners think that they will never be attacked by Ransomware crooks because their business is not so big. But that’s not true. A huge proportion of Ransomware attacks happened in small sector businesses because of their weak security resistances.

Some leading negative consequences of Ransomware attacks faced by almost every victim are:

1. Permanent or temporary loss of proprietary or sensitive information.
2. Lots of trouble in performing regular operations.
3. Huge financial losses sustain for restoring up your files and systems.
4. Latent harm to the reputation of an organization.
5. Even making the Ransom payment doesn’t guarantee the safe releasing of your encrypted files.
6. Attackers get the victim’s money along with their banking details.
7. Getting the decrypting files doesn’t mean malware infection has completely been removed.

Ransomware put a tremendous impact on disturbing business operations and in the end, leads to data loss situations.

Here are some huge impacts of Ransomware attacks on business are:

1. Damage or loss of all the crucial information
2. In the Ransomware post-attack period Business disrupts a lot.
3. Destruction of hostage data, file, and system.
4. Business downtime
5. Victimized company’s reputation dropdown
6. Productivity loss

Apart from the ransom, the cost of downtime because of restricted system access will bring major concerns. It’s a fact that due to downtime victims may has to pay a cost of ten thousand dollars daily. As, Ransomware is becoming more and more widespread, so all companies require to brush up on their annual cyber-security goals. Moreover, approach for some appropriate implementations of Ransomware recovery plans and commit sufficient funds in their IT budgets for cyber-security resources. Among the most effective impact of Ransomware, “data encryption” is very hard to deal with. Meanwhile, this victim is completely restricted to access any of their encrypted data. The only way for unlocking these encrypted files is through the decryption key which only belongs to hackers. Many times, the decryption key is given to the organization, after the payment of the ransom. But there are also some cases when data is not handover to the victim, even after the ransom payment. The main risk that generates with “operational impact of Ransomware” is on the businesses. Can you just imagine, what will happen if all of a sudden entire services or processes of your business halt down?

Well, this dreadful Ransomware threat is so impactful that it can:

1. Close down the entire plant
2. Freeze manufacturing control system
3. Make other backlogs

All the damages that occur due to downtime can be a major one and can have so many consequences. A well-organized strategy of backup and recovery will not certainly make the Ransomware attack painless. As this takes an extensive amount of money and time for data restoration.

Apart from that, the decision of recovering your system using the backup moreover depends on three things:

1. First the amount of data loss that is considered acceptable by your business or organization.
2. Up to how extent, the impact of Ransomware has spread
3. How fast the Ransomware attack was spotted.

However, in many cases, data gets so encrypted that you can’t revert back to the restore point. At that time external backup is considered the best option. Among the wide-reaching impact of Ransomware “Data loss” is the most effective one.  As it starts from little disruption and leads to permanent business failure. Sometimes data loss in a Ransomware attack leads to disclosure of all your confidential information which ends up in fines and lawsuits. Attackers always look for backup files and folders after encrypting your system data. So that user can’t retrieve their corrupted file from the backup. Such dreadful activities make this Ransomware threat so profitable and effective. Victims don’t have any choice left either they have to pay the ransom or they have to face their risk of data loss.

RebateInformer is a browser extension for Google Chrome. This extension monitors the web pages the user is visiting and checks against an affiliate database for various rebates and coupons related to the context of the products being shown in the browser.

This extension analyzes websites your browser visits and attempts to find deals associated with the merchant’s product offerings. If an offer is found, it is injected into the deals page even if it's sold by a different merchant at a higher price. Several anti-virus scanners have marked this extension as Potentially Unwanted, and due to its data mining behavior, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is regarded as the web’s constant problem that targets web browsers. It is a type of malicious software that alters your web browser’s settings and redirects you to sites or webpages that you had no intention of visiting. Browser hijacker malware is created for numerous reasons. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and injects adverts on your internet browser that helps its creator generate ad revenue. It could seem naive, but the majority of these websites are not legitimate and may pose a serious threat to your online safety. Additionally, hijackers can make the whole infected system fragile – other dangerous malware and viruses will use these opportunities to intrude into your computer system effortlessly.

