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Windows 11 vs Windows 10: Main Differences

Still sitting on the fence about upgrading to Windows 11 because you don’t know what to expect? Interestingly, the new edition somehow manages to be both a total revamp and still very similar to its predecessor in many ways. It’s really something to experience for yourself.

We do want to give you a sneak peek, though. So here’s an overview of the biggest changes Windows 11 brings to the table.

What’s different in Windows 11?

1. Visual changes

The first thing anyone will notice after switching to Windows 11 is the striking visual difference. The entire interface is smoother, cleaner and more minimalistic than on Windows 10, even resembling the macOS in some instances.
Perhaps the most obvious change in appearance is the Start menu and Taskbar location, which is now at the bottom center. It’s actually very neat, but if you’re someone who loves familiarity, don’t worry, you can move it back to the left.

Centralized Taskbar and Start menu
Centralized Taskbar and Start menu

Moreover, you’ll notice that the Taskbar includes a Microsoft Teams icon by default (which you can, of course, remove) and that Live Tiles are gone. The News and Interests section has also been removed - or, shall we say, replaced. As opposed to Windows 10, news, weather forecasts and other information are now displayed as widgets.

To add to the cleanliness of the UI, Microsoft also enhanced the ‘Snap Layouts’ feature to help you better organize your windows and maximize screen real estate. It’s similar to app grouping on your smartphone. In Windows 10 this feature is slightly restricted, as it requires some manual resizing and dragging. In Windows 11, you can just hover over the minimize/maximize option on a window, select a layout and throw the windows in there. 

Snap Layouts
Snap Layouts

2. New accessibility features

Microsoft has certainly paid attention to accessibility with Windows 10, but Windows 11 takes this to a whole new level.

One of the ways Windows 11 has taken things up a notch is by adding the long-awaited ‘Live Captions’ feature and advanced Narrator options.

Live Captions apply both to media played on your PC as well as your own speech when you’re using the microphone. Keep in mind that, as with almost all kinds of subtitles, you have to be prepared for a potential delay. However, it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t take away from the usefulness of this awesome new feature whatsoever.

As for the Narrator, there are three new voice packs to choose from. Microsoft has tried to put emphasis on a more natural voice than we are used to. So, now you can choose between Aria, Jenny and Guy, who will read pretty much anything off your screen out loud. Aside from this, Microsoft has also expanded the list of braille displays supported by the Narrator feature. 
For users with anxiety or trouble concentrating, a welcomed addition is the Focus app, which is no longer part of the Clock app. It’s now separate and called ‘Focus Sessions’, automatically triggering the Do Not Disturb mode when activated. It blocks all pop-ups and flashes and lets you work in peace until you’re ready to switch it off.

3. Android apps

Android users may rejoice! Windows 11 supports the use of your favorite applications now. 

Microsoft has done this by integrating the Amazon Appstore to the Windows 11 Microsoft Store. From there, you can download your favorite Android apps and use them on your PC in a smartphone-like window.

Unfortunately not too many apps are supported at this time, but Microsoft is working on making the emulation possible for many more. Also, the option is only available in specific regions at this moment - check out if you’re one of the lucky ones.

4. Improved gaming performance

Avid gamers will be happy to hear that Microsoft has put some effort into streamlining Windows 11 for their gaming needs.

To give gamers a supreme visual experience, Windows 11 offers the ‘Auto HDR’ feature. As long as your monitor is HDR-compatible, this feature will automatically adjust the colors, brightness and contrast of games without any input from you. 

Another update is DirectStorage, which we were introduced to in Windows 10 already. In Windows 11, it’s been improved to tweak loading times and overall gaming performance efficiency even better. The predisposition for it to work optimally is that your device has an NVMe SSD. 

The Xbox Game Bar also helps gamers towards a smoother experience. It allows in-game screenshots, viewing processes that are running (similar to the Task Manager), monitoring the CPU and GPU performance and frame rate, integrating the Xbox App and more. There’s also a number of widgets you can now use with the Game Bar, for example the Spotify widget.

Xbox Game Bar
Xbox Game Bar

Another cool addition is the Xbox Game Pass, which unlocks hundreds of games to play on your Xbox App, with new additions coming in every month.

5. Smart App Control

Aside from a sleek new look and better accessibility for all users, Windows 11 also comes with a security power-up. Bear in mind that this feature is only available on clean Windows 11 installs. 

Smart App Control (SAC) is an AI-powered new feature designed to protect your PC from potential threats. It blocks untrustworthy apps and adware and helps detect potentially unwanted apps, maintaining your PC’s performance and keeping your system safe.

