Search Donkey is a Potentially Unwanted Program for Windows developed by Western Web Applications, LLC. This program may inject ads into your browsing sessions, giving you false search results and advertisements.

As described by Western Web Applications: “Search Donkey is entirely free to use. To keep Search Donkey free, we’ve partnered with high-quality ad providers and you may see additional ads when Search Donkey is installed.

While installed, Search Donkey will keep track of your web search queries, allowing it to let you know what pages you already visited, however, this data is also used to better target personal unwanted ads.

Search Donkey has been flagged as a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) by several anti-virus scanners, and their website is blacklisted by Google, giving warning to whoever visits it, and due to the nature of this application, it is not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Adware

Exactly what is Adware? If you have ever owned a computer, then you’ve probably heard the word numerous times, but it is still beneficial to define it. The term “adware” is actually a short form of advertising-supported software and it includes programs that are solely designed to display ads on a computer. A kind of malware, it will come bundled right in with the software package that a user either installs or accesses. Shareware or freeware programs are often times packaged with adware. If adware penetrates your system without you knowing and sends information about you or your PC to 3rd parties, then it is spyware. Quite often, adware changes your web browser settings to open pop-up adverts or modifies browser homepage and default internet search engine to some unwanted website. Adware is a common problem that affects a large number of PCs around the globe. If your computer doesn’t have any anti-malware software then it’s very likely it could get infected with adware as well as other malware.

Adware and its effects on your PC:

Adware could generate and display plenty of ads of all sorts which in turn disrupt the functions of your personal computer while browsing the net. Pop-ups might also show up on your computer’s desktop even when you’re not online. Adware results in a reduction of available memory and processing power, or resources. It also causes a slow net connection because adware consumes bandwidth whenever it retrieves adverts from the internet. Adware was originally created to support companies to generate income when they offer the software away free of charge. However, adware nowadays displays hundreds of adverts which will cause your PC to slow down and even crash.

Adware prevention:

As we discussed, adware could potentially be harmful to your computer, generally not by itself, but by bringing other problems to you. A top-quality antivirus program has the capability of permanently removing adware. We recommend Safebytes Anti-Malware, one of the top-rated anti-malware programs by world-renowned industry experts. It will act either as a preventative tool stopping websites or software installations that contain adware or as a removal tool for an already infected computer. To prevent adware, download software from websites that you trust. Never download from websites that you have never been aware of or tried before; Always study the end-user license agreement (EULA) of any application you want to install; You need to avoid freeware and shareware where possible; Lastly, watch out for ActiveX, since many adware and spyware companies make use of the technology to install their wares onto your computer system

Malware Blocking Internet And All Anti-Malware Software? Do This!

All malware is bad and the consequences of the damage will vary based on the specific type of malware. Some malware variants alter browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS settings. In these instances, you will be unable to visit some or all internet sites, and thus not able to download or install the required security software to eliminate the malware. So what to do when malicious software prevents you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? There are a few options you could try to get around with this problem.

Remove viruses in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you can actually change Windows settings, un-install or install some program, and eliminate hard-to-delete viruses and malware. If the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting the computer, launching it in Safe Mode will let you download antivirus and run a diagnostic scan while limiting possible damage. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSConfig and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you’re in safe mode, you can attempt to install your anti-malware program without the hindrance of the malicious software. At this point, you could run the anti-malware scan to eliminate viruses and malware without hindrance from another application.

Switch over to an alternate browser

Some malware only targets certain browsers. If this sounds like your case, use another web browser as it could circumvent the malware. If you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by malware or otherwise compromised by hackers, the ideal approach is to switch over to a different internet browser like Firefox, Chrome, or Safari to download your chosen computer security software – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Create a portable USB antivirus for eliminating malware

Another solution is to make a portable antivirus program on your USB flash drive. Adopt these measures to run the anti-malware on the affected computer system. 1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free PC. 2) Connect the flash drive to a USB slot on the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, which has a .exe file format. 4) Select the flash drive as the destination for saving the software file. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Transfer the pen drive from the clean computer to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the thumb drive to run the software. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

Detect And Remove Viruses With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Today an anti-malware tool can protect the computer from different types of online threats. But wait, how to decide on the best one amongst countless malware protection application that’s available out there? As you might be aware, there are many anti-malware companies and products for you to consider. A few are well worth your money, but many aren’t. You need to choose one that is reliable, practical, and has a strong reputation for its malware source protection. Amongst few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for the security-conscious individual. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your PC permanently but is also very easy to use for people of all ability levels. With its outstanding protection system, this tool will easily detect and remove most of the security threats, including adware, viruses, browser hijackers, ransomware, trojans, worms, and PUPs.

SafeBytes has outstanding features when compared to other anti-malware programs. Below are some of the great ones:

Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes provides 100 % hands-free real-time protection and is set to check, block, and eliminate all threats at its very first encounter. They’re very effective in screening and getting rid of different threats because they’re constantly revised with new updates and safety measures. Robust, Anti-malware Protection: With its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can identify and get rid of the malware threats hiding in the PC effectively. Internet Security: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating about the pages you’re about to visit, automatically blocking harmful sites and ensure that you’re certain of your safety while browsing the world wide web. “Fast Scan” Abilities: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is one of the fastest and most efficient within the industry. It's targeted scanning seriously increases the catch rate for viruses which is embedded in various computer files. Low CPU and Memory Usage: This program is not “heavy” on your computer’s resources, so you’ll not see any overall performance issues when SafeBytes is working in the background. 24/7 Customer Support: You can obtain totally free 24/7 technical support from their computer experts on any product queries or computer security concerns. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program as it has lots of features and could identify and remove any potential threats. Malware problems will become a thing of the past once you put this software to use. So if you’re searching for the best malware removal application out there, and if you don’t mind paying out some money for it, opt for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t want to use malware removal software and prefer to get rid of Search Donkey manually, you could do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of web browser plug-ins, you may remove it by visiting the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You’ll probably also want to reset your internet browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard disk and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. But bear in mind, editing the Windows registry can be a complicated job that only experienced users and professionals should attempt to fix it. Furthermore, some malware keeps replicating which makes it tough to eliminate. It is advised that you do the removal procedure in Windows Safe Mode.

The Photos app in Windows 10 is the default photo viewer. However, there are times when it might encounter some problems while you use it. One of these problems in the Photos app reported recently is where users try to export or share the images and videos from the app but weren’t successful in doing so. This can be really quite a hassle in opening images on your computer, especially since the Photos app is the default photo viewer in Windows 10 and if you don’t have any other photo viewer app installed. This kind of problem in the Photos app can be noticed when you try to use the “Remix” function for both photos and videos. In other words, this problem can occur with just pictures, videos, as well as a combination of both. So if you are trying to watch a video using this app, then you wouldn’t be able to play it. In such a case, the only thing you can hear is the audio but you wouldn’t see anything except for a hazy purple screen that has not export or share option. There are several possible causes for this problem and it could be fixed by updating the display driver/graphics driver or disabling the hardware-accelerated video encoding. You could also try updating or resetting or reinstalling the Photos app. For more details, follow each one of the suggestions provided below.

Option 1 – Try to update the Graphics driver

You can try to update your Graphics card driver using the Device Manager in your computer to resolve the blank dialog boxes problem or you can also go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it. To update your