Browser hijacking symptoms

There are many different symptoms that indicate the web browser has been highjacked: your browser’s home page is suddenly different; new bookmarks pointing to porn websites are added to your bookmarks; the default internet search engine and the default browser settings are modified; unsolicited new toolbars are added to your browser; numerous pop-up adverts show up and/or your browser pop-up blocker is disabled; your web browser starts running slowly or displays frequent errors; you’re blocked to access the websites of computer security solution providers.

How browser hijacker infects computers

There are several ways your PC could become infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive through spam e-mail, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by-download. They also come from add-on applications, also called browser helper objects (BHO), browser extensions or toolbars. Sometimes you may have inadvertently accepted a browser hijacker as part of an application package (generally freeware or shareware). An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, Delta Search, and RocketTab, however, the names are continually changing. Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to collect potentially valuable information that leads to privacy concerns, cause instability on systems, drastically disrupt the user experience, and eventually slow down the computer to a point where it becomes unusable.

Browser hijacker removal

Some browser hijacking can be simply stopped by finding and removing the corresponding malware software through your control panel. Unfortunately, many of the software packages utilized to hijack a web browser are deliberately built to be hard to detect or remove. Furthermore, manual removals require in-depth system knowledge and thus could be a very difficult job for novice computer users. Professionals always suggest users remove any malicious software including browser hijacker by using an automatic malware removal tool, which is better, safer, and quicker than the manual removal technique. Safebytes Anti-Malware features a state-of-the-art anti-malware engine to help you prevent browser hijacker infection in the first place, and mop up any existing problems. And employ a PC optimizer to erase all associated files in the registry and fix browser problems.

Can’t Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of a Virus? Try This!

Malware can cause all sorts of damage once they invade your system, from stealing your personal information to deleting data files on your computer. Some malware sits in between the computer and the net connection and blocks a few or all internet sites that you would like to visit. It could also block you from the installation of anything on your system, especially the anti-malware program. If you’re reading this right now, you’ve perhaps recognized that a malware infection is the real cause of your blocked web traffic. So how to proceed when you want to install an anti-virus application such as Safebytes? Refer to the instructions below to eliminate malware by alternate methods.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

In Safe Mode, you can actually modify Windows settings, uninstall or install some applications, and get rid of hard-to-delete viruses. If the malware is set to load automatically when the computer boots, shifting into this mode may prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the computer is booting up or run MSConfig and find the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. As soon as you reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, and update the anti-malware program from there. After installation, run the malware scanner to remove standard infections.

Obtain the anti-malware software using an alternate web browser

Web-based malware can be environment-specific, targeting a particular web browser or attacking specific versions of the web browser. The ideal solution to avoid this issue is to choose a browser that is renowned for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you secure online.

Install anti-malware on a thumb drive

Here’s another solution which is using a portable USB antivirus software that can check your system for malicious software without needing installation. Do these simple steps to clean up your infected PC by using a portable antivirus. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free computer. 2) Connect the USB flash drive to a USB port on the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you want to install the antivirus. Follow activation instructions. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the uninfected computer to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the USB flash drive. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to begin the virus scan.

Review of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

These days, an anti-malware program can protect your computer or laptop from different types of internet threats. But how to select the right one amongst various malware protection application that’s available in the market? You may be aware, there are numerous anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few are very good ones, some are ok types, and some are simply just bogus anti-malware programs that can damage your PC themselves! You need to be very careful not to pick the wrong application, particularly if you purchase a premium application. With regards to commercial antimalware tool options, many people go with popular brands, such as SafeBytes, and are quite happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a reliable tool that not only protects your PC permanently but is also quite user-friendly for people of all skill levels. With its most advanced virus detection and repair technology, this software will help you protect your personal computer against infections brought on by different types of malware and other internet threats, including spyware, adware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware. SafeBytes has got a plethora of features that can help you protect your computer from malware attacks and damage. Here are some typical features found in this application: Real-time Protection: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your computer restricting malware intrusions instantly. It will check your PC for suspicious activity regularly and its unparalleled firewall guards your PC against illegal entry by the outside world. Robust, Anti-malware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware software goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine detects and disables hard-to-remove malware that conceals deep inside your PC. Safe Web Browsing: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety rating that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Low CPU Usage: SafeBytes is really a lightweight tool. It consumes a very small amount of processing power as it runs in the background so you won’t notice any system performance issues. 24/7 Online Support: Expert technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will quickly fix any technical issues you may be experiencing with your security software. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware offers superb protection combined with an acceptable low system resources usage with great malware detection and prevention. You now may know that this particular tool does more than just scan and delete threats on your computer. So if you are looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we strongly recommend the SafeBytes Anti-Malware tool.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you do not wish to use malware removal software and prefer to get rid of RebateInformer manually, you may do so by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and removing the offending software; in cases of browser plug-ins, you can uninstall it by visiting the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You will definitely also want to reset your browser. Lastly, check your hard drive for all of the following and clean your registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries following an uninstallation. However, this can be a difficult task and only computer professionals could perform it safely. Also, some malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is highly recommended that you carry out the removal process in Windows Safe Mode.

