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Many times we were talking and writing here on Errortools.com about security, privacy, hacking, identity theft, etc. We tried to raise important security questions and I hope I have managed to at least shed some light and change maybe some bad behaviors for some, helping them embrace better routines about their security on their PC. In this light, I will today present you with one neat and awesome piece of software, a password manager worth your time and money (if you want premium features): BitWarden.

What BitWarden offers?

The first thing that it offers is the completely free basic plan, granted BitWarden is not an open-source project nor completely free but it has an unlimited free basic plan that will cover 90% of user needs. There is also a free basic unlimited plan for Organizations letting you and one more user share files and other stuff via BitWarden making it a cool option if you need it. Premium features offer you encrypted sharing of files, two-step login, 1GB file attachments (encrypted), Bitwarden Authenticator (TOTP), Vault Health Reports, Emergency Access, and Priority Support. The cost for all of these additional features is 10 USD per year for an individual plan or 40 USD per year for organizations where you will get an increase of maximum users from 2 to 6. Yes, you read that correctly, only 10 USD per YEAR for the whole set of features. Granted if you do not need any of them, enjoy the free version forever. Besides very low premium cost BitWarden will offer you compatibility with all major browsers and devices including both Android and iOS platforms making it a great cross-platform solution to login and maintain your passwords anywhere with just one click. Once installed all you need to do is set one master password and be very careful not to lose or forget this one, if you do all of your other generated passwords will be lost forever.

Features

Secure Password Sharing

Share your encrypted data quickly and easily, and only with the users or teams who need access

Cross-Platform Accessibility

Access critical data in your Bitwarden vault from any location, browser, and device

Cloud-Based or Self-Host

Get up and running in minutes in the cloud or you can self-host Bitwarden for complete data control

Security Audit & Compliance

Open source and third-party audited, Bitwarden complies with Privacy Shield, GDPR, CCPA regulations

Vault Health Reports

Access insightful reports to reveal weak, reused passwords, and other helpful data security metrics

Directory Sync

Our powerful Directory Connector streamlines user and group onboarding and keeps them in sync

Always-On Support

Our Customer Success agents are available to support you around the clock

Detailed Event Logs

Bitwarden creates audit trails to help you keep track of user and group access to sensitive data

Flexible Integrations

Unite your existing systems with Bitwarden using SSO authentication, Directory services, or powerful APIs

Conclusion

There are many password managers out there but via recommendation I have tried BitWarden and truth to be told, I really never felt the need to try anything else, it is great at what it does and it is moving forward with features and it is constantly updated and maintained.

Error Code 0xc004f050 – What is it?

Error code 0xc004f050 refers to a problem with activating the Windows key. The problem appears when you try to activate a copy of Windows by using Windows Activation wizard. This happens when the system becomes unstable and critical system files start missing. Though Windows 10 is a free upgrade for Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 8.1 users, the activation error is still an issue. If you already had Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 8.1 activated and did an upgrade successfully, then there should be no problem. This Problem Occurs only when you do a clean install.

Symptoms

When you try to activate a copy of Windows Vista or Windows 7 by using the Windows Activation wizard, you receive an error similar to the one below:

An error has occurred Code: 0xC004F050 Description: The Software Licensing Service reported that the product key is invalid

Solution

Error Causes

• This causes due to an invalid product key.
• This problem may occur if the license validity interval has expired, or if the license is not signed correctly.
• Error Code 0xc004f050 occurs when the system becomes unstable and critical system files start missing.
• Improper way of installing, deletion of some very important system files, misconfigured system files, etc. may also cause this error.
• When you do a clean install, it wipes everything from the Primary Drive and after the install, windows can't find the Hardware ID which is used to verify your license.
• For Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Vista-based computers, this error may occur if you have entered the key for a beta version of the operating system while using the released version of the operating system.

Further Information and Manual Repair

This error is not something that can be fixed in seconds but will require some time and technical knowledge.