It comes with an ‘Evaluation’ mode, which you should definitely select when running SAC for the first time. That way, the app monitors your usage and assesses whether you’re a candidate for SAC. Some users need it to be on all the time, for others it might be too distracting. Evaluation mode will turn SAC on or off based on your usage.

Don’t disable SAC again unless you’re absolutely sure you don’t need it, since reenabling it will require a fresh install. We recommend you don’t turn it off, as it is a neat feature protecting your data and files from malware at all times.

Summary

Have we piqued your interest in trying Microsoft’s latest OS? It’s a pretty exciting new iteration, but we’ll let you find out for yourself. We hope you like it!

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Fix cannot open IPv4 Properties in Windows 10
Many Windows 10 users often change the IP addresses of their computers’ network adapter in order to connect to the internet or network they belong to in times when there is no automatic connection for their computers. In most cases, access to modifying this setting is restricted for some odd reason even if you are an administrator. So if you are one of the users whose Windows 10 VPN IPv4 Properties are not working, this post can help you remedy that so that you can open and edit the IPv4 Properties on your Windows 10 PC. The common way to change IP settings is by going to Settings > Network and then to Internet > Change adapter options > Select Network adapter > right click and open Properties. From there, you can select TCP/IP 4 and modify it. If you aren’t able to do this, refer to the instructions laid out below to troubleshoot the problem in accessing the IPv4 Properties.

Option 1 – Try using PowerShell to manually set the IPv4 properties

As you are not able to set it using the interface, you can do so using PowerShell instead. Note that this option will only work for you if you run PowerShell with administrator privileges. After opening PowerShell, according to many users, you have to run the this command – set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias “Ethernet” -ServerAddresses xxx.xx.xxx.xxx,x.x.x.x,xxx.xx.xxx.xxx,x.x.x.x Usually, Ethernet is the name of your network adapter which is set by default. If you want to see the actual name of your network adapter, you can just type this command and tap Enter after doing so – Get-NetAdapter -physical | where status -eq 'up' After entering the given command, you will see a list of active Ethernet adapter in your computer as you can see on the image above. Note that the 4 sets of X like the one on the image below should match with the sequence:

Option 2 – Try editing the rasphone.pbk files

The rasphone.pbk files stores property for the connections and since you are not able to access the IPv4 properties, it is most likely that it has been disabled here. The good thing is that you can open these files and edit them using Notepad. Refer to the steps below to do so.
  • Open the Windows Explorer and then enable the show hidden files option.
  • After that, look for the files at this location – C:Users <username>AppDataRoamingMicrosoftNetworkConnectionsPbk_hiddenPbkrasphone.pbk
  • Then right-click on it and select the “Open with” option and choose the Notepad app.
  • After opening the file, look for “IpPrioritizeRemote” from the long list.
  • Once you found it, set its value from “1” to “0”.
  • After that, look for “IPInterfaceMetric” and set its value to “1” and tap Ctrl + S to save the changes you’ve made, and then exit and try accessing the IPv4 properties again. It should work, but if you’re still unable to access it, try the next option below.

Option 3 – Enable the Split Tunneling if you use VPN

All data goes back and forth when you are using a VPN service on your computer. And since you are using VPN, it could be that it disables the IPv4 interface. If that’s the case, you need to stay connected with both the local network and VPN and to do so, you have to enable Split Tunneling. How? Follow these steps:
  • Open PowerShell with administrator privileges.
  • Next, type in “Get-VpnConnection” and tap Enter. After doing so, it will give you the exact name of your VPN.
  • After that, type in “Set-VpnConnection -Name “yourVPNName” -SplitTunneling $True” and tap Enter. Once you enter the command, it will free your IPv5 settings so that you can change it to connect with your local network if you prefer it to.
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Remove PriceGong from your Windows PC

PriceGong is a browser add-in for Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox that analyzes web sites your browser visits and attempts to find coupons and other deals associated with the merchant’s product offerings or services. If PriceGoing sees a corresponding deal, it will attempt to inject an affiliate ‘code’ in order to collect various affiliate based commissions if a purchase is made while trying to offer you the best price of that particular product, or, in many cases try and show you an alternative product that is similar even if it is sold by a different merchant. Upon further inspection it was found that PriceGong failed to function in our testing.