Windows 11 has been officially presented during Microsoft’s virtual event on June 24^th. Since presentation internet has been pretty live and busy with a discussion about it, some discussions are positive, some not so much but that is expected and it happens always when a new product is presented. One of information that we have about Windows 11 is tied to the home edition of this OS, Windows 11 home edition will require an internet connection at setup, and a Microsoft account in order to be installed and used. Previous versions of Windows could be installed and used with local accounts but it seems Microsoft has abandoned that idea for its new OS. OS will be delivered mostly as updates or via internet download so internet and online requirement make sense but why it cannot use the local account and must have a Microsoft one is beyond me.

From their infant stages to modern days, computer viruses were always kind of here. From simple ones that were annoying with playing speaker sounds and throwing messages on screen to more malicious ones capable of deleting and encrypting files. In today's modern world it is very important to protect yourself, modern viruses are not a joke anymore and they are aimed to create serious damage to computer systems. They can encrypt files in order to make you pay for a decrypter, they can straight up delete files or even cause some hardware damage. Like mentioned before protecting yourself is important, but protecting does not mean only having antivirus software installed, information, where are common places in which they lurk and could be picked up, is also very important. That is why we are exploring in this article the most common place where you can pick viruses or other malware.

Downloading Programs

Programs that contain the downloadable files are the commonest source of malware such as freeware, worms, and other executable files. Whether you download an image editing software, a music file, or an e-book, it is important to ensure the reliability of the source of the media. Unknown, new, or less popular sources should be avoided.

Pirated or Cracked Software

Are you aware of software cracking? Well, every time you open cracked software, your antivirus software might flag it as malware as the cracks consist of malicious scripts. Always say “No” to cracks as they can inject malicious script into your PC.

Email Attachments

Anyone can send you an email attachment whether you know them or not. Clicking on unknown links or attachments can harm your device. Think twice before clicking anything and make sure that file type is not ‘.exe’.

Internet

One of the easiest ways to get a virus on your device is through the Internet. Make sure to check the URL before accessing any website. For a secured URL always look for ‘HTTPS in it. For example, when you click videos published on social media websites, they may require you to install a particular type of plug-in to watch that video. But in reality, these plug-ins might be malicious software that can steal your sensitive information.

Booting Data from Unknown CDs

Malicious software can get into your device through an unknown CD. A good practice to be safe from malicious infection is to remove CD when your device is not working at all. Your system could reboot the CD if it is not removed before switching off the computer.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth transfers can also infect your system, so it is crucial to know what type of media file is being sent to your computer whenever a transfer takes place. An effective armor would be to allow Bluetooth connectivity with only known devices and activate it only when required.

Unpatched Software

Often overlooked, unpatched software is also a leading source of virus infection. Security holes in software are exploited by attackers and are unknown to software makers until the attackers release them in the form of zero-day attacks. It is therefore recommended to install software updates as soon as they are available on your PC.

Runtime Error 5 - What Is It?

Runtime Error 5 is one of those errors that Windows users encounter at least once in their life. Generally, when Runtime Error 5 occurs, the message that appears says ‘Invalid Procedure Call or Argument’. Runtime Error 5 occurs because the Quality Analyst function that resides within the Operating System behaves in an abnormal manner and the user receives a warning.