Method 1:

Re-insert the product key by using the Change Product Key tool:

1. Click Start, click Computer, and then click System properties on the toolbar.
2. In the Windows activation section, click Change product key.
3. If you are prompted for an administrator password, type the password or click Continue.
4. In the Product key box, type the product key, and then click Next.
5. Follow the steps in the Windows Activation Wizard to complete the activation process.

Method 2:

Activate Windows by using the automated telephone system:

1. Click Start, and then click Computer.
2. Click System properties on the toolbar, and then click Click here to activate Windows now in the Windows activation
3. If you are prompted for an administrative password, type it and click Continue.
4. Click Show me other ways to Activate.
5. Click Use the automated phone system and follow the instructions.

Method 3:

1. Clean install Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 8.1 using the installation disk and activate your copy.
2. Now, download all the updates to see the Windows 10 Upgrade notification or download Windows Media Creation Tool and use the option Upgrade this PC to get Windows 10 right away.
3. Once the upgrade is done, check the Activation Status. It will be fully activated as it should be. The Error code 0xc004f050 should not appear anymore.

If you want to get rid of the old Windows installation folder, then use the Windows Media Creation Tool to create a Flash Drive. Clean Install Windows 10. Now, every time when it asks for a product key, skip it. After installation is complete, Windows will automatically identify and activate your Copy. NOTE: Clean Install will make Sure you cannot roll back to your previous Windows 7 or Windows 8. So do it only if you are confident of using Windows 10 from here on. To verify the Windows activation status, follow these steps:

• Click the Start button, and then click Computer.
• Click System properties on the toolbar, and then view the activation status in the Windows activation section.

It is no secret that Fortnite is one of the most played games in the world. Epic has done a great job offering it to plenty of other platforms with cross-play feature meaning that you can play with your friends no matter on what platform they are on. But how Fortnite is a piece of software which is constantly updated and maintained it is pretty normal to have some bugs or issues from time to time. One of the before-mentioned issues is a connection issue or unable to connect to game servers. In our article, we will go through common fixes and solutions in order to get you back in-game as fast as possible. Keep on reading.

Check the Epic Games Status page

Check the Epic Games Server Status page to make sure all systems are operational. If the issue you’re experiencing is related to an outage or system-wide issue, you won’t be able to connect to the Epic Games Launcher or Fortnite until it's resolved.

Use a wired connection

Wireless connections are not as stable as wired connections. This means that the signal can be unreliable and result in packet loss, connection problems, or higher latency or ping. Connect directly to your modem or router with an Ethernet cable to eliminate this possibility and have the fastest connection possible.

Disable your firewalls

Often the quickest way to fix connection problems due to firewalls is to temporarily uninstall and/or disable it.

Windows Firewall disable guide:

1. Click on Start.
2. Click on Control Panel.
3. Click on System and Security.
4. Click on Windows Firewall.
5. Click on Turn Windows Firewall on or off (You might need to provide the Administrator password at this step)
6. Under each Network location, select the Turn off Windows Firewall option

Uninstall any other firewalls

Using a third-party firewall may prevent you from being able to connect to the Epic Games Launcher, Fortnite, or another Epic Games product. We recommend removing any third party firewalls temporarily to see if this resolves your issue. If it does resolve the problem, make sure to add the following executables as exceptions to your firewall:

Epic Games Launcher

• C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games\Launcher\Engine\Binaries\Win64\EpicGamesLauncher.exe
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games\Launcher\Engine\Binaries\Win32\EpicGamesLauncher.exe

Fortnite

• C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe
• C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping_BE.exe
• C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping_EAC.exe
• C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\FortniteLauncher.exe

Contact your firewall manufacturer for instructions on how to add these as exceptions to it as this varies between them.

Unblock your network ports

Network ports allow certain types of data to be successfully sent over a network that is used by our services. If you have any of these blocked, it may result in you being unable to connect to our games or use our services properly. To unblock your ports on your router do the following:

Windows

First, you will need to get your default gateway and internal IP address:

1. Click on Start.
2. Type cmd and press Enter.
3. Type ipconfig and press Enter.
4. Take note of your Default Gateway and IPv4.