While installed, this extension might display additional ads, inject sponsored content into webpages, even if the sponsored content is of lower quality than the original ones.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes known as hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that alters web browser settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or consent. These types of hijacks are increasing at an alarming rate around the globe, and it could be really nefarious and often dangerous too. They’re created to disrupt browser programs for various purposes. In most cases, hijackers are designed for the benefit of online hackers usually through income generation from forced advert mouse clicks and site visits. Though it might seem naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and thus always regarded as security risks. In a much worst case, your browser could be hi-jacked to download malware that will do a great deal of damage to your computer or laptop. Major symptoms that an internet browser has been hijacked Signs that an internet browser is hijacked include: 1. home page is changed 2. bookmark and the new tab are also modified 3. the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or insecure sites are put into the trusted websites list 4. discover new toolbars that you didn’t add 5. never-ending pop-up ads appear and/or your web browser popup blocker is disabled 6. your web browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly 7. you’re disallowed access to specific web pages, for example, the website of an antivirus software manufacturer like SafeBytes.

Precisely how browser hijacker infects computers

A browser hijacker can be installed on your computer if you visit an infected website, click an email attachment, or download something from a file-sharing site. They are usually included with toolbars, add-ons, BHO, plug-ins or browser extensions. Other times you may have accidentally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software program bundle (usually freeware or shareware). An example of some well-known browser hijacker includes Anyprotect, Conduit, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing. The existence of any browser hijacker on your computer can substantially diminish the web browsing experience, record your internet activities that result in troublesome privacy issues, create system stability problems and finally cause your computer to slow down or to a practically unusable state.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Some hijackers can be removed by uninstalling the freeware they were included with or by removing any extension you have recently added to your system. However, most browser hijackers are hard to get rid of manually. No matter how much you try to eliminate it, it might come back over and over. You should think about performing manual repairs only if you are a tech-savvy individual, as there are potential risks associated with messing around with the system registry and HOSTS file. Installing and running antivirus application on the affected computer could automatically erase browser hijackers and other malicious programs. SafeBytes Anti-Malware discovers all kinds of hijackers – including PriceGong – and eliminates every trace quickly and efficiently. Use a system optimizer along with your antivirus software to solve various computer registry issues, remove system vulnerabilities, and improve your computer's overall performance.

Tips on How to Remove Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Practically all malware is bad, but certain kinds of malware do much more damage to your PC than others. Some malware variants alter browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS configuration settings. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit some or all of the websites, and therefore unable to download or install the required security software to eliminate the infection. If you are reading this now, you may have perhaps recognized that a virus infection is the real cause of your blocked web traffic. So how to proceed if you want to install an anti-malware application like Safebytes? There are a few fixes you can attempt to get around with this particular issue.

Use Safe Mode to resolve the problem

Safe Mode is actually a unique, simplified version of Windows where just bare minimum services are loaded to counteract viruses as well as other troublesome programs from loading. In case the malware is set to load automatically when computer boots, switching into this particular mode could prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, hit “F8” key on the keyboard right before Windows boot screen shows up; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over “Safe Boot” under Boot tab, and click Apply. Once you’re in Safe Mode, you can attempt to download and install your antivirus program without the hindrance of the virus. At this point, you could run the antivirus scan to eliminate viruses and malware without any hindrance from another malicious application.

Download the anti-malware program in an alternate web browser

Malicious program code may exploit vulnerabilities in a specific internet browser and block access to all anti-malware software websites. If you appear to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch to an alternate web browser with built-in security features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite anti-malware program – Safebytes. Create a bootable USB antivirus drive Another option is to save and operate an anti-malware software program entirely from a Flash drive. Follow these steps to use a flash drive to clean your infected PC. 1) On a virus-free computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the USB drive to a USB port on the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Choose the flash drive as the location for saving the software file. Follow activation instructions. 5) Transfer the flash drive from the clean computer to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all sorts of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Light-weight Malware Protection for Windows Computer

If you’re looking to buy anti-malware for your laptop or computer, there are lots of brands and packages for you to consider. A few of them do a great job in eliminating threats while some will harm your computer by themselves. You should select a company that builds industry-best anti-malware and has earned a reputation as trustworthy. On the list of highly recommended application by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a popular security application for Microsoft Windows. SafeBytes antimalware is a very effective and easy to use protection tool which is ideal for users of all levels of IT literacy. This software could easily detect, eliminate, and protect your computer from the most advanced malware intrusions such as spyware, adware, trojan horses, ransomware, PUPs, worms, parasites as well as other potentially harmful software applications.

