If you got an error message saying, “Windows could not start the Windows Update service on Local Computer, Error 87. The parameter is incorrect” while you were trying to start the Windows update service on your computer, then this post could help you resolve the problem. Along with this error, you might also get any of these error codes such as 0x80240034, 0x80244019, 0x80070643, and so on. Aside from these error codes, you will also notice that the Windows Update service has been stopped.
To fix this issue, here are a couple of suggestions that might help but before you go on, you need to create a System Restore point first.
Option 1 – Try checking Services Dependencies
Dependencies of a Windows Service in Windows 10 are when windows services depend on other services. Such is the case with the Windows Update service – it also depends on three different services such as the Remote Procedure Call or RPC service, DCOM Server Process Launcher, and the RPC Endpoint Mapper. Meaning to say, if two of these services are not working as expected, then the dependant service will also be affected. This could be the reason why the Windows Update service could not start.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Windows Services.
From the list of Services, look for the following services:
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Service
DCOM Server Process Launcher
RPC Endpoint Mapper
After you find these services, double click on each one of them and check whether the Startup type for all is set to Automatic and the Service status is set to Running or not.
If the service status is not running, then click the Start button. Afterward, check if you can now run the Windows Update service.
Option 2 – Check the Background Intelligent Service and the Cryptographic Service
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open Services.
From the list of Services, look for the following services and make sure that their Startup type is as follows:
Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual
Cryptographic Service – Automatic
After that, check if the Service status of the listed services above is set to Running. If they’re not, click on the Start button to start these services and then check if you can now enable the Windows Update service or not.
Option 3 – Reset Windows Update components
If the first two options did not work then you might want to reset the Windows Update components manually. Follow the steps below to reset them.
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS, and MSI Installer.
After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
net start wuauserv
net start cryptsvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.
Option 4 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
If resetting the Windows Update components didn’t work, you could also try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing any issues related to Windows Update including this one. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
Option 5 – Try removing a value from the Windows Registry
If running the Windows Update troubleshooter didn’t help and you receive a message instead saying, “Service Registration is Missing or Corrupt”, you can try to remove a value from the Windows Registry.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Registry.
Next, navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsSelfHostApplicability
From this path, look for a value named “ThresholdOptedIn” and if you find it, delete it.
Exit the Registry Editor and see if you can now enable the Windows Update service.
If you are trying to copy a file but suddenly encountered an error message saying, “An unexpected error is keeping you from copying the file”, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you resolve the problem.
This error comes along with another message that states, “Error 0x80070037: The specified network resource or device is no longer available”. This kind of error occurs when the power supply to the external device is weak and causes the device to be disconnecting and reconnecting consistently. To fix this problem, you need to check out the potential fixes provided below.
Option 1 – Try to physically check the USB ports
You need to check the USB ports as there could be some ports that are loose or damaged physically which affects the overall performance of the port. You could also try to change the USB port since modern computers have a variety of USB ports. So if your USB drive supports USB 3.0 or 3.1, make sure that you plug it inside a USB 3.0 or 3.1 ports. If you’re not sure which port, just keep in mind that the USB 3 port is usually blue or you can also use your computer’s documentation or manual as a reference to locate it.
Option 2 – Check the connected cables physically
Aside from the USB ports, you also have to check the physical status of the connected cables because if there are damaged ones, just like with USB ports, it would also affect the overall connectivity of the device with the computer. So if you notice some irregularities in the connecting cable physically, you might have to buy another one and replace it and then see if it fixes the problem or not.
Option 3 – 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 4 – Try connecting to a slower USB port
If connecting your device to USB 3.0 or 3.1 ports didn’t work, you might want to try connecting it to a slower USB port this time. There are times when the device is not capable of supporting the higher power supply from a USB 3.0 or 3.1 port which is why the weak circuits do not work properly. Thus, try connecting your device to a USB 2.0 port and check if your device is now working.
Option 5 – Try to turn off the Power Saving option
You could also try to turn off the Power Saving option to resolve the problem. All you have to do is switch to Power Management after you select the Properties of the USB device and from there, uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off the device to save power” option. On the other hand, if you are using a laptop and did not use the USB device for a long time, then it could be powered off. This will ensure that the system does not turn off the USB device.
