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Skinning of applications is not new to PC users, but did you knew you could skin Steam? With skin, you can customize the UI and style of the client to what you want making it more personal and to your liking. First thing is to find the skin that you would like to install. There are a lot of sites where you could find custom made Steam skins but we would recommend steamskins.org The site itself is organized in tabs with different sections, once you click on the tab you will get a list of skins available for chosen section. If you click on the skin you will be taken to skin page detail where you can find what skin is aiming for, its legibility, a record of how the skin has been altered over time, or some mix of these aspects. Note that some skins might have issues like some buttons might be missing from big picture mode but so far none of the skins has any kind of client breaking feature, only functionality one.

Downloading skin

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

Installing it in Steam

Once the skin is downloaded you will first need to create a skin folder inside your Steam installation location. Navigate to your Steam installation folder (default: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam) and create a new folder inside it. Give new folder name Skins and confirm. Extract the skin zip file in the newly made folder. Once the file is extracted you can delete the ZIP file if you wish. Go to your Steam client and go to Steam>Settings. In settings select Interface on the left bar and on the right part then click the Select the skin you wish Steam to use the drop-down menu and select the skin that you wish to use. Confirm and restart your Steam client

Reverting to old skin

If you found skin unappealing or, unfortunately, has some functions missing you can always choose another skin or revert back to default Steam skin. Default Steam skin is named in the drop-down menu as < default skin >.

Spending a large amount of time working or gaming in front of the computer can take a toll on your health. And as someone who indeed spends a large amount of time in front of the computer, I would like to share some insights about how can you be happy and healthy at the same time by incorporating some practices and habits.

Get good chair

This is first on the list because it matters the most. A proper sitting chair is essential for back health. If your budget allows it, do yourself a favor and get an anatomic sitting chair or gaming chair with lumbar support. It costs but it is worth it.

Learn to sit properly

As the important chair is, sitting properly is also as important as much. Your spine believe it or not is a very important part of your body and you need to take care of it. Sadly long periods of sitting sessions are bad for muscles around the spine that could reflect on the spine itself. Keep your back straight and keep your head not down nor up, place it in a position like when you are walking so the spine that is going from your head is in line with the spine on your back.

Stretch

By medical standards, each hour of sitting should be accompanied by a stretch session since sitting itself is placing too much pressure on certain muscles and blood circulation is lowered. Changing leg position and doing just a little stretch each hour can be really beneficial for your health in long run.

Take breaks

Yes, playing games is fun and most of the time we do not want to stop playing, especially if we are winning but taking breaks is essential for your personal health. Old saying goes that overdoing anything is bad and this applies true even to things that we do for pleasure and relaxation. Take periodic breaks to stretch, stand up and maybe even walk just a little.

Drink water

During long work hours or long gaming sessions, it is not uncommon that we are so focused on our activity that we forget to take our water intake. Approximately 2liters of water per day is needed for an adult person to function properly during that day and if you spend long times in front of a PC do not forget to drink water.

Do not neglect your daily tasks

As enjoyable as it is gaming can make us forget about our daily tasks, do not neglect your life and your tasks. Remember, gaming is only OK if it does not interfere with the daily things that you need to do. Do not postpone going for groceries because of gaming, do not switch shower for another level in the game. Do all of the things you must do first and then sit and game.

Take care of yourself mentally

Having mental health is as important as having a physical one. Playing games is fun, but playing games with someone is even better, do not forget to socialize and invite some friends so you can share some fun times together. Also, detach yourself from outcomes that will come because of gaming, this is very important for gamers that do a lot of PVP games and get annoyed and angry when they lose or when some other player is talking trash. Remember, gaming is for you to relax and enjoy, not to stress you.

If you were trying to update your Windows 10 computer and failed due to Error Code 0x80240438, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will give you a couple of suggestions you can check out to resolve this error. You can encounter Error Code 0x80240438 not just in Windows Updates but also in Microsoft Store. This is due to the fact that the delivery mechanism for both Windows Updates and Microsoft Store is common and interdependent. This is why a lot of Windows Update and Microsoft Store error codes are similar. And so fixing them won’t be that hard as well since most methods are basically the same. When you encounter this kind of error in Windows Update or Microsoft Store, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help – (0x80240438).”