SafeBytes possesses a plethora of wonderful features that can help you protect your computer from malware attack and damage. Let’s check out some of them below:

Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes provides multilayered protection which is designed to find and remove threats which are hidden deep inside your computer’s operating system. Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes provides a totally hands-free live protection that is set to observe, block, and remove all threats at its very first encounter. It will constantly monitor your laptop or computer for hacker activity and also provides users with advanced firewall protection. Web Filtering: SafeBytes inspects the hyperlinks present on a webpage for possible threats and notifies you if the website is safe to browse or not, through its unique safety ranking system. Fast Scan: Safebytes Anti-Malware, with its enhanced scanning engine, offers ultra-fast scanning which will immediately target any active on-line threat. Lightweight: SafeBytes is a light-weight and user friendly anti-virus and antimalware solution. Since it utilizes very little computer resources, this application leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs: with you. 24/7 Guidance: Support service is readily available for 24 x 7 x 365 days through chat and email to answer your queries. SafeBytes can keep your PC protected from most advanced malware threats automatically, thus keeping your internet experience secure and safe. You can rest assured that your computer will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software to use. So if you are looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we highly recommend SafeBytes Anti-Malware program.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To eliminate PriceGong manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the offending program you want to remove. For web browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the add-on you want to disable or remove. You might even want to reset your home page and search engine providers, and also clear your web browser cache and cookies. Finally, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your registry manually to remove leftover application entries following uninstalls. However, editing the Windows registry is actually a complicated job that only advanced computer users and professionals should attempt to fix the problem. In addition to that, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. You’re advised to do this procedure in Windows Safe Mode.
Folders: C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data Files: C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\a.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\b.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\c.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\d.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\e.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\f.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\g.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\h.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\i.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\J.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\k.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\l.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\m.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\mru.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\n.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\o.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\p.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\q.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\r.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\s.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\t.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\u.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\v.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\w.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\x.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\y.xml C:\Documents and Settings\Lynn\Application Data\PriceGong\Data\z.xml Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PriceGong
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Headphones are not visible in playback devices
If you connected headphones to your Windows 10 computer to listen to audio but when you check it in the playback devices, you’re not able to find it, read on as this post will guide you in what you can do to figure out what exactly caused this kind of problem and how you can resolve it. This kind of issue could simply be with the headphone itself or the headphone port or your operating system. So if it turns out that the problem is with the hardware, you might have to replace the components. However, it is recommended that you troubleshoot the problem first before doing that. The most basic thing you can do is to try changing the headphone port, although this can be quite difficult since most computers don’t have any extra port for headphones if your computer has one, then give it a go. If it still didn’t work, follow each one of the options provided below.

Option 1 – Try to run the Playing Audio troubleshooter

Since the Windows 10 operating system has the Playing Audio Troubleshooter, you can use this troubleshooter to try and fix the problem with the “No Audio Output Device is installed” error. You can access this tool in the Control Panel or in the Taskbar Search and even on the Troubleshooters page of Windows 10. Run this troubleshooter and see if it can fix the issue or not.

Option 2 – Try to update the Audio driver

If the error has something to do with software, chances are it might be related to the audio driver – it could be that the newest version of your Windows 10 does not work well with the old version of the driver. This is why you have to update your audio driver to the newest available version.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type in MSC and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • Expand the section of the Audio inputs and outputs.
  • And then from the drop-down menu, select the Update Driver option and follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of the driver.
  • Then also click on the option, “Search automatically for updated driver software.
  • Restart your PC after the installation.
Note: If updating the Audio driver didn’t work, you can go to the website of your PC manufacturer and look for the support section where you can download the drivers for your computer. You just need to take note of your PC’s correct model and model number so you can find the appropriate driver.

Option 3 – Try enabling the headphones from the playback devices

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type the “CPL” command.
  • Tap Enter to open the Playback devices.
  • Next, right-click on any open space section and check the boxes for the “Show Disconnected Devices” and “Show Disabled Devices” options.
  • After that, this should help in displaying the headphones in the section of Playback devices.
  • And if they are disabled, you can just right-click them to have them enabled.
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What is USB Kill Kit

USB Kill, a USB device is able to fry and damage your computer, mobile phone, router, etc. This device is quite dangerous and can kill electronics the moment it is inserted into an available port. By now people should know that they should not put unknown USB sticks into their devices because of potential virus and malware threats but this raises using unknown sticks to a whole new level.

usb kill kit

Kill kits are not really new to the market, they have existed before but lately, technology really progressed and the latest USB sticks are really good, their success rate is around 95% which is pretty high and should not be taken lightly.

The second thing that you really should not play with strange USB sticks is that they dropped in price really hard, although top Kill kits will still go as high as around 300 USD, there are really cheap ones lurking in Ali Express that are just 6 USD!!! that makes them affordable devices for the mass market.

The device is made to take energy and current from the port it is plugged in, multiply it and release its charge back into the device, successfully frying some components immediately. Some more professional Kill sticks can even fry devices even when the device itself is not powered and can be even started remotely.

The point of this article is to make you aware that you should not in any kind of circumstances use and plug-in USB sticks into your devices that you do not know where they come from, especially from the mail!!