Option 6 – Try to connect your device to another computer
It is also possible that your computer does not support your device. To check that possibility, you can try connecting your device to a different computer and see if it is working without any issues. If it is, then you need to get another device that’s compatible with your computer.
Option 7 – Try to use a different device
You could also try using a different device and connect it to your computer. This will help you figure out if your device is damaged or not. So if the other device you connected is working just fine, then you might have to replace your device with a new one or consult an expert and have it repaired if possible.
Option 8 – Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooters
The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.
If you encountered an error message that says, “Unhandled exception has occurred in your application”, when you start your Windows 10 computer, read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix it. This kind of error usually appears in a Microsoft .NET Framework window and it mostly pops up as soon as you turn on your computer. Here’s the complete context of the error message:
“Unhandled exception has occurred in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately.”
When this error occurs, your computer may freeze or display other suspicious behavior at times. Either way, there are several options you can check out in this post to resolve this issue, so read on.
This kind of error could be caused by several factors. It could be due to your antivirus program or other third-party programs installed on your computer. It is also possible that the installation of the Microsoft .NET framework id corrupted or some of its installation files are corrupted. Thus, to fix the error, there are a few suggestions you need to follow such as:
Option 1 – Try to temporarily disable your anti-virus program
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 in your computer. There are times when you encounter problems like the “Unhandled exception has occurred in your application” error due to interference of antivirus or security programs. Thus, you have to disable both your antivirus program in the meantime and check if it fixes the error or not.
Option 2 – Put your computer in a Clean Boot State
As pointed out, it is possible that some third-party program or service is the one that’s behind the problem. To isolate this possibility and to identify the culprit, you have to put your computer into a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.
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.)
Once your computer has restarted, check if the error is now gone. If it is, then the culprit is some third-party program. Thus, you have to enable the third-party programs one by one to find out which one of them is causing the the “Unhandled exception has occurred in your application” error.
Option 3 – Try to run a System File Checker scan
System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting the “Unhandled exception has occurred in your application” error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
Type “cmd” in the Start search and then right-click on the appropriate search result.
Next, select “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Now restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed or not.
Option 4 – Install and update Dependencies
There are times when programs and applications need to have drivers and supporting software installed for them to properly work. Although the installation usually takes care of it, it’s time for you to do some manual check especially if you are getting this issue of abnormal program termination.
Install some qualified drivers – A number of high-end games and applications need to have correct and valid drivers for them to work. They just don’t work with general drivers though. Microsoft has this Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing also known as WHQL testing which makes sure that drivers meet the correct experience and pass through the proper testing before certification. Thus, when installing drivers, you need to ensure that they are qualified drivers for your Windows 10 PC.
Download and install or Update DirectX – As you know, Microsoft DirectX is a suite of technologies developed by Microsoft to provide hardware acceleration for heavy multimedia applications like HD videos and 3D games. Since you are using Windows 10, you have the DirectX 12 version while the earlier Windows versions use the DirectX 11 version.
Install the Microsoft DirectX End-user runtime – The Microsoft DirectX end-user runtime gives updates to version 9.0c as well as previous versions of DirectX. To install it, click on this link and download it.
Update or install the .NET framework – The .NET framework is used by games and applications during development which means that without the runtime files that are installed in your computer, it definitely won’t work. Thus, you need to install or update this framework. You can also use the .NET setup verification tool to verify it.
There are instances when you open a picture or an image in the Windows Photo Viewer and instead of displaying the image, it displays nothing and you’ll see an error message instead that says, “Windows Photo Viewer can’t display this picture because there might not be enough memory available on your computer”.
Although this may look like a clear-cut issue of less storage space or low RAM in your computer, that’s not always the case. Security experts noticed that even when your computer has enough resources and disk space, this kind of problem could still occur. So if you experience the same thing, you need to check the Color Profile of your screen. For more information, refer to the detailed instructions provided below but before you proceed, make sure that you close some processes in the Task Manager or restart your computer and see if it helps in fixing the problem. You can also try using the Disk Cleanup tool. To use it, refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type “cleanmgr” in the field and hit Enter to open the Disk Cleanup window.
After that, select the drive you want to clean.
Now click OK to clean the disk and restart your computer.