To resolve Error Code 0x80240438, here are some potential fixes you need to check out:

Option 1 – Try to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

The Windows 10 Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the Error Code 0x80240438. This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app installation issues. So this is worth a try to solve the problem. This built-in tool also helps you fix the Windows 10 Store if it isn’t working. To use the Windows Store Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.

• Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
• Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
• Under the Troubleshoot section, on your left-hand side, scroll down to find Windows Update and then click on Run the troubleshooter option and follow the on-screen instructions and then see if it fixes the problem.

Option 2 – Try to temporarily disable anti-virus and Windows Defender Firewall

As mentioned, the error could be due to the antivirus program or the Windows Defender Firewall installed on your computer. Thus, disabling them or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when you’re not able to access the shared drive on your computer. There are times when you encounter problems like Error Code 0x80240438 due to interference of antivirus or security programs. Thus, you have to disable both your antivirus program and Windows Defender Firewall for the meantime and check if it fixes the error or not.

Option 3 – Disable the Proxy server

You can also try to disable the Proxy server for your LAN to fix Error Code 0x80240438 especially if your computer was attacked by some malware or adware recently. In such cases, there is a chance that the malware or adware has changed your network settings in order to generate intrusive advertisements. Thus, you have to disable the proxy server and you can do that by following these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
• After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
• From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
• Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
• Restart your PC.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 4 – Try modifying the “Remove access to use all the Windows Update features” Policy

• Start by tapping the Win + R key combination to open the Run utility.
• Then type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Once you’ve pulled up the Group Policy Editor, navigate to this setting: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
• Next, double click on the “Remove access to use all the Windows Update features” policy and set its radio button to “Not Configured”. As you can see, this policy setting has the following description:

“This setting allows you to remove access to Windows Update. If you enable this setting, all Windows Update features are removed. This includes blocking access to the Windows Update Web site at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, from the Windows Update hyperlink on the Start menu, and also on the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. Windows automatic updating is also disabled; you will neither be notified about nor will you receive critical updates from Windows Update. This setting also prevents Device Manager from automatically installing driver updates from the Windows Update Web site.”

If you enable this policy setting, you can configure one of the following notification options:

• 0 = Do not show any notifications: This setting will remove all access to Windows Update features, and no notifications will be shown.
• 1 = Show restart required notifications – This setting will show notifications about restarts that are required to complete an installation.
• Now you need to exit the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Option 5 – Try resetting the Windows Update folders

Resetting the Windows Update folders can also help in fixing the error in both Windows Update and Microsoft Store. All you have to do is delete the contents in both the SoftwareDistribution folder and reset the Catroot2 folder as well.

Option 6 – Try downloading and installing the Windows Updates manually

Error Code 0x80240438 might be due to a Windows Update that has failed. So if it is not a feature update and only a cumulative update, you can download the Windows Update and install it manually. But first, you need to find out which update has failed, and to do so, refer to the following steps:

• Go to Settings and from there go to Update and Security > View Update History.
• Next, check which particular update has failed. Note that Updates that have failed to install will be displayed under the Status column which has a label of “Failed”.
• After that, go to the Microsoft Download Center and look for that update using its KB number and once you find it, download and then install it manually.

Note: You can also use the Microsoft Update Catalog, a service from Microsoft that provides a list of software updates that can be distributed over a corporate network. With the help of this service, it can be easier for you to find Microsoft software updates, drivers as well as fixes.

You probably heard about switches for LAN but not a lot of people heard about KVM switches. So what exactly is KVM switch?

If we look at the name, it is a shortcut for Keyboard, Video & Mouse and the original idea was to have multiple computers but one keyboard, mouse, and monitor. These peripherals would be connected to the KVM switch and other computers could all use one set of these on the fly when needed.

The technology behind the switch is a little interesting since it will actively fake signals to other computers that are not using peripherals. Once they are switched to them the transition is smooth and not noticeable. In old days these switches were more important than today since on every mouse or keyboard disconnection you had to reboot the computer, and although today that is not the case CPU will still detect disconnection and on the next connection it will run through the ID of the device and try to use the existing driver and if peripheral was connected in other USB port, it will install the same driver but connect it to the new USB port.

This type of reconnection can slow down work and place unnecessary load on the CPU so that is why KVM will fake connection in order to make switching externals on the computer smooth and in nick of a time.

Modern KVM switch

These days modern KVM switches will offer you more options than just being able to switch between keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Modern switches now offer Lan, audio, and many more various options.