Solution

Error Causes

As explained above, Runtime Error 5 is caused because of the unexplained behavior of the Quality Analyst function. The problem occurs when the function is lost and is not mapped to any drive. As a result, Windows is unable to find and load it and displays the error message. Runtime Error 5 is also caused by other reasons listed below as follows.

• When files of programs like Visual Basic use bad entries in the registry.
• When a user attempts to load Internet Explorer and a global cash of browser occurs, this also causes Runtime Error 5.

Since these types of errors can easily be fixed, it is strongly advised that a user takes the necessary actions to keep them from occurring in the future.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Some instructions for users to fix Runtime Error 5 as soon as it appears are listed below as follows.

1. Users are recommended to restart their computers. However, prior to doing so, it is advised that any programs that are opened are closed and work is saved to prevent data loss. Once the computer restarts, users should load the program that triggered Runtime Error 5 once again to determine whether or not the error recurs.
2. If the problem persists, the best approach is to uninstall the program causing the error. This can be accomplished by going to the ‘Control Panel’ and selecting the ‘Add/Remove programs’ option if one is using Windows XP or Windows 95. However, if a user is running Windows 7, the same task can be accomplished in the ‘Program and Features’ option. If there’s an option that allows you to clear personal settings and preferences, the box should be checked.
3. Now reinstall the program using the latest version of the installer to stop encountering this error. Use any patch for the program if available. Run installer while following the instructions on the screen. Check the default settings as well.  It is suggested to instantly install any patches if available.
4. Another piece of advice is to simultaneously press ‘Ctrl, Shift, and Esc’. Windows task manager will appear. Go to the “processes” tab and select a process that doesn’t look familiar to you. Note the filename and click on the ‘End Process’ button. Load the program again and find out if the error occurs. Once the program causing the error is identified, the user can perform the steps listed above to resolve the problem.

If you are trying to copy or move files to and from your external storage device but you suddenly encounter the error 0x800703EE, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how you can fix this error in your Windows 10 computer. This kind of error when copying files may be accompanied by an error message that says, “The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid”. This error prevents you from copying or moving the files to and from the external storage device. This kind of issue might be caused by a service that belongs to a backup program that could be blocking the operation or a conflict with your third-party antivirus program. In addition, the error could also be due to corrupted or outdated USB drivers or it could be caused by a disabled Windows Backup and Volume Shadow copy service. It is also possible that some system files are corrupted or that the drivers for the external device are also corrupted. Whatever the cause is, here are some options you need to check out to fix the error. Before you troubleshoot the error, you might want to try moving the files to another location on your local drive and remove the USB drive and insert it back again. After that, try to move or copy the file to the USB drive and see if it still throws an error. If it does, then you need to troubleshoot the problem further by following each one of the suggestions given below.

Option 1 – Update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller driver

Since it could be a driver issue, you can try to update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller drivers using the Device Manager. Refer to the following steps:

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

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

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

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

Option 2 – Try checking the Volume Shadow Copy and Windows Backup services

The next thing you can do to fix error 0x800703EE is to check the Volume Shadow Copy and Windows Backup service.

• First, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “services.msc” in the field, and hit Enter to open the Services Manager.
• From there, look for the Volume Shadow Copy service and right-click on it, and then select Properties.
• After that, make sure that its Startup type is set to Manual and that its status is “Started” so if it isn’t, you need to click on the Start button and then on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
• Once done, look for the Windows Backup Service and repeat the same process you did with the Volume Shadow Copy service.
• After you complete the steps, restart your computer and see if the error is now fixed.

Option 3 – Restart your computer in a Clean Boot State

If a third party program like antivirus is the one that’s causing the problem, you can try to put your computer in a Clean Boot State to isolate the issue by following these steps:

• Log onto your PC as an administrator.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
• Now try to copy the files to your external storage device again and check if the error is now gone.

Option 4 – Try to run System File Checker or SFC scan

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
• Once done, restart your computer.

Option 5 – Try to delete the Filter drivers

Note that this option is only applicable if you see the error 0x800703EE accompanied with the “The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid” error message. Before you start, create a System Restore Point first.