If the Disk Cleanup tool didn’t help in resolving the issue, refer to the instructions below.
Step 1: In the search box, type “color management” and then select the “Change advanced color management settings for display” option from the search results. Or you could simply go to Settings > System > Display, Advanced display settings, and from there, select display and click on the Display adapter properties of Display.
Step 2: Next, switch to the Color Management tab and click on the Color Management button.
Step 3: Select the monitor where you’re getting the “Windows Photo Viewer can’t display this picture because there might not be enough memory available on your computer” error in the next window. And if you have two displays, make sure that you select the primary display. You also have an option to identify the monitor.
Step 4: Once confirmed, select the “Use my settings for this device” checkbox.
Step 5: After that, select the Profile listed under the “Profiles associated with this device” option and then click on Remove.
Step 6: Next, go to the Advanced tab and make sure that all settings are set to System default which includes a device profile, perceptual images, rendering intent, Relative Colorimetric, and many more.
Step 7: Once you’re done, you have to restart your computer and then try to open the same image you were trying to open earlier and then check if you can now open it instead of seeing the error.
If your VPN software blocks and disconnects the Internet or Wi-Fi connection as soon as it is connected, read on as this post will give you fixes to resolve the problem. This kind of issue is odd but not unheard of. Many users use VPN for privacy and security but if it causes internet connection problems, you have to pin down the root cause of the problem and fix it in order to continue browsing the internet with privacy and security.
Here are some suggestions you need to check out to resolve the issue between your VPN software and network.
Option 1 – Try installing the latest version of the TAP adapter
Since all VPN software uses a TAP adapter which is mostly from OpenVPN, you might want to download and install the TAP adapter driver to resolve the problem.
Option 2 – Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter
Open the Search bar on your computer and type in “troubleshoot” to open the Troubleshoot settings.
Next, scroll down and select the “Network Adapter” option from the right pane.
Then click on the Run Troubleshooter” button.
After that, your computer will check for any possible errors and will pinpoint the root cause of the problem if possible.
Option 3 – Configure the client computer to use the default gateway
This kind of connection problem can occur when you configure the VPN connection as the default gateway on the remote network. In such a case, the VPN settings override the default gateway settings (TCP/IP settings). Thus, you have to configure the client computers in order to use the default gateway setting on your local network for internet traffic as well as a static route on the remote network for VPN-based traffic.
Option 4 – Try to use the Google Public DNS
You might want to change your DNS to Google Public DNS as it could help you resolve the internet connection problem caused by your VPN. To do so, follow the steps below.
The first thing you have to do is right-click on the network icon in the Taskbar and select Network and Sharing Center.
Next, click on the “Change Adapter Settings” option.
After that, search for the network connection that you are using to connect to the internet. Note that the option might be “Wireless Connection” or “Local Area Connection”.
Right-click on your network connection and click on Properties.
Then select the new window to choose the “Internet Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
After that, click on the Properties button and click the checkbox in the new window for the option “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
Type in “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” and click OK and exit.
Option 5 – Try checking the settings of your VPN software
If your VPN software has a built-in “kill switch” it prevents any internet usage every time there is a problem in connecting with the VPN server which explains why your internet connection is disconnected when your VPN software is connected.
In addition, you could also try to change your VPN software’s protocol since all VPNs support multiple protocols. It could be that the protocol your VPN uses is blocked so try changing to another protocol and see if it fixes the problem.
Option 6 – Update the Network Adapter drivers
You might also want to update the Network Adapter drivers by following these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “devmgmt.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 Network Adapters and expand it.
Then right-click on each one of the Network drivers and update them all.
Restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the BSOD error.
Note: If updating the network drivers didn’t help in fixing the “Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter” error, you can also try to uninstall the very same drivers and restart your Windows 10 PC. After that, the system itself will reinstall the drivers you just uninstalled. Alternatively, you can also download and install the drivers from the manufacturer’s website directly.
To reinstall the network adapter driver, refer to these steps:
Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.
As you know, the Windows 10 operating system, as well as other Windows versions, comes with the Windows Firewall. In Windows 10, the firewall allows users to install and run a third-party firewall. This kind of firewall works independently to block any suspicious activity on your computer. However, recently, some users reported that they are getting a notification on the Startup saying,
“Windows Firewall and <Third party firewall name> Firewall are both turned off; tap or click to see available options”.