There are also different kinds of switches offering you only one option, like for example just a Video switch that will let you use one monitor on three computers and many more other specialized options.

Software switches

So far we talked about Hardware switches, a real device being able to take peripherals into it and switch computers on the fly. On the other line, we have software switch solutions that will have specific software installed on all computers and have it run at all times, and switching between them will be through specific software.

There are two very good and main advantages of using software solutions instead of a hardware one. First, of course, is the price, since the most popular Synergy is an open-source solution, completely free of charge. The second big advantage is that software switch is not limited to how many computers can you use. Hardware switches tend to go to a large number like 16 but if you have a large cluster of computers over a LAN, let's say 30 then the box solution might be difficult.

On the other hand software solution will switch only keyboard and mouse since each other computer will have to have some screen on it in order to work. Both solutions have their strong advantages and disadvantages and it is up to you to choose one that best suits you.

Conclusion

If you are multitasking with a lot of computers or just need your peripherals from time to time to connect to another machine then the KVM switch is something that you might find the use of. Just be aware that if you go for some cheap switch you might experience some lag on your peripherals, but if that is not a concern you can get hardware one for as low as $50 USD.

What is the Error Code 0x6d9?

If you have a firewall installed on your system, you may come across the error code 0x6d9.  This error occurs when opening Windows Firewall with advanced security. The error code 0x9d9 is displayed as:

“There was an error opening the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security snap-in. The Windows Firewall with Advanced Security snap-in failed to load. Restart the Windows Firewall service on the computer you are managing. Error code: 0x6D9”

This occurs when the Windows Firewall service is missing. The service doesn’t start due to permission errors on various registry keys. It is a critical blue screen of death error code that turns the computer screen blue and causes the Windows to shut down. If this error code is not fixed it may start appearing more and more frequently resulting in total system corruption.

Solution

Error Causes

Virtually, the underlying cause for Windows Firewall error code 0x6d9 is a damaged registry. The registry is the database of the system that saves all the activities including web browsing and programs installed and uninstalled and junk files on the PC. The registry saves all the information in the RAM, your hard disk. As the disk gets filled with files, it then requires more power to run which impacts the performance of the PC and slows it down. Simultaneously, since the hard disk is overloaded with data, it exposes the registry to file damages, fragmentation, and corruption which then eventually causes hindrance in running calling programs and running them on your system because files are either corrupt or missing. Other than cluttered disk issues, registry errors also occur due to viral and malware attacks. If the Firewall is inaccessible, your system is prone to malware.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix the error code 0x6d9 on your system, you don’t have to be a computer programmer or hire a professional. You can fix it all by yourself with Restoro. Restoro is an advanced, intuitive, user-friendly, and multi-functional repair tool with a comprehensive suite of powerful PC fixing utilities, all in one. From registry errors like the blue screen of death error codes including 0x6d9 to viral infection and system slowdowns, Restoro is your one-stop solution for all PC errors. With this software, you don’t need any technical expertise. You don’t have to get into the nitty-gritty of finding the deep-rooted cause for the error code 0x6d9 and then searching and installing a PC tool designed to solve that specific cause for the error. Restoro has an intuitive and sophisticated interface combined with an automated algorithm that enables it to detect, scan and identify all the underlying and deep-rooted causes for errors on your PC in seconds and resolves them all. All you have to do is hit the scan button and the Restoro takes care of the rest.

Restoro features

Restoro is also easy to use and has simple navigation making it easy for all levels of users including beginners and intermediates to use. This PC Fixer is both a high-functional registry cleaner and a powerful anti-virus. This means whether the error code 0x6d9 occurs due to disk overload or viral infection this helper can be used to fix the error in both scenarios. Its in-built registry cleaner cleans and clears up the hard disk in a few seconds. It removes all the unnecessary and obsolete files cluttering the system and repairs the damaged registry. For data safety during repair, it has a built-in back feature. This feature allows you to save and create backup copies of all your files. Its smart privacy error detector feature checks for viruses, spyware, adware, and malware invasion on your system. Such malicious software if not removed from your PC can expose you to data security risks.  Such software allows easy access to hackers. And since error code 0x6d9 hampers you in using Firewall, your system will have higher chances of getting infected by viruses and data security dangers. Nonetheless, by running Restoro on your system, you can easily remove this malicious software and resolve the error code 0x6d9. Unlike other repair tools, Restoro is compatible with all Windows versions.