Configuring your router to unblock the ports

1. Open your web browser.
2. Type your Default Gateway into the address bar and press Enter. (A common Default Gateway is 192.168.1.1)
3. You may be asked for a username and password. This varies for each router. Before entering anything, try just hitting OK. If that doesn't work, try the common default username and password below: Username: admin Password: password If these don't work, you can check this website for a list of usernames and passwords based on your router model.
4. Locate the Port Forwarding page in the administration tool and click on it.
5. Make sure you have Port Forwarding selected and not Port Triggering as this is completely different.
6. On this screen, you will need to enter the ports and port ranges below with the correct protocol and local IP of which you took note of above: 80 (TCP/UDP), 433 (TCP), 443 (TCP), 3478 (TCP/UDP), 3479 (TCP/UDP), 5060 (TCP/UDP), 5062 (TCP/UDP), 5222 (TCP), 6250 (TCP/UDP), and12000-65000 (TCP/UDP).

If you have any trouble doing the above on your router, make sure to check out the router manufacturer's support site for additional instructions as these will vary from router to router.

VPN and Proxy Servers

Do NOT use VPN or Proxy Servers. These cause issues that can't be resolved by us without having you disable them. Check out this article for information on how to disable your proxy server.

Switch Domain Name Systems (DNS)

Switching your DNS can result in better connectivity and performance for your internet connection. There are two different DNS services we recommend to have you try if you are having issues with your connection. Below are the followings links with instructions on how to change your DNS:

• GoogleDNS
• CloudflareDNS

Epic Games Launcher: Edit your Engine.ini file (Windows only)

Editing these settings can result in better download speeds using the Epic Games Launcher:

1. Click on Start.
2. Type %localappdata% and press Enter.
3. Open the EpicGamesLauncher
4. Open the Saved
5. Open the Config
6. Open the Windows
7. Open ini and add the following lines to it: [HTTP] HttpTimeout=10 HttpConnectionTimeout=10 HttpReceiveTimeout=10 HttpSendTimeout=10[Portal.BuildPatch] ChunkDownloads=3 ChunkRetries=20 RetryTime=0.5
8. Save the file and open the Epic Games Launcher.

0x800ccc92 - What is it?

The 0x800ccc92 is a Microsoft Outlook error. The error restricts your ability to send and receive emails on your Outlook email address successfully. This error is very similar to 0x800cc90 and 0x800ccc91 Outlook error codes. The 0x800ccc92 error message is often displayed as:

‘Receiving reported error (0x800ccc92): Your email server rejected your login.’

This error is quite common and is faced by many Microsoft Outlook users. It is advisable to fix this error immediately because besides restricting you from sending and receiving emails via Outlook, due to this error the data on your Outlook also becomes inaccessible and unreadable, and sometimes Outlook also begins to freeze unexpectedly.

Error Causes

Some of the most common causes of the error code 0x800ccc92 are:

• PST files get corrupt
• Incorrect Outlook configuration settings
• PST file crosses its fixed file size limit
• Failure of POP3 and Protocol STMP in database server connection
• Improper synchronization between Outlook and the server
• Usage of invalid password or username
• Virus Infection

Further Information and Manual Repair

Any of the above causes may result in the 0x800ccc92 error message display. If you encounter this Outlook error, you don’t need to panic and call the network personnel in your office to fix and repair the error. In fact, it is very easy to fix and you can repair it by yourself: Here are some of the best and easy ways to resolve this error in the shortest time:

• If the error message 0x0800ccc92 is displayed as POP3: Invalid Password, then in this case it is advisable to cross-check your Outlook account ID and password. Sometimes this error message may pop up if you insert an incorrect password or ID. Therefore the best way to resolve it to check where you went wrong and then re-enter your ID and Password correctly.