This particular error could be caused by a lot of factors but when you manually check the firewall, you’ll find that there really is nothing wrong with both the Windows Firewall and the third party firewall. So if both the Windows Firewall and third-party firewalls like McAfee, Comodo, and many others are both turned off in Windows 10, then you need to do several things to resolve the problem – you need to check the supporting services that are required and uninstall and then reinstall the third party firewall on your computer. For more instructions, refer to the options provided below.
Option 1 – Try enabling all the supporting services for the firewall
The first thing you can do to resolve the error with the firewall is to check all of its supporting services by following these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and then hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
Next, look for the Windows Defender Firewall service among the given list of services.
Once you found it, make sure that its Startup Type is set to Automatic and that the status of the service is Running. So if it’s not running, just click on the Start button.
In addition, you also have to make sure that the following services’ status is set as follows:
Xbox Live Networking Service: Manual
Base Filtering Engine: Automatic
Once done, start the firewall again and check if the error is now fixed or not.
Option 2 – Try to uninstall and reinstall the third-party firewall
It is possible that the firewall error might be due to an error with the compatibility of the installation in Windows 10 and the third-party firewall. Thus, the next thing you can do is to uninstall the third-party firewall and then reinstall it again. Once you have uninstalled the third-party firewall, you can download its latest version from its official website and install it again. This should fix the error with the firewall.
Windows 10 error code 0x8024002e is related to the Windows update service. When you see the error code displayed on your screen, it means that the Windows update service has been blocked or not working. As a result of this error code, your computer might lag and the system may freeze while performing normal operations. The error may read as follows:
“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: (0x8024002e)”.
Common symptoms include:
Slow computer performance
System freezes while performing normal operations or freezes while multitasking
BSOD error is showing
Some unwanted files get opened automatically
Updating is not possible
Solution
Error Causes
This error code appears because of the following reasons:
Incomplete installation of the Windows operating system
Incorrect registry entry
Corrupt or damaged system files
The computer has come under a virus attack
Miscommunication between the computer and the Windows Automatic Update service
The decline in RAM or outdated Hard Disk Drive
Further Information and Manual Repair
Method 1:
Remove any external media connected to the computer
Crash reboot your PC 2 to 3 times.
Now check if you are still having the problem.
If the problem still persists, try the following methods if you are able to boot to the desktop and check for the problem.
Method 2:
Changing Windows Update property to automatic:
You might see this error if your Windows update property is set to manual. Follow the steps below to change it to automatic.
Open Task Manager.
Click on the Services tab. Find “Open Services” at the bottom of the window.
A new window will pop up. Scroll down and find “Windows Update” from the list. Double click on the Windows Update. It will open its properties.
Select Automatic for ‘Startup Type.’ Click Apply, Start, and OK.
Now, try the Windows Update and check if you are still getting the error message. If the problem isn’t resolved, reboot your PC for the changes to take effect and then try again.
Method 3:
Disable Antivirus program:
If you have any antivirus installed on your PC, you might need to disable it first and see if that helps. Although, most of the antivirus makers have made changes to work smoothly with Windows 10, it is a new Operating System and some antivirus may cause conflict.
Disable the antivirus and check for updates to see if it is preventing you from updating your system and displaying the error code 0x8024002e.
Method 4:
Run inbuilt Windows update troubleshooter. Follow the steps given below:
Press Windows + W keys on your keyboard to enable the search option.
In the Search box type Troubleshooting.
Click on View all
Click on Windows update and follow the prompts to run the troubleshooter.
If the issue persists, try Method 5
Method 5:
Run the System File Checker tool (sfc.exe):
Open Command prompt.
Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
The sfc /scannow will scan all protected system files and replace corrupted files with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%System32dllcache.The %WinDir% has the Windows Operating System folder. For example, C:\Windows.
Do not close the Command prompt window until the verification is 100% complete. The command prompt will show the scan results when it is done. After it is done, you may receive one of the following messages:
“Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.” This means you do not have any missing or damaged system files.
OR you may receive a message saying:
“Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.”
To resolve this problem, run the System File Checker in safe mode and make sure that the PendingDeletes and PendingRenames folders exist under %WinDir%WinSxSTemp.