How to get Restoro

So, what are you waiting for? It will take just 3 steps. To get started all you need to do is:

1. Click here to install Restoro
2. Run it to Scan for errors
3. Hit the repair button to resolve

To prevent the error code 0x6d9 from reoccurring on your PC for a while proper PC maintenance is advisable to run Restoro on a weekly basis on your system so that the registry is not cluttered and your system is not exposed to viruses. Timely detection of errors and repair is the best way to keep your system performing smoothly and at its optimum speed.

If you’re having some problem browsing multiple websites on the Firefox browser on your Windows 10 computer, then this post might be of help. One of the most common problems you could encounter in Firefox is mostly related to HTTPS and one of them is the MOZILLA PKIX ERROR MITM DETECTED or ERROR SELF SIGNED CERT or SEC ERROR UNKNOWN ISSUER error which means that Firefox was unable to trust certificates issued on secured websites. If you encounter the MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_MITM_DETECTED error in Firefox, this indicates that something in your network or system is interrupting your connection and injecting certificates and when that happens, Firefox won’t trust it. In such cases, one of the culprits is malware. Malware will try to replace a legitimate certificate with its certificate. Another cause is security software where it keeps a tab on a secure connection and creates a false positive, for instance:

“In Microsoft Windows accounts protected by Family Safety settings, secure connections on popular websites like Google, Facebook and YouTube might be intercepted and their certificates replaced by a certificate issued by Microsoft in order to filter and record search activity.”

And if you are connected to a corporate network, there might be a monitoring/filtering product that could be replacing certificates. Moreover, there are also users who reported getting this issue when they use the Nightly version of Firefox. And if that’s the case, you have to try accessing secure websites using only the stable build especially when it comes to payments. However, if you are not doing that, then here are some options you need to check out.

Option 1 – Try turning off HTTPS Scanning on your security and antivirus programs

Each security-based software has a security option that allows you to turn off the HTTPS scanning functionality. They may be available under different names such as HTTPS Scanning, Scan SSL, Show safe result, Do not scan encrypted connections, etc. Find what is applicable for your security or antivirus software and then try turning it off temporarily and see if it helps in fixing the MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_MITM_DETECTED error in Firefox.

Option 2 – Try to disable security.enterprise_roots.enabled

The next thing you can do if the first option didn’t work is to disable security.enterprise_roots.enabled which is an HTTPS certificate check on Firefox. Note that this is not recommended but you have to at least try in order to fix the error.

• Open Firefox and then type “about: config” in the Firefox address bar and hit Enter.
• After that, if an info message appears, confirm it.
• Next, search for the security.enterprise_roots.enabled preference and once you found it, double click on it.
• Then change its value to true and restart the Firefox browser once. This will import all the custom certificates from the other security software into Firefox. As a result, it will make sure to mark those sources as trusted and you won’t get the MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_MITM_DETECTED error.

Recently, a few users reported that they were unable to turn on their computers for some reason and at the same time their computers Computer makes a beeping noise couple of times or continuously whenever they try to turn them on. The sounds the computers are making can be quite annoying and it also signifies that there is something wrong with them. The problem might have something to do with the hardware inside of the computer system rather than Windows 10 itself. As you know, a computer is designed to deliver audible error sounds every time some part of the hardware is not properly working. For instance, if you hear a single beep, this indicates that your GPU is having some issues and if you’re hearing two beeps, it indicates that your RAM is not working properly, whereas three beeps that repeat after a pause when you turn on your computer means that there is something wrong with the system memory. On the other hand, if your computer is beeping continuously, this means that the problem lies with the processor. To fix this issue, here are some suggestions that might help but before you proceed, make sure that you know how to manage your computer’s hardware, if not, better have some expert do it for you.

Option 1 – Try checking the RAM

One of the basic things you can do in this kind of case is to check the RAM. Prepare some screwdrivers and dig into your PC and then look for the RAM slots and ensure that they are attached firmly. There are times when moving around your computer daily can cause certain components in your computer to become loose. Worst case scenario is that the RAM might be broken so really have to replace it.

Option 2 – Try checking the graphics card

After digging into your computer, check the graphics card and give it some good cleaning. As you know, you have to remove certain components like the graphics card regularly and clean them to help increase their lifespan and avoid errors in a startup. And if it turns out that the graphics card is broken, you have to replace it with a new one to fix the problem.