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Fix Chrome ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT
The Google Chrome browser checks the SSL Security Certificate of the website that you are trying to open. However, if Chrome is not able to check the certificate then you might encounter an error related to the SSL Certificates which you might face when browsing the web. This particular error is the ERR BAD SSL CLIENT AUTH CERT error which is caused by many factors such as the computer’s Time, Cached Data is corrupt, Date is out of sync, as well as third party software installed in your computer is the one that’s blocking the site and many more. The ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error might also be coming from the website’s end. It could be that the server is rejecting the certificate the client website is sending. The certificate might have already expired or the server may not trust its issuer – whichever the case may be, here are some options you can check out to fix the error.

Option 1 – Sync Date and Time

The first thing you can try is to sync the Date and Time of your computer as the wrong Date and Time settings are one of the most common causes of connection problems like the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error. This is because of the incompatibility between the SSL Certificate validation date and the System Clock. Thus, you have to sync your System Clock. Refer to the steps below to do so.
  • Right-click on the Taskbar and click on the Adjust Date and Time option.
  • Next, click on the Sync Now button to synchronize the Date and Time with the Microsoft Servers.
  • Now make sure that the Time Zone that’s set on the same page is correct.

Option 2 – Try clearing the browser data

There are times when some data in the browser is conflicting with the loading of the website and triggers errors like ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT. And so you can try to clear your browser’s data. This might be a very basic solution but oftentimes it works in fixing this kind of error in Google Chrome. Follow the steps below to clear the data in your browser.
  • Open your Google Chrome browser.
  • After that, tap the Ctrl + H keys. Doing so will open a new panel that allows you to delete the browsing history and other data in your browser.
  • Now select every checkbox that you see and click on the Clear browsing data button.
  • Then restart your Chrome browser and check if you can now open any website or not.

Option 3 – Try to check and fix any possible conflicts with third-party programs

Third-party programs like internet protection software could be interrupting the connection and causing the error. For some unknown reason, your antivirus program or firewall might be detecting the webpage you are trying to open as malicious or with less credibility which is why it is blocking the browser from opening the website. To fix that, if you have third-party programs installed like VPN, security software, or any add-on, or firewall, you can disable them temporarily and see if it fixes the problem and you’re able to pull up the website. After a while, you have to enable them back and configure their settings so that the website won’t get blocked again.

Option 4 – Try enabling SSL 3 / TLS and disable QUIC Protocol

If you were using Google Chrome when you got the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error, then you need to follow the protocol fixes for SSL3/TLS and QUIC which are usually some of the reasons that cause the SSL version / Cipher Mismatch. It also has a few fixes for Windows 10 computer where you can clear the certificates and make sure that your computer date and time is in sync with your time zone and so on. If you were using Edge or Internet Explorer when you got the error, then you have to follow the steps below.
  • Type “Internet” in the search box of your browser. After that, you should see the Internet Options from the search results.
  • Next, open the Internet Properties window and switch to the Advanced tab and then scroll down to the Security section.
  • From there, check the “Use TLS 1.1” checkbox as well as the “Use TLS 1.2” checkbox and then click OK to save the changes made.
  • Restart the browser.
On the other hand, if you were using Firefox when you go the error, here’s what you have to do.
  • Open Firefox and in the address bar, type “about:config” and hit Enter.
  • If a warning appears, just click on the “I accept the risk!” button to proceed.
  • Next, type in “TLS” in the search field and hit Enter.
  • Then look for “security.tls.version.min” and double click on it and set its integer value to 3 to force the protocol of TLS 1.3.
  • Now click OK and restart Firefox and do the same thing with SSL.

Option 5 – Try to update Google Chrome

You might also want to try updating your browser to its latest version and have it installed in your computer. After you install the update, check if you can now open the website you were trying to open earlier.

Option 6 – Get rid of any conflicting browser extensions

  • Open Chrome and press Alt + F keys.
  • Go to More tools and click Extensions to look for any suspicious browser extensions or toolbars.
  • Click the Recycle bin and select Remove.
  • Restart Chrome and press Alt + F keys again.
  • Proceed to On Startup and mark Open a specific page or set of pages.
  • To check if the browser hijacker is still active, click Set pages, if it is active, overwrite the URL.
Note: If removing the browser extensions or toolbars didn’t work, you can also try to reset your Google Chrome browser.
  • Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
  • After that, click on Settings.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
  • After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
  • Now restart Google Chrome.
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Firewall is preventing or blocking connections
As you know, the Windows Firewall is designed not just to protect your computer from viruses and malware, and other security threats but it’s also designed to block any program from accessing the internet. Users are given the option to block both inbound and outbound traffic for any apps on their computers. However, this kind of option can often lead to not being able to access the internet. In such cases, when you try to run the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter or the Windows Network Diagnostic troubleshooter, it will throw an error message that says, “Windows Firewall is preventing connections to your computer. The Windows Firewall rule HSS DNS Leak Rule may be blocking your connection”. If you are in this kind of scenario, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how exactly you can fix this error. When you encounter this kind of error, there are several options you can check out to fix it. You can try to allow an app or feature through the Windows Firewall or uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public. For more details, refer to the suggestions provided below.