If the error is not related to POP3 (Post Office Protocol) then you can try some other alternative to resolve this issue.

• Another alternative is to install the latest available Server Service Pack for Exchange. This solution works best if compatibility is the issue.
• However, when nothing works, then it is advisable to download PST repair tool. The PST repair software is designed to scan, detect, repair, and resolve Outlook errors like 0x800ccc92.  The PST repair software is built with special algorithms that help repair PST corrupt files in seconds. This tool works on all Windows Operating Systems including Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2003, and Windows 2008.

1. All you need to do is, download and install this software on your system.
2. Once you download it, run it on your PC to detect errors.
3. Press scan to get started
4. The scanning may take about a couple of minutes to complete.
5. Once it is complete, click on the repair tab to fix the errors.
6. Now restart your Outlook again and now try sending emails. This solution is likely to work if the above-mentioned solutions don’t.

YourTemplateFinder is a browser extension developed by Mindspark for Google Chrome. This extension allows users to browse and download various templates that can be used for all kinds of occasions.

When installed, it changes your default search engine and home page to MyWay.com. During your browsing sessions, YourTemplateFinder will monitor user activity, recording website visits, user information, product purchases, etc. This data is later used to target better ads to users.

While browsing the internet with this extension active you will see additional ads displayed throughout your browsing sessions. Sponsored content such as links, banners, and pop-up ads will appear on websites sometimes even covering the website content.

This extension has been marked for removal by several anti-virus applications and has been classified as a Browser Hijacker due to its aggressive behavior and ad injections. It is flagged for optional removal.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a common type of online fraud where your web browser settings are altered to make it carry out things you never intend. There are various reasons why you might experience a browser hijack; however commercial, advertising, and marketing are the main reasons for their creation. It redirects you to the sponsored websites and inserts adverts on your web browser that helps its creator generate revenue. However, it is not that innocent. Your online safety is jeopardized and it is also extremely irritating. As soon as the program attacks your PC, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you may be forced to deal with serious malware threats too.

How to know whether the browser is hijacked?

Symptoms that your internet browser is hi-jacked include: 1. the home page of your browser is changed unexpectedly 2. you observe new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, typically directed to advertisement-filled or porn sites 3. the default browser settings are changed and/or your default web engine is altered 4. you see unsolicited new toolbars added 5. you’ll find random pop-ups start occurring frequently 6. webpages load slowly and sometimes incomplete 7. you can’t navigate to specific websites, like security software-related sites.

How they infect computer systems

There are a number of ways your computer or laptop could become infected by a browser hijacker. They generally arrive by way of spam e-mail, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by-download. They can also come from any BHO, extension, toolbar, add-on, or plug-in with malicious intent. A browser hijacker can also be installed as a part of freeware, demoware, shareware, and fake programs. Well-known examples of browser hijackers include CoolWebSearch, Conduit, RocketTab, OneWebSearch, Coupon Server, Delta Search, Searchult.com, and Snap.do. Browser hijackers can affect the user’s browsing experience greatly, track the websites visited by users and steal personal information, cause problems in connecting to the internet, and eventually create stability problems, causing applications and computers to freeze.

How you can get rid of a browser hijacker

Certain hijackers can be removed by simply uninstalling the corresponding freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. However, most browser hijackers are hard to remove manually. Irrespective of how much you try to get rid of it, it could come back over and over. Furthermore, manual removals demand deep system understanding and thus can be a very difficult job for novices. Installing and running anti-malware software on the affected system could automatically erase browser hijackers and also other malicious applications. If you’d like to eliminate persistent hijackers effectively, install the award-winning Anti-Malware program Safebytes Anti-Malware.

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

All malware is bad and the level of the damage will differ greatly depending on the type of infection. Some malware variants modify browser settings by including a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS settings. In such cases, you will be unable to visit some or all sites, and therefore not able to download or install the necessary security software to get rid of the infection. If you’re reading this right now, you have probably realized that virus infection is the reason for your blocked internet traffic. So what to do if you need to download and install an antivirus program such as Safebytes? There are a few solutions you can attempt to get around with this particular obstacle.