Option 3 – Try checking the processor

The processor is the brain of every computer so if it ends up not working, everything else is useless. Thus, you need to check it to see if it’s firmly attached and see if it needs some cleaning of dust and other debris. After that, try turning on your computer again. If it doesn’t work, then you might have to take your system to a technician to resolve the problem for you.

The NVIDIA Control Panel is a useful tool for users who have NVIDIA graphics on their PCs as this tool allows users to how the graphics card is used on the computer using several controls that come with the graphics card from NVIDIA. Thus, it can be quite inconvenient when it suddenly crashes all of a sudden for some reason. This kind of problem could be due to the toggling of Output Dynamic Range is limited, or there could be some issue with the integrity of the Power Supply for the graphics card, and many more. So if you are using NVIDIA on your computer and its Control Panel keeps on crashing on your Windows 10 computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in sorting the problem out. For more details, refer to the guidelines laid out below.

Option 1 – Try to toggle the Output Dynamic Range

The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to toggle the Output Dynamic Range by following these steps:

• Navigate to this path: Display > Change resolution.
• Next, scroll a bit on the right-side panel until you see the Output Dynamic Range drop-down.
• After that, select “Full” from the drop-down menu.
• Apply the changes you’ve made and see if it is able to fix the problem with the NVIDIA Control Panel.

Option 2 – Try changing the Power Management and Vertical Sync settings

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to change the Power Management, as well as the Vertical Sync settings.

• Open the NVIDIA Control Panel and go to this path: 3D Settings > Manage 3D Settings.
• Next, set the Power Management to be “Prefer Maximum Performance” for your processor located on the right-side panel.
• After that, set the Vertical sync setting off and then click on the Apply button located at the bottom-right portion of the window and check if it is able to fix the problem or not.

Option 3 – Try updating the drivers from the official site of NVIDIA

If both the first and second given options didn’t work, you can also try updating the drivers from the official NVIDIA website. And in case you don’t know the type of Nvidia graphics card that your computer is on, follow the steps below:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next type in “dxdiag” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
• From there, you can see what type of Nvidia graphics card that your system is on.
• Take note of your graphics card information and then look for the best drivers for your operating system. Once you’ve downloaded and installed the file, restart your PC.

Option 4 – Try to roll back the driver to the previous version

If updating the NVIDIA display drivers didn’t work for you, then it’s time to roll back the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “MSC” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
• Under the Device Manager, you will see a list of drivers. From there, look for the NVIDIA Drivers and expand it.
• Next, select the driver entries that are labeled appropriately.
• Then select each one of them and double click to open a new mini window.
• After that, make sure that you’re on the Driver tab and if you are not, just navigate to it then click the Roll Back Driver button to switch back to the previous version of the NVIDIA Drivers.
• Now restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.

Ever gotten an e-mail offer that seemed just a little bit too good to be true? Might’ve been a phishing attempt! These are everywhere and can come in many different forms. 

So what’s phishing exactly, how can you detect it and how can you keep safe?

What is phishing?

Phishing (pronounced like fishing) is a type of cyberattack that tricks the user into trusting the source and revealing sensitive information. Fishing being the perfect analogy, the bait is a legitimate-looking site, e-mail or file and when you take a bite, your identity, banking information and much more can be revealed and stolen.

Some phishing attempts are incredibly obvious, others are super elaborate. Like with most types of malware, cybercriminals have become extremely well-versed in phishing and anyone can fall for it. To help you recognize and avoid it, we’ll take you through a couple of phishing types and give you tips on what to do if faced with them.

Phishing techniques

E-mail phishing

This is actually the most common type of phishing. A cybercriminal creates an e-mail containing stuff like attractive offers, legitimate-looking attachments or links and makes it appear as though it’s coming from a trusted source.

For example, it looks like it’s coming from your bank or your favorite retailer. The logo looks legit and the structure of the e-mail seems familiar, so you might get tricked into clicking on whatever clickable content is in it.

Unfortunately this exposes your device to malware that hands your data off to the hacker, who can decide what to do with it further.

SMS and social media phishing

Like the above example, you could be approached with lucrative offers or links via text messages or social media messages. Typically, the messages seem relevant to the user as they will be made to look like they’re related to apps or services you’re using.