Option 1 – Try to allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall

The first thing you can do to get rid of the error is to allow a feature or app through the Windows Firewall. To do this, follow these steps:
  • Open the Windows Defender Security Center.
  • From there, select the Firewall and Network Protection option.
  • Next, click on the “Allow an app through firewall” option and then click on the “Change Settings” button and make sure that you have administrative privileges.
  • After that, select the app or feature you want to allow through the Firewall from the menu. You also have the option to manually add the app by using the “Add an App” option.
  • Then select the between the type of network an app can access such as:
    • Private Network will allow the app to connect to the internet only at home or work.
    • Public Network will allow the app to connect to the internet from anywhere, including Public WiFi hotspots.
  • Once done, restart your computer and see if it fixed the error or not.

Option 2 – Try to uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public

The next thing you can do to fix the error is to uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public. You can do this by following these steps:
  • Open the Windows Defender Security Center.
  • From there, select the Firewall and Network Protection option.
  • After that, click on the “Allow an app through firewall” option and then click on the “Change Settings” button and make sure that you have administrative privileges.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public option and then uncheck it.
  • Now restart your computer and check if the error is now gone.
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How to Fix Error Code 0x8007232B

Error Code 0x8007232B (Code 0x8007232B) – What is it?

Error code 0x8007232B (Code 0x8007232B) is an error that occurs when you attempt to activate Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista.

Common symptoms include:

  • Attempting to activate Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows Server 2012 and you receive an error message.
  • The error message says: “Windows could not be activated. Key management services host could not be located in domain name system, please have your system administrator verify that a KMS is published correctly in DNS”
  • The error message says “The directory name, file name, or volume label syntax is incorrect”.

Error Causes

  • Error Code 0x8007232B occurs when you attempt to use media that is volume licensed to install: Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Business, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2.
  • This error code also occurs when the activation wizard is unable to connect to a Key Management Service host computer.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Error code 0x8007232B can be seen when you are trying to activate windows, on several different operating systems. This problem can usually be easily corrected, but in the event that it can't, please contact a computer repair technician. When you try to install any of the previously mentioned Windows products, they use a generic product key to install the volume-based license software. If you do have a KMS host computer configuration and see these error codes, that means the correct DNS entries are not being seen on the computer. If there is not a KMS host computer setup, you need to do this setup, otherwise switch to a MAK product key method, and activate the volume license installation that way.

Method One:

Using a Multiple Activation Key as opposed to KMS activation

  1. Click the Start icon, click on All Programs, click on Accessories, right-click on Command prompt.
  2. Click on “Run as administrator”. Type in the password or provide confirmation if prompted for administrator password or confirmation.
  3. When asked for the command prompt, enter in the following and then hit the Enter buuton: slmgr -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx  Note: this placeholder represents the MAK product key.

Method Two:

Configure a KMS host server for the clients to activate against.

A KMS host server needs to be configured for the clients to activate against. When there are no KMS host servers configured near you, install and activate a KMS server key. After this, configure a computer on the network to host this KMS software and publish the Domain Name System (DNS) settings.

Method Three:

When the client cannot locate a KMS host on the network for activation:

1. Verify that your computer has the KMS host installed and activated by using a KMS key that is registered in DNS. You will follow these steps to do that:

  1. Click the Start button, click on All Programs, click Accessories, and then right-click on Command Prompt.
  2. Click on Run as Administrator. Type the password or provide confirmation if you are asked for an administrator password or for confirmation.
  3. In the command prompt box, type the following command and press ENTER: nslookup -type=all _vlmcs.tcp>kms.txt
  4. Then open the KMS.txt file generated by this command. The file will contain at least one entry that relays the SRV service location.