• Open the Registry Editor and navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
• After that, select the “{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}” key and check if you can find the “Upperfilters” and “Lowerfilters” value in the right pane. If you can find them, right-click on them and select Delete.
• Once done, exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

EliteUnzip is a program developed by Mindspark Interactive. This program lets you compress and extract all the popular archive types.

From the Author:

Elite Unzip is a program for creating and extracting archive files; it has support for over 20 file formats. This application downloads onto your computer in two parts: one for your desktop, and one for your browser. They both work together to make packing and unpacking archive files easy.

While EliteUnzip itself is not a threat, it comes bundled with other software that might cause a problem to your computer.

Due to its bundled nature, several anti-virus scanners have marked EliteUznip as a Potentially Unwanted Program and is therefore not recommended to keep on y our computer, especially because there are other free programs that do the same functions without the additional bundled software.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

Precisely what is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?

Have you ever found out an unwanted program running on your computer and wondered how the heck it got there? These unwanted programs, which are known as Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs in short, often tag along as a software bundle when downloading the program and can result in major problems for computer users. It’s clear by the name – unwanted programs – but did not really constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. The reason for this is that the majority of PUPs enter into users’ computers not because they exploit security weaknesses, for instance, but mainly because the users give consent to download it – unknowingly in many instances. No matter whether it is regarded as malware or otherwise, PUPs are almost always bad for a computer owner as they might bring on adware, spyware, keystroke logging, and other nasty “crapware” features on your PC.

What do PUPs do on your computer, precisely?

Most Potentially Unwanted Programs comes in the form of adware, which generally aims to exhibit lots of annoying pop-up ads, banners, coupons, and deals on websites you explore. PUPs that come in the form of browser add-ons and toolbars are widely identifiable. They may track your online activities, redirect your search results to risky sites where adware and spyware can be downloaded, hijack your home page, and slow your browser down to a crawl. PUPs carry a dangerous bite if left behind unchecked. The worst part of setting up a PUP is the spyware, adware, and keystroke loggers that could hide inside. These are programs that don’t do anything good for you; in addition to taking over space on the hard disk, they will also slow down your PC, often change settings without your permission, and the list of bothersome features goes on and on.

Protect yourself from unwanted programs

• When installing anything on your desktop, always read the fine print, like the license agreement. Don’t accept terms of use that are for bundled applications. • Normally, when installing a software program you get two options, ‘Standard Installation’ and ‘Custom Installation’. Don’t opt for ‘Standard’ as unwanted programs might automatically be installed that way! • Use good anti-malware software. Try Safebytes Anti-malware which can spot PUPs and treat them as malware by flagging them for deletion. • Be alert when you download and install freeware, open-source programs, or shareware. Nowadays ‘freeware’ isn’t actually freeware – but crapware bundling nonsense. • Only use official product sites for downloading applications. Steer clear of download websites altogether since most websites compel users to download the program with their own download manager, which is often bundled up with some kind of PUPs.

Virus Blocking Access To Safebytes Site And Preventing Anti-Malware Downloads – What You Should Do?

All malware is inherently unsafe, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer or laptop than others. Some malware variants alter browser settings by adding a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS configuration settings. When this happens, you will be unable to visit some or all of the sites, and therefore unable to download or install the necessary security software to eliminate the malware. If you are reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware software on your computer. There are some actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Install in Safe Mode

In the event the malware is set to run at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Since only the minimal applications and services start-up in safe mode, there are hardly any reasons for conflicts to happen. The following are the steps you should follow to start your computer into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (go to Microsoft site for directions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) Tap the F8 key continuously as soon as your computer boots, however, before the large windows logo comes up. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have internet access once again. Now, obtain the malware removal software you need by using the web browser. To install the program, follow the guidelines in the setup wizard. 4) Following installation, run a full scan and let the program eliminate the threats it finds.

Download the antivirus software in a different internet browser

Some malware mainly targets particular browsers. If this sounds like your case, make use of another internet browser as it may circumvent the virus. If you appear to have malware attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite anti-malware program – Safebytes.