Install in Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode is actually a special, basic version of Microsoft Windows in which only the bare minimum services are loaded to prevent viruses and also other troublesome applications from loading. In the event the malware is obstructing the internet connection and affecting your computer, running it in Safe Mode will let you download antivirus and run a diagnostic scan while limiting potential damage. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the system is booting up or run MSConfig and locate the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you are in safe mode, you can attempt to download and install your antivirus software program without the hindrance of the virus. Now, you are able to run the antivirus scan to get rid of viruses and malware without interference from another application.

Switch to some other web browser

Malicious code can exploit vulnerabilities in a specific web browser and block access to all anti-virus software sites. In case you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by malware or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the ideal approach would be to switch to an alternate internet browser like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari to download your chosen security software – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Create a portable USB antivirus for eliminating malware

Here’s another solution which is using portable USB anti-virus software that can scan your computer for viruses without the need for installation. Try these simple steps to clean up your infected computer by using a portable antivirus. 1) Make use of another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Insert the USB drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the USB stick as the destination for saving the file. Follow activation instructions. 5) Now, plug the USB drive into the infected computer. 6) Double-click the antivirus program EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for malware.

SafeBytes AntiMalware Overview

These days, an anti-malware program can protect the computer from different forms of internet threats. But wait, how to choose the right one among various malware protection software that’s available out there? Perhaps you might be aware, there are lots of anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. Some are good ones, some are ok types, while some are simply just fake anti-malware programs that could harm your personal computer themselves! You must select one that is efficient, practical, and has a good reputation for its malware source protection. Among few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended software for the security-conscious individual. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection software made to help end-users of all levels of computer literacy in identifying and eliminating malicious threats out of their PC. With its outstanding protection system, this software will quickly detect and remove the majority of the security threats, including adware, viruses, browser hijackers, ransomware, trojans, worms, and PUPs.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a totally new level with its enhanced features. Let us discuss a few of the great ones:

World-class AntiMalware Protection: Safebytes is built on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines can identify and remove threats even during the initial phases of a malware outbreak. Real-time Protection: SafeBytes offers real-time active monitoring and protection against all known computer viruses and malware. It will inspect your computer system for suspicious activity at all times and shields your personal computer from illegal access. Web Security: SafeBytes checks the links present on a webpage for possible threats and informs you if the website is safe to look at or not, through its unique safety rating system. Low CPU and Memory Usage: The program is lightweight and will run silently in the background, and that does not impact your PC efficiency. 24/7 Customer Service: Support service is available 24 x 7 x 365 days via email and chats to answer your queries. SafeBytes has created an amazing anti-malware solution that can help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. You can rest assured that your PC will be protected in real-time once you put this software program to use. So if you are looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we recommend the SafeBytes Anti-Malware application.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove YourTemplateFinder manually, go to the Add or Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and select the program you want to remove. For internet browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you intend to remove or disable. You will probably also want to reset your web browser. Finally, examine your hard disk for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to remove leftover application entries following uninstalls. Please note that only advanced computer users should try to manually edit the registry because removing any single critical system file results in a serious problem or even a system crash. Also, some malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its removal. You are encouraged to do this process in Windows Safe Mode.

The Recycle Bin is undeniably an important place to make files ready for deletion. To put it simply, it assumes some importance but there are times when it displays an unpredictable behavior. For instance, it just suddenly goes missing and even Cortana is unable to find it. A lot of users have experienced the missing Recycle Bin issue in their Windows 10 computers. If you are one of these users, you might have wondered where the Recycle Bin icon has gone and how you can get it back. Worry not, as this post will provide you a couple of options you can try to bring back Recycle Bin in your Windows 10 computer. Follow the given options below to get started.