Voice phishing

Voice phishing attacks are schemes that appear as though they’re coming from a credible number. Normally, you’ll get a call about something related to credit cards or taxes to get you into a state of worry, leading you to disclose personal information on the phone.

Spear phishing, whaling and BEC

Spear phishing normally targets specific individuals within a company who are likely to have access to sensitive data. Spear phishers spend time collecting information they can use to reach out to the individual looking as trustworthy as possible. They’ll typically lead with something relevant, for example mentioning an upcoming company event, and make a seemingly legitimate request.

Whaling is a more elaborate form of spear phishing, which targets people in even stronger positions such as executives or high-value individuals. The ultimate goal is to get them to transfer financial or other sensitive information that can be used to compromise the entire business.

BEC, or Business e-mail compromise, is a specific spear phishing technique carried out via e-mail. While there are many ways this is done, most commonly you’ll see instances where the phisher poses as a CEO or similar executive, or as a lower-level employee in specific positions (e.g. sales managers or financial controllers).

In the first situation, the impersonator reaches out to employees requesting them to transfer certain files or pay invoices. In the second situation, the phisher takes control of the employee’s e-mail account and sends false instructions to other employees in order to obtain data and information from them.

What can you do?

There are many ways you can be aware and spot a phishing attempt. Here are some tips:

• Always check the sender’s address in your e-mails, even when they seem to come from a familiar source.
• In any instance where payment information is requested, be very, very careful.
• If you are receiving attachments you never asked for and definitely didn’t expect, better not click on them. 
• Beware of content that transmits a sense of urgency (sales deals, urgent updates to login credentials, etc.).
• Bad spelling and grammar are usually a telltale sign of phishing.
• Links that look shortened (e.g. Bit.ly) or just suspicious in general - if you have a bad feeling, do not click on them.
• If you are receiving threats, you probably shouldn’t be clicking on anything in that message.
• Always examine first-time senders in detail.
• Block suspicious e-mail addresses, numbers and social media accounts.
• If you are receiving a coupon for free stuff… You aren’t.
• If you’re being asked to update your payment details by a service you use, such as Netflix, chances are it’s an impersonator.

Those are some of the ways to identify and prevent phishing attacks. However, sometimes phishers disguise themselves a little too well or a misclick happens and there you go - you’ve been exposed to malware.

This won’t happen if you invest in powerful protection software from the get-go, though. A good antivirus program like Bitdefender will keep you safe from becoming a victim of phishing scams. In fact, it will protect you from malicious attacks overall.

Be it your household or your business you’re concerned about, there are a bunch of different packages and options available, providing different kinds of cybersecurity services. That’s the only way you can ever really be sure you aren’t at risk of a digital attack.

Summary

Have you ever been targeted by phishers and didn’t know that’s what it was until you read this article? Many can relate. Protect yourself before it’s too late!

AtoZManuals is a Browser Extension developed by MindSpark Inc. This extension offers users an easy way to search Customer Manuals for Products. This extension may seem handy at first, however, this extension hijacks your browser home page, and changes your default search engine to MyWay.

While browsing the internet with this extension you will see additional ads, sponsored links, and pop-up ads in your browser. Additionally, this extension monitors your browser activity, including search words, visited links, shopping information, and sometimes even personal information, which is later used to display better-targeted ads.

Multiple anti-virus scanners have marked this extension as a Browser Hijacker, and due to its rogue behavior, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means a malicious program code has control over and altered the settings of your browser, without your permission. They’re made to interfere with web browser functions for various reasons. Often, it’ll drive users to predetermined websites that are trying to boost their ad earnings. Although it may seem naive, these tools were created by vicious people who always look to take advantage of you, so that hackers could earn money from your naivety and distraction. When the program attacks your laptop or computer, it begins to mess things up a whole lot that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worst-case scenario, you may be forced to tackle serious malware threats as well.

How one can recognize a browser hijack

There are various signs that indicate the internet browser has been hijacked: your homepage is reset to some unfamiliar website; you observe new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, typically directed to ad-filled or porn sites; default search engine is changed; you see many toolbars on the browser; your internet browser displays endless pop-up windows; your browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly; you’re prohibited access to specific web pages, for example, the site of an antivirus software developer like SafeBytes.