Install antivirus on a thumb drive

Here’s yet another solution which is utilizing a portable USB anti-malware software package that can check your system for malware without needing installation. Adopt these measures to use a flash drive to clean your infected system. 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free computer. 2) Plug the pen drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the exe file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place where you want to store the software files. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Transfer the thumb drive from the uninfected computer to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Benefits and Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to purchase anti-malware for your PC, there are various brands and applications for you to consider. A few of them are great and some are scamware applications that pretend as authentic anti-malware software waiting to wreak havoc on your computer. You need to pick a tool that has gained a good reputation and detects not only computer viruses but other types of malware as well. When considering commercial application options, many people opt for popular brands, such as SafeBytes, and are very happy with them. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, highly effective protection application intended to help users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and removing harmful threats out of their computer. This application could easily identify, remove, and protect your computer from the most advanced malware intrusions such as adware, spyware, trojan horses, ransomware, worms, PUPs, as well as other possibly damaging software applications.

There are lots of great features you’ll get with this security product. Below are a few of the best ones:

Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes provides real-time active monitoring service and protection against all known computer viruses and malware. It will monitor your personal computer for suspicious activity regularly and shields your personal computer from unauthorized access. Best AntiMalware Protection: Safebytes is built on the very best virus engine in the industry. These engines will find and remove threats even during the early phases of a malware outbreak. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is one of the quickest and most efficient in the industry. It's targeted scanning substantially increases the catch rate for viruses that are embedded in various PC files. Web Protection: SafeBytes inspects the links present on a webpage for possible threats and tells you whether the website is safe to view or not, through its unique safety rating system. Light-weight: SafeBytes is well known for its minimal impact on computer resources and great detection rate of numerous threats. It operates quietly and efficiently in the background so you’re free to make use of your PC at full power all of the time. Premium Support: SafeBytes gives you 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and upgrades for the best user experience. SafeBytes has created a wonderful anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. Once you have downloaded and installed SafeBytes Anti-Malware, you will no longer have to bother about malware or other security concerns. So if you want sophisticated forms of protection features & threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware will be worth the money!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove EliteUnzip manually, go to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the program you want to get rid of. For internet browser plug-ins, go to your browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the plug-in you want to remove or disable. You will additionally also want to totally reset your internet browser to its default settings. To make sure of complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and remove it or reset the values appropriately. However, this is often a tricky task and only computer professionals could perform it safely. Also, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its deletion. Carrying out this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.

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

Option 1 – Try checking if your computer supports UEFI

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

Option 2 – Try turning off Fast Startup

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

Option 3 – Try bypassing the Extra Fast Startup feature

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

Option 4 – Try using a boot to UEFI shortcut

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

Option 5 – Try to check the CMOS battery

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

Option 6 – Set your computer from Legacy to UEFI

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

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

As you know, one of the most popular browsers these days is the Google Chrome browser. Browsing the web every day using your Chrome browser, leaves a trail of browsing history. Google uses the browser history to streamline and make the browsing experience a lot better. But there are times when Chrome users experience trouble in deleting their web browsing history, data, cookies, and cache. In this post, you will be guided through specific settings that will help you in getting rid of the browsing history in Chrome. There are several options you can take in clearing the browsing history in Chrome. But before you try them, you can try the basic one first using the following steps:

• First, click on the three-dotted icon and click on History from the menu.
• Next, click on the Clear browsing data option and select “All time”.
• Then select the type of history you want to delete.
• After that, click on the Clear Data button.

If clearing the browsing history in Chrome the old way didn’t work, then you can try to check out the options provided below.

Option 1 – Clear the cache using the File Explorer

The first thing you can do is to clear the cache by using File Explorer. To get started, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
• Next, navigate to the following paths:
  • C:/Users/YOURUSERNAME/AppData/Local/GoogleChrome/User Data/DEFAULT/Cache
  • C:/Users/YOURUSERNAME/AppData/Local/GoogleChrome/User Data/PROFILENAMECache
• From the given locations above, replace “YOUR USERNAME” with the user profile name you use and then search for a file named “Cookies”.
• Now delete its contents.

Option 2 – Reset Chrome

Resetting Chrome can also help you fix the error. This means that you will be restoring its default settings, disabling all the extensions, add-ons, and themes. Aside from that, the content settings will be reset as well and the cookies, cache, and site data will also be deleted. To reset Chrome, here’s what you have to do:

• Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
• After that, click on Settings.
• Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
• After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
• Now restart Google Chrome.