Option 1 – Try to restore Recycle Bin

It could be that you have disabled the Recycle Bin by accident which is why Windows was not able to show it on your desktop. To restore Recycle Bin, follow these steps:

• First, click on the Start button and select Settings.
• Next, select the Personalization setting and then select Themes from the left pane.
• After that, click on the “Desktop icon settings” link under the “Related Settings” heading. This will display a list of icons in the Desktop Icons window.
• From there, make sure that you check the checkbox for “Recycle Bin” to make it appear on your Desktop screen once again.

Option 2 – Try to recreate the Recycle Bin

If the first option didn’t work, then it could be that Recycle Bin might have been deleted which is why you fail to restore it. And to resolve this problem, you need to recreate Recycle Bin. Refer to the following steps to do so:

• You need to launch the Windows File Explorer first and go to the View tab.
• From this tab, select Options and click on the drop-down arrow and then select the “Change folder and search option”.
• Afterward, switch to the View tab when the Folder Options window appears on your screen and select the “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” option.
• And then unmark the checkbox next to the “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)” option and click on both the Apply and OK buttons, respectively.
• Next, go back to the File Explorer and click on “This PC” located on the left bar and go to the C: drive.
• From there, you will find a file named “$Recycle.Bin” located at the top.
• Open this folder to access its contents and you should see the Recycle Bin icon located at the top.
• After that, right-click on the Recycle Bin icon and click on the “Send To” option and then click on “Desktop (create shortcut)”.
• It will then confirm and recreate the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop screen.

Note: Even though this icon is quite similar to the original one, it actually differs from it. The difference is that you won’t see if fill up when you delete files and you can’t simply empty it by right-clicking on the shortcut. On the other hand, you can still drag items into it just like with the original one. So when you want to empty the content of the newly restored Recycle Bin, you just have to double-click on the shortcut and right-click on the recycle bin in the window that appears, and select the “Empty Recycle Bin” option. In addition, now that you’ve set up the Recycle Bin shortcut, you have to re-activate the “Hide protected operating system files” to keep the important files and folders in your computer hidden.

Option 3 – Try to repair the Recycle Bin

If both the first two options failed to restore the missing Recycle Bin, then you can try repairing it instead. There are times when the Recycle Bin is removed from the Desktop screen due to some corrupted Windows system files. To fix these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like the missing Recycle Bin. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:

• Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
• After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the problem is now fixed.

Option 4 – Make sure that you are not in Tablet Mode

Since Windows 10 is designed to work on both desktop and mobile devices, it could be that your computer has slipped into Tablet Mode which explains why you’re not seeing the Recycle Bin. To check if your computer is really in Tablet Mode, follow these steps:

• Go to the Start menu and select Settings.
• Next, select the System setting and from the left pane select the Tablet Mode.
• From there, make sure that the buttons next to the options given below are set to the off position:
  • Hide app icons on the taskbar in tablet mode
  • Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode

Can’t connect to this network Internet connectivity issues present a complex problem with simple solutions for PC and laptop users. First, it is usually recommended that users rule out problems with the internet connection, router, and Wi-Fi settings before proceeding to troubleshoot settings on your PC/laptop. Once the rest are ruled out, we can then proceed with the following troubleshooting steps and guidelines to fix your wifi connection issue: The first step is to update your windows network adapter driver. Connectivity problems may arise if your network driver is not updated or if it is incompatible with the network adapter. To do so, you may resort to any third-party driver scanning and installing programs found online. This solution should have resorted if users don’t want the hassle of perusing through windows settings that users may not be familiar with. However, this solution requires a pre-existing internet connection other than wifi, so it is recommended you have a backup internet connection via ethernet.