OR you may also receive a message saying, “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log%WinDir%LogsCBSCBS.log.”OR you may receive a message saying, “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log%WinDir%LogsCBSCBS.log.”
Have you been feeling anxious in the digital space? Feeling like you have a million eyes on you each time you visit a website? It can definitely make you uneasy. Luckily there’s an easy fix, and it’s called a VPN.
In this article we’ll take you through the basics of what a VPN does and some of the biggest benefits you can reap from buying one.
VPN: definition and how it works
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, so its name already says a lot about what it does.
A VPN is specialized software that keeps your browsing private and secure. Essentially it hides your identity, preventing possible cyberattacks and data theft. This is especially important in cases of public network use, where you’re highly exposed to potential threats.
To be more specific, this software encrypts your Internet Protocol (IP) address by filtering it through a server hosted by the VPN provider first. That way, it prevents your Internet service provider, third parties and lurking online thieves from tracking the actual you.
Credit: FLY:D on Unsplash
Some providers, such as Surfshark VPN with its IP Rotator feature, even make it a habit to frequently change your IP address to further protect your identity. With most VPN providers, you can also appear to be in a completely different country, adding to your disguise.
There are tons of advantages you can look forward to if you decide to use a VPN. Take a look at some of the crucial ones.
Benefits of using a VPN
When choosing a VPN, you can find both free and paid options. We recommend you go with the paid ones, since they have stronger security, encryption and data protection, as well as more advanced features. Free VPNs come with limitations and risk of malicious attacks on the software itself.
You can choose to buy a singular VPN service or opt for antivirus software that has a VPN built in, for example Bitdefender’s Ultimate Security plan. That depends on what you use your computer for and how much.
When you pick one, here’s what it can do for you.
1. Access region-specific content
When we said you could change your location, we meant it. Say you’re using a streaming service and a show you desperately want to watch isn’t available in your country. You can use your VPN to make it look like you’re browsing from a country where it’s unlocked.
This option is also convenient for gamers who want to access maps, skins and other in-game items unavailable in their location.
In addition, you can use this powerful feature when you’re traveling to a region where some of your favorite content may not be accessible.
Do keep in mind that you need to read the Terms and Conditions (yeah, we know - who does that?) of your games and services before doing this, since you could end up getting a penalty. It’s also important to remember that there are entire countries that have strict regulations or even bans on VPNs, for example Belarus, Russia and China. So make sure to be very cautious with your VPN use, friends.
2. Browse like no one’s watching
VPNs shield your browsing habits from prying eyes on the web. Those can be malicious hackers or just third-party cookies tracking your every move to later bombard you with targeted ads. For example, Surfshark VPN features a Cookie blocker that blocks all cookie-related pop-ups and lets you browse in peace (and secret). It works even when the VPN is turned off, which is also pretty neat.
In addition, their CleanWeb 2.0 technology makes sure ads and especially malware don’t stand a chance at all, since they’re blocked before they can even load.
The inability of sites to track your browsing means they can’t collect and analyze any of your data. So, your personal information - or your company’s information in case that’s what you’re using your computer for - is entirely hidden and secure.
3. Save money
It’s well-known that the prices of certain items and services vary based on your location, browsing time, age and many other factors. This most commonly goes for airline tickets and hotel stays.
You can use your VPN to avoid high prices and surcharges. Clear all cookies, turn on your VPN and visit an online shopping site to check out their prices. Then compare your findings with the offers you see when your VPN is off, when you spend a long time on the site or have an active account with the company.
Sometimes this can really help you find the best deals and avoid breaking the bank. But again, check the Terms and Conditions before you purchase something using a VPN.
4. Secure your smart home
The more smart devices you have connected to your network, the more exposed you are to potential cyberattacks. Phones and computers are generally designed to be decently secure even without a VPN or antivirus, but smart home devices leave a lot to be desired in that regard.
Protecting your home network with a VPN software means all devices connected to it are secure, be it an air purifier or Alexa.
Credit: Bence Boros on Unsplash
5. Prevent connection slowdown
Your ISP can intentionally slow down your internet speed based on how much data you’ve consumed (data throttling) or your activities online (bandwidth throttling).
But with a VPN, what kind of data you send and receive and how much is entirely hidden. Therefore, if your ISP can’t see you, they can’t control you and they can’t throttle down your speed.