Option 3 – Try to clean reinstall Chrome

There are instances when programs leave files behind after you’ve uninstalled them and the same thing can happen to Chrome so before you reinstall Chrome, you have to make sure that you have deleted the User Data folder. To do so, refer to the following steps:

• Hit the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser Data” in the field and hit Enter to open the User Data folder.
• From there, rename the default folder and name it something else, e.g. “Default.old”.
• After that, install Google Chrome again and check if the issue is now fixed.

Error Code 80073712—What is it?

Error code 80073712 is one of the dozens of error codes affecting Windows 10 users. It occurs when users attempt to upgrade their operating system but experience a failure. The error code usually results from problems associated with missing or damaged files within Windows Update. Common symptoms of this error code include the following:

• The inability of Windows Update to successfully complete the upgrade process
• Message box highlighting the presence of error code

Solution

Error Causes

In the case of error code 80073712, the issues preventing Windows Update from completing the upgrade process are most likely due to problems with files within Windows Update. For instance, there may be corruption within the Component-Based Servicing (CBS) manifest.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Manual repair methods offer solutions to Microsoft users who are experiencing Windows error codes like the upgrade error code 80073712 in Windows 10. The manual repair methods in this article are not guaranteed to fix problems unrelated to this error code. Thus, be certain you are experiencing error code 80073712 before you attempt to implement the solutions provided below.

Method One: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Since issues related to Windows Update may be causing error code 80073712 to occur, one of the best solutions you can consider is to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. This troubleshooter will be able to detect and fix corruptions within Windows Update files or any other issues directly related to Windows Update. To implement this manual repair method, follow the steps listed below:

• Step one: Open your Internet browser
• Step two: Type www.microsoft.com/downloads
• Step three: Type Windows Update Troubleshooter in the search bar at the top-right corner of the Microsoft website.
• Step four: Select Windows Update Troubleshooter then wait for the webpage to load.
• Step five: Select Run troubleshooter

Once you run the troubleshooter, you should be able to verify and fix any errors within Windows Update files. Restart your machine after the troubleshooting process is complete them proceed by checking Windows Update to see if you are able to complete the upgrade. If Windows Update downloads the upgrade and the installation of the upgrade occurs, the problem has been resolved. Otherwise, error code 80073712 will reoccur, in which case you will need to move to manual repair method two.

Method Two: Run DISM Tool

Another option available to Windows users experiencing error code 80073712 is to download and run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. This tool checks for inconsistencies or corruptions that may be preventing Windows Update services from functioning correctly. To download and run the tool, follow the instructions below:

• Step one: Type Command Prompt in the search box near the Start button
• Step two: Right-click Command Prompt, then click Run as administrator, providing administrator password or confirmation where necessary.
• Step three: Select Allow
• Step four: Press Enter after typing the following command:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Wait a few minutes to ensure that the process is complete. Once you’ve run the DISM tool, it will detect errors, for instance within registry data, and correct or replace them. Restart your machine after running this tool then check Windows Update. Attempt to download the upgrade to see if you have successfully resolved error code 80073712. If you experience an upgrade failure, move to the next manual repair method mentioned below.

Method Three: Perform a Clean Install of Windows 10

The issues related to error code 80073712 may also be resolved by performing a clean install of Windows 10. This manual repair method ensures that any previous versions of your Windows operating system are removed before you attempt to access an upgrade. This can prove effective as it helps users avoid issues that would otherwise cause error codes or poor PC performance in cases where errors are present on one’s system.

To successfully perform a clean installation of Windows 10, be prepared to follow step-by-step procedures that include the following:

• Step one: Download and run media creation tool
• Step two: Click Run, then select Create installation media for another PC
• Step three: Select changes to the installation options, then select Next
• Step four: Choose USB flash drive or ISO file, then click Next
• Step five: Select drive, then Next
• Step six: Select Finish, then restart your computer, ensuring that the media option you choose, whether USB flash drive or DVD, is in your machine before you choose to reboot.
• Step seven: Press any key then follow the prompts provided to set up Windows 10.

Method Four: Download an Automated Tool

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