The second step is to uninstall the driver for your network adapter. This solution is to be reported if there is an issue with the driver as restarting the PC after the following steps let windows reinstall the driver again:

• Open the quick access menu on your keyboard by pressing the Windows key and X key at the same time and select “Device Manager” from the menu list.
• From the list of devices, select “Network Adapters”
• Usually on the top of the list is the Wireless Network Adapter
• Right-click the Wireless Network Adapter and select the option to “Uninstall device”
• You will be given a confirmation in a new separate window to proceed. Click “Uninstall” to proceed.
• After completing the previous steps, try rebooting your Windows PC and reconnecting to see if it works.

A third step is to disable the 802.1 1n modes of your network adapter by following the next steps:

• First press the Windows logo key and the X key at the same time to bring up the quick-access menu. And like the previous step, select “Device Manager”
• From the list of devices, select “Network Adapters”
• Right-click the Wireless Network Adapter from the drop-down menu and select properties
• Under properties, select the “Advanced” tab then select the 802.1 1n Mode. To the right drop-down menu change the option to  “Disabled” and click “Ok”
• After, try to re-establish the connection to see if the steps have worked.

In the event that any of the preceding did not fix your problem, it helps to take a second look at the router and network settings using the interface provided by your ISP. A simple reset to the back of your router often fixes the issue. Also, try to check if you have any other administrative capabilities over the network to determine whether your device, in particular, has been MAC filtered or if the frequency of your wireless adapter is not compatible with the broadcast frequency of your router.

If you are frequently experiencing slow loading of folders in your Windows 10 computer, Downloads folder for instance, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you resolve such issue. Slow loading of folders is a common problem faced by many users even when they are using the latest hardware like SSDs. So if you experience the same thing, be it with the Downloads folder or other folders on your computer, there is a way to resolve that issue and make the folder load faster. Slow-loading means when you attempt to open the folder, it takes a couple of seconds before it displays its contents. In such cases, you’ll see a green loading address bar that says “Working on it” which can get quite annoying especially if you are in a hurry. And if you notice that this only happens in the Downloads folder, there certainly is something wrong. This kind of problem can occur on SSDs and normal hard drives. The main reason behind the occurrence of this problem is that the folder may have been optimized for viewing photos or other media formats which is why it takes quite longer than usual to load all the files and their thumbnails. However, since the Downloads folder usually contains all kinds of files like documents, zip files, audio/video files, etc. there is no need to optimize this folder for media files only because doing so is only going to make the Windows File Explorer slow in loading the folder’s contents and thumbnails which does not exist for many files.

Option 1 – Configure the Downloads folder

• Right-click on the Downloads folder or the folder you’re having trouble opening.
• Then click on Properties and go to the Customize tab.
• After that, click on the “Optimize this folder for” option in the drop-down menu.
• Next, select General items from the drop-down which might have been set by default to Pictures or Video.
• You also have the option to apply this template to all the subfolders, that is if your folder has any subfolders.
• Now apply the settings and restart Windows Explorer.

Note: Once you’ve completed the steps above, it should now make the folder content display a lot faster than before. Now try to open the Downloads folder which would not take much time as you will see the changes right away.

Option 2 – Run CHKDSK to check your disk for errors

When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. This error check utility can help with several issues in the system including File System Error -2147219196.

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

chkdsk /r /f

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

Free Ride Games is a desktop casual game program and potentially unwanted application. It sets its player to run in startup boot with Windows and installs additional files outside of its designated installation folders. The software reads PC information to display targeted advertising and runs a background process that cannot be shut down even by exiting the FreeRide Player. The player runs in full screen with no visible window controls to exit or minimize, and contains unskippable advertising in its function. While not malicious, the FreeRide Player possesses many traits that as of publication time have caused some AntiVirus programs to designate it as potentially unwanted adware. It has also been associated with adware distribution toolbars such as GameVance.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means a malicious code has power over and modified the settings of your browser, without your consent. Browser hijacker malware is created for a variety of reasons. Typically, hijackers will force hits to websites of their preference either to increase web traffic generating higher ad earnings, or to gain a commission for each and every user visiting there. Many people think that such websites are legitimate and harmless but that is incorrect. Nearly every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is vital to categorize them under privacy risks. When the malware attacks your computer or laptop, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you will be pushed to deal with serious malware threats as well.