The bottom line
You can never be too safe online. So definitely think about getting yourself a solid VPN to pump up your privacy and security as much as you can. And if you have any questions or need help choosing the perfect software for you, feel free to reach out to us.
Code 33 is a typical Device Manager error. This error code occurs when Windows is unable to start a device that you are trying to use on your PC. The error code 33 is usually displayed in the following format:
“Windows cannot determine which resources are required for this device. Code 33”
Solution
Error Causes
Error code 33 may be triggered due to two reasons. One reason can be the translator's failure to find the correct resource for the device driver.
And since this error code is associated with the Device Manager, another reason can be an outdated or corrupted device driver. In most cases, the underlying problem for Device Manager error code is outdated/corrupted drivers.
The good news is that Device Manager error code 33 is not detrimental. However, if the error is not resolved timely, it can lower the functionality and the performance of your PC. You may not be able to use the hardware device.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To resolve code 33, you don’t need to be technically sound or hire a professional computer programmer. Just like any other Device Manager error code, code 33 is also easy to repair.
To help you fix this issue on your system, below are some of the best, easy, and effective DIY solutions.
Method 1 - Configure Hardware Device
Properly configure the problematic hardware device to fix error code 33. It is important to understand that when you install a device that is not plug-and-play, the resource settings are not configured automatically.
This means for such devices you will have to perform device configuration manually.
For device configuration, here’s what you should do:
Go to the start menu
Click Control Panel, then click Performance and Maintenance, and then System
Now on the hardware tab, click on Device Manager and then double click the device you wish to configure
Click the resources tab and then click on the check box next to the Use Automatic Setting
After that click, the ‘Setting Based On’ and then click the hardware configuration you wish to change
Press the ‘Resource Type’ you will like to configure in the ‘Resource Settings’ box
Now go to the Change Settings tab and type a new value for the Resource Type
Method 2 - Update the Problematic Drivers
Code 33 can also be generated due to driver problems. In such a scenario, it is recommended to update the outdated or corrupted drivers.
Identifying all problematic drivers and updating them individually can be frustrating and time-consuming. Therefore to save time and avoid the hassle involved in updating drivers manually, it is advisable to download DriverFIX.
Method 3 - Download DriverFIX to Update Drivers Automatically
DriverFIX is a next-generation and user-friendly program compatible with all Windows versions.
This software is exclusively designed to repair and resolve device driver-related problems and error codes.
Once installed, its intelligent and intuitive programming system detects all outdated, corrupted, and misconfigured device drivers on your PC. It automatically updates all the problematic drivers in a few seconds. It makes sure that the driver versions are the latest and compatible with your operating system.
Furthermore, it also ensures that drivers are continuously updated whenever new versions are available. So, you don’t have to worry about keeping device drivers up to date.
Click here to download DriverFIX to resolve Device Manager error code 33 today!
Today most people have Facebook accounts where they keep in touch with friends and family. But large Facebook network of users is also very interesting to another party as well, hackers.
There are many ways hackers can steal your data via direct hacks, trickery, and social engineering in order to get your credentials, emails, and many other things using them to wreak further havoc.
Once a hacker has needed information it is very difficult to minimize impact and all of your information could be compromised from a list of friends to credit card numbers. Keep on reading to learn how can you protect yourself against these attacks and learn about common practices that hackers use in order to steal your data.
Stealing Facebook data via email
A couple of years ago there was a lot of talk about not opening suspicious emails. Well, it still holds today. The difference is that today’s fake emails have become very difficult to differentiate from official ones since hackers put the effort into creating them copying fonts and layout, making them identical to original ones.
So if emails look and feel like original ones how do you know if it is fake? Very simple, you do not click anything in it. If Facebook or for that matter any company wants to contact you they will do via their platform.
Clicking inside a hacker's email will lead you probably to a fake Facebook website replica where you will have to type in your username and password providing an attacker with your login credentials, etc.
If you receive this kind of mail where there are threats about terminating an account, missing payments, etc. it is always the best thing to go directly to Facebook and see if you have any kind of notifications there. Do not trust any emails that ask for account information, request money, or threaten to suspend your account.
Phishing attacks
As stated previously if you click on the link inside fake mail it will probably lead you to a website replica of the original.