How it infects your PC

A browser hijacker could be installed on your PC when you check out an infected website, click on an email attachment, or download something from a file-sharing website. They are generally included with toolbars, add-ons, BHO, plug-ins, or browser extensions. A browser hijacker could also be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware, and fake programs. Examples of popular browser hijackers are Fireball, CoolWebSearch. GoSave, Ask Toolbar, RocketTab, and Babylon Toolbar.

Getting rid of browser hijackers

Some kinds of browser hijackers can be removed from the computer by deleting malicious software or any other recently added freeware. However, many hijackers are much more difficult to discover or remove since they could get themselves connected with some important computer files that enable it to operate as a necessary operating-system process. Furthermore, manual removals demand in-depth system knowledge and thus could be a very difficult task for novice computer users.

Learn How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected Computer system

Malware may cause several kinds of damage to computing devices, networks, and data. Some malware is meant to restrict or block things that you wish to do on your computer system. It may well not allow you to download anything from the web or it will stop you from accessing a few or all internet sites, particularly the anti-virus sites. If you’re reading this right now, you might have perhaps recognized that virus infection is the cause of your blocked internet connectivity. So what to do when you want to download and install anti-malware software like Safebytes? Although this sort of issue will be difficult to get around, there are some actions you can take.

Install the anti-malware in Safe Mode

If any virus is set to load automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, getting into safe mode could block this attempt. Since just the minimum programs and services launch in “Safe Mode”, there are seldom any reasons for conflicts to happen. To start your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) At power-on/startup, hit the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This would conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you should have an internet connection once again. Now, make use of your browser to download and install Safebytes Anti-malware. 4) Following installation, run a full scan and let the software program remove the threats it finds.

Obtain the security program in a different browser

Some malware might target vulnerabilities of a particular web browser that obstruct the downloading process. The best way to overcome this issue is to go with an internet browser that is well known for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you secure online.

Install and run antivirus from your USB drive

Here’s another solution which is utilizing a portable USB anti-virus software package that can scan your system for viruses without the need for installation. To run anti-virus from a USB pen drive, follow these simple measures: 1) On a clean computer, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Mount the pen-drive onto the same computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus software package to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the USB flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you wish to install the application. Follow activation instructions. 5) Now, transfer the thumb drive to the infected PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove viruses automatically.

How SafeBytes Anti-Malware Keep your Computer Malware Free

These days, an anti-malware tool can protect your computer or laptop from different kinds of internet threats. But exactly how to choose the right one amongst numerous malware protection software that is available in the market? As you might be aware, there are lots of anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. Some of them are great, some are ok types, while some will affect your computer themselves! You have to select one that is reliable, practical, and has a good reputation for its malware source protection. When it comes to commercial application options, the majority of people go with well-known brands, such as SafeBytes, and are very happy with it. SafeBytes is a powerful, real-time antivirus application that is made to assist the typical computer user in safeguarding their computer from malicious internet threats. With its outstanding protection system, this utility will instantly detect and remove most of the security threats, including viruses, adware, browser hijackers, ransomware, PUPs, and trojans. SafeBytes carries a variety of great features that can help you protect your laptop or computer from malware attack and damage. Below are some of the great ones: Robust Anti-malware Protection: Using its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can find and get rid of the malware threats hiding in the computer system effectively. Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes delivers complete and real-time security for your computer system. It’ll inspect your computer for suspicious activity regularly and its unparalleled firewall guards your computer against unauthorized entry by the outside world. Quick Multithreaded Scanning: This software has one of the fastest and most efficient virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are very accurate and take a little time to complete. Web Protection: Through its unique safety ranking, SafeBytes informs you whether a website is safe or not to access. This will ensure that you’re always certain of your online safety when browsing the world wide web. Light-weight: SafeBytes is a lightweight and simple to use antivirus and antimalware solution. Since it utilizes minimal computer resources, this program leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually. 24/7 Online Technical Support: Support service is readily available for 24 x 7 x 365 days through email and chats to answer your queries.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to manually get rid of AtoZManuals without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by deleting the program from the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of web browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and uninstalling it. You will likely also want to reset your web browser. Lastly, examine your hard drive for all of the following and clean your Windows registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstalls. Please note that only experienced computer users should try to manually edit the system files simply because deleting any single critical registry entry leads to a serious issue or even a system crash. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its deletion. Completing this task in Safe Mode is suggested.