Browser hijacking signs

There are numerous signs that could indicate a browser hijacking: 1. you find unauthorized modifications to your Internet browser’s home-page 2. when you enter a URL, you find yourself regularly directed to some other website than the one you actually intended 3. the default web engine and the default browser settings are modified 4. discover new toolbars that you didn’t add 5. you might find numerous pop-up adverts on your computer screen 6. your internet browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly 7. you are blocked to access those sites of security solution providers.

How it infects your computer

Browser hijackers could use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or even an email attachment to reach a targeted computer. They can also come from any BHO, extension, toolbar, add-on, or plug-in with malicious objectives. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your computer through the “bundling” technique. An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, Delta Search, and RocketTab, but the names are constantly changing. Browser hijacking can lead to serious privacy issues and also identity theft, affect your web browsing experience by taking control of outbound traffic, substantially slows down your personal computer by depleting a lot of resources and lead to system instability as well.

How to remove a browser hijacker

Some hijackers could be removed by just uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel. However, most hijackers are difficult to eliminate manually. Regardless of how much you attempt to get rid of it, it might keep returning again and again. Furthermore, manual removals demand in-depth system knowledge and therefore can be an extremely difficult task for beginner computer users.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of Malware? Try This!

Malware can cause all kinds of damage when they invade your system, from stealing your personal details to erasing files on your computer system. Some malware sits in between the computer and your net connection and blocks a few or all internet sites that you really want to check out. It might also prevent you from adding anything on your PC, particularly anti-malware applications. If you are reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download and/or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Even though this sort of problem can be harder to get around, there are a few actions you can take.

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

If the virus is set to load automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could block the attempt. Only minimal required applications and services are loaded when you boot your computer or laptop into Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, please do as instructed below. 1) At power on, hit the F8 key while the Windows splash screen begins to load. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you should have online access once again. Now, get the malware removal application you want by using the browser. To install the software, follow the directions in the setup wizard. 4) Following installation, run a complete scan and let the program delete the threats it discovers.

Download the antivirus program in an alternate browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a specific web browser or attacking specific versions of the browser. If you appear to have malware attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different web browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes. Make a bootable USB antivirus drive Another option is to save and operate an anti-malware software program entirely from a USB drive. To run anti-malware from a USB drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free PC. 2) Plug in the pen drive into the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has a .exe file extension. 4) Select flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you wish to install the application. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Remove the flash drive. Now you can use this portable antivirus on the infected computer. 6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the thumb drive to run the software. 7) Click on the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically. How SafeBytes Anti-Malware Keep your Machine Virus Free"]If you are planning to buy anti-malware for your desktop, there are numerous brands and applications for you to consider. Some are very good ones, some are decent, while some are merely bogus anti-malware applications that will damage your computer themselves! You have to look for a tool that has gained a strong reputation and detects not just viruses but other types of malware also. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended program for the security-conscious end user. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, highly effective protection tool made to assist end-users of all levels of computer literacy in detecting and removing malicious threats from their PC. After you have installed this tool, SafeBytes sophisticated protection system will make sure that no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC. SafeBytes has excellent features when compared to other anti-malware programs. The following are some typical features found in this software: Active Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It will check your computer system for suspicious activity continuously and its unrivaled firewall protects your PC from unauthorized access by the outside world. Most effective AntiMalware Protection: Using its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can detect and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your computer system effectively. Web Protection: SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety rating to each and every website you visit and block access to webpages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software. Faster Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its advanced scanning engine, provides extremely fast scanning which can quickly target any active online threat. Light-weight: This software is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and that does not have an effect on your computer efficiency. 24/7 Online Tech Support: You can get 24/7 technical support to promptly resolve any concern with your security tool.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove FreeRideGames without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by FreeRideGames.

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.