2.  A KMS host server registers a DNS SRV record once every 24 hours by default. You should check the registry to see if the KMS host server is registering with the DNS. Follow these steps to do so:

  1. Click on Start, type in regedit, and then press Enter.
  2. Locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsNTCurrentVersionSL and then click on it.
  3. The KMS server does not register in DNS if the DisableDnsPublishing subkey is existing and has a value of 1. If this subkey is missing altogether, create a DWORD value called the DisableDnsPublishing. If the dynamic registration is suitable, the subkey value should be changed to 0. Right-click DisableDnsPublishing, click on Modify, enter 0 into the Value data box, and click OK.
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How to Fix fltmgr.sys in Windows 10
The fltmgr.sys file or the Filter Manager is the one that’s responsible in making sure that all the file stored in a computer’s hard drive stays on their respective locations and is located in C:/Windows/System32/drivers. Now when you encounter a Blue Screen of Death or BSOD error saying, “Your PC ran into a problem that it couldn’t handle, and now it needs to restart. SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION”. This kind of Stop error is due to an error with the driver that’s responsible for enabling the communication between the hardware and the computer. It indicates that this driver allows direct access to the internal hardware from the CPU itself. What’s worse about the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION BSOD error is that there are times when you won’t be able to log in to your computer even after it reboots. However, you need not worry as this post will guide you into fixing this BSOD error. All you have to do is follow the given options below carefully and that before you proceed make sure that you create a System Restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Option 1 – Run the Windows Update

Obviously, since the fltmgr.sys file is a system file from Microsoft, you can try running the Windows Update and see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 2 – Run the System File Checker

The System File Checker, also known as the SFC scan, is a built-in utility in Windows that can be found in the C:/Windows/System32 folder. This tool allows you to scan and restore any corrupted system files in Windows that might be causing the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION BSOD error. To use this tool, follow the steps below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • 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:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
  • Restart your computer and then check if it has fixed the error or not.

Option 3 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
  • Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  • From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

Option 4 – Check your hardware for any physical issues

There are times when faulty hardware can result in serious problems in the system such as the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION Blue Screen error. Thus, it is highly recommended that you check the internal components of your CPU to find out if there are any problems. And if there is any physical damage, you need to bring that to a technician to get it fixed or have it replaced.

Option 5 – Run the CHKDSK utility

You can also run the Chkdsk utility to resolve the BSOD error. The Chkdsk utility is the one that repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
  • Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After opening Command Prompt, execute the commands listed below, and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you type in each one of them and if you have installed Windows to some different directory, you must replace “C” with the name of the drive you’ve installed Windows with.
  • chkdsk C: /r /x
  • chkdsk C: /f
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Easy PrivateSearchPlus Removal Guide

PrivateSearchPlus is a browser extension that redirects all your searches through yonto. This way the extension claims you are browsing privately.

From the author: Search the web without tracking your search history or any personally identifiable information Access quickly to popular websites with icons sliding from this homepage is easy speedy and accessed ..Google Search, Yahoo, Aol, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, and more from all world without login However, PrivateSearchPlus monitors your browsing activity, the websites you visit, the links you click, and stores personal information that is later sent to server ads. This extension changes your default search engine to Yonto, it displays additional unwanted ads, may display pop-up ads, and hijacks your home page. Several anti-virus scanners have classified this extension as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a type of unwanted program, commonly a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in web browser’s settings. There are several reasons why you might have a browser hijack; but commercial, marketing, and advertising are the main purposes for their creation. In general, hijackers are made for the benefit of internet hackers often through income generation from forced ad clicks and site visits. Nonetheless, it’s not that innocent. Your web safety is compromised and it is also very irritating. Browser hijackers could also allow other vicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your computer.

How to know if your browser has been hijacked

When your web browser is hijacked, the following might happen: your browser’s homepage is suddenly different; you see new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, usually directed to advertisement-filled or pornography websites; the default browser settings have been changed, and/or your default search engine is altered; you see unsolicited new toolbars added; you notice numerous ads show up on your web browsers or display screen; webpages load slowly and at times incomplete; Inability to navigate to particular sites, especially antivirus and also other security software websites.

So how does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or an e-mail attachment in order to reach a targeted computer. They could also come from add-on applications, also referred to as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions, or toolbars. Other times you may have unintentionally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software program bundle (usually freeware or shareware). Some of the most well-known hijackers are EasySearchPlus, Babylon Toolbar, Conduit Search, OneWebSearch, Sweet Page, and CoolWebSearch. The presence of any browser hijacker malware on your system might drastically diminish the web browsing experience, monitor your internet activities that lead to major privacy concerns, produce system stability problems and ultimately cause your PC to slow down or to a nearly unusable state.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Some browser hijacking could be quite easily stopped by finding and eliminating the corresponding malware program from your control panel. Sadly, many of the software programs used to hijack an internet browser are intentionally created to be hard to detect or remove. Inexperienced PC users shouldn’t ever try for the manual form of removal methods, as it demands thorough computer knowledge to do repairs on the computer registry and HOSTS file.