Although hackers can pretty much copy all things from an original website like layout, fonts, colors, etc. There is one thing that he cannot, web address. Take a good look into your browser address bar to see if there is a typo or anything strange in the address of a website.
Also, make sure to check for the secure icon in the web address before signing in.
Fake Facebook buttons
If by any chance and for whatever reason, you end up on a fake Facebook site be vary careful about like and other buttons since buttons themselves behave and act like links inside your browser.
IF when you click on like you get a prompt to sign in, it is almost 100% that you ended up on a phishing fake website.
Password brute force attack
Having complex and long passwords is a must. If your Facebook password is 12345 there is a very high chance that if a hacker wants he can easily guess it via trying out the most used and simple passwords via simple guessing.
To avoid being hacked just for having poor passwords try to think of something longer, combine letters and numerical characters, place special characters inside it or just simply as the best solution use a password manager and create passwords with it.
Password grab outside Facebook
If you use the same password for multiple accounts which is a big no-no and you should not do it then hackers can use passwords from other services and login into your Facebook in order to steal data.
Avoid these situations by having different passwords for different accounts or use a password manager to keep everything in order.
Hacking via key logger
Some time ago we have made an article which explained in detail everything you need to know about key loggers here: https://errortools.com/windows/how-to-know-if-you-have-keylogger-in-windows/
Anyway, this is a more advanced hacking technique in order for hackers to steal your data and it includes placing malicious applications into your system that records your keystrokes and sends them directly to hackers.
Since this is an application best protection against this type of attack is to have a security suite installed and active on your PC or device you use to go to Facebook.
Connecting and surfing on an unsecured network
Using no password and unsecured WI FI or any other type of network is risky at least. You can have all protection installed on your device and have a strong password but hackers also logged in to the same network can track all outgoing stuff going through mentioned network leaving you again exposed to attacks.
It is better to connect to your mobile operator network than on free WI FI, at least there is some level of security in your operator network while free WI FI is completely unsecured.
Getting a virtual private network or VPN is also one thing you could think about for protection since almost all VPN services will encrypt your data thus providing you with a security layer even on unsecured Wi-FI.
Conclusion
Hacking and stealing have come a long way from their infant stages and in today’s world when we use a lot of gadgets and have plenty of online presence taking some steps for security is a must.
I hope that you have found anything here informational and helpful so you can avoid getting your data compromised.
Recently Logitech has released a new line of ergonomic mouse products on market, strangely shaped and lifted on a vertical axis Logitech claims that these devices will fix your issues and ease your hand pains for prolonged use of the computer.
The first time I saw this mouse I was not really impressed with its looks and somehow I thought it will not feel good. This all changed when I actually started using it, surprisingly altho strange in looks it does feel much more natural and much less stressful on hand. Also, it felt like I have used it before, personally, I did not need any adjustment period in order to use it fully.
All of that being said I will admit that using it for gaming is still not an option for me, someone might find it ok, especially if they play some games that do not need to be responsive like strategies or similar but for RTS and FPS I will still stick to the typically shaped mouse. This might be just a habit for me but somehow I feel more responsive with the typical mouse, but for anything else, this is the mouse that will keep your hands stress-free.
Now in order to get the mouse to be really recommended it needs to have some good technical specifications as well, looks are not all. The less important detail is that the mouse comes in 3 different colors: Black, white and pink, and its technical specifications are:
Specs & Details
Dimensions
Height: 71 mmWidth: 70 mmDepth: 108 mmWeight: 125 g
Technical Specifications
Sensor technology
Sensor type: Logitech Advanced Optical Tracking
Dpi range: 400-4000 dpi (Fully adjustable with 100DPI increments)
Nominal value: 1000 dpi
Buttons
Number of buttons: 6 (Left/Right-click, Back/Forward, Middle button, Scroll-wheel with a middle click)
Battery
Battery type: 1x AA battery (included)
Battery life: up to 24- months Battery life may vary based on user and computing conditions.
Connection type support
Logi Bolt USB receiver (included)
Bluetooth® Low Energy Technology
Wireless range
10-m wireless range
Personally, I would recommend this mouse for anyone who does work in front of the computer during the whole workday since it really does loosen grip and strain on hands.