What to Do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Or Installing Anything?

Malware can cause all sorts of damage once they invade your PC, ranging from stealing your personal details to erasing data files on your computer. Certain malware types alter internet browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS configuration settings. In these instances, you will be unable to visit certain or all websites, and therefore unable to download or install the necessary security software to get rid of the computer virus. So what to do if malware keeps you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? There are some options you can try to get around with this particular problem.

Install in Safe Mode with Networking

If the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in Safe Mode should avoid it. Since only the minimal applications and services start-up in “Safe Mode”, there are rarely any reasons for issues to take place. You will need to do the following to eliminate malware in Safe mode. 1) Press the F8 key repeatedly as soon as your PC boots, however, before the big Windows logo appears. This will conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) Once this mode loads, you should have the internet. Now, make use of your web browser to download and install Safebytes. 4) After installation, run a complete scan and let the software program get rid of the threats it detects.

Obtain the antivirus program using an alternate web browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a specific browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. The best way to overcome this problem is to pick a browser that is well known for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you secure online.

Create a portable USB antivirus for eliminating malware

Another method is to download and transfer an antivirus application from a clean computer to run a scan on the affected computer. Follow these steps to employ a flash drive to fix your corrupted computer. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer. 2) Plug the Thumb drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Choose a thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you wish to install the software. Do as instructed on the screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Now, plug the pen drive into the infected system. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove malware automatically.

A Look at the Best Anti-Malware Program

To help protect your computer from various internet-based threats, it is very important to install an anti-malware program on your computer system. However, with so many anti-malware companies in the market, these days it is tough to decide which one you should obtain for your personal computer. A few are very good ones, some are ok types, while some are just fake anti-malware programs that can ruin your PC themselves! You have to pick a product that has got a good reputation and detects not only computer viruses but other sorts of malware as well. While considering the reliable applications, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the strongly recommended one. SafeBytes is a highly effective, real-time anti-spyware application that is created to assist regular computer users in safeguarding their computers from malicious internet threats. With its cutting-edge technology, this software will allow you to get rid of several types of malware like computer viruses, PUPs, trojans, worms, adware, ransomware, and browser hijackers. SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a totally new level with its advanced features. Some of them are given as below: Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes provides an entirely hands-free live protection that is set to check, prevent and get rid of all computer threats at its very first encounter. It will continuously monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives users advanced firewall protection. Anti-Malware Protection: Safebytes is based on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines can detect and eliminate threats even during the initial phases of a malware outbreak. Web Security: SafeBytes checks the links present on a webpage for possible threats and notifies you whether the website is safe to view or not, through its unique safety rating system. “Fast Scan” Abilities: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its enhanced scanning engine, offers extremely fast scanning which can promptly target any active online threat. Light-weight: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-to-use anti-virus and antimalware solution. As it uses very low computer resources, this tool leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually. 24/7 Live Expert Support: For any technical questions or product support, you may get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and e-mail.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove PrivateSearchPlus 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 PrivateSearchPlus

Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREsupWPM HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesWpm HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain Default_Page_URL HKEY_LOCAL_MachineSoftwareClasses[PUP.Private Search Plus] HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall[PUP.Private Search Plus]
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Fix Bad Image Error Status 0xc000012f
When you run a program in Windows 10, error 0xc000012f may pop up, mentioning that the files and binaries you’re trying to run are corrupted. Error 0xc000012f means Bad Image, denoting that the program’s executable or one of the supporting modules is corrupt. Or there is probably a DLL mismatch. This error usually manifests itself after a windows update or after installation of some application, in order to fix it follow the steps below:
  1. Perform SFC scan

    Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the Windows menu keyboard with windows and x markedFrom the menu choose command prompt (admin) Windows menu command prompt adminIn command prompt type sfc /scannow and press ENTER Leave the computer for the operation to be completed and Reboot your computer
  2. Run DISM

    Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the Windows menu keyboard with windows and x markedFrom the menu choose command prompt (admin) Windows menu command prompt adminin command prompt type: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press ENTER wait for the process to be finished and Reboot your computer
  3. Reinstall application

    If this error has been popping up after the application install remove the installed application and install it again. There is the possibility that the application installer has by accident corrupted some files, reinstalling it might fix the issue.
  4. Uninstall Windows update

    In some cases, Windows update can introduce this issue, go to Windows updates, into advanced options, and uninstall the latest update to see if this will fix the error.
  5. Install Visual C++ Redistributable

    Go to the official Microsoft website and download C++ redistributable package and install it
  6. Install new windows update

    If there is a new Windows update install, there is a chance that in the last update something went wrong and it is very likely that it was fixed in the last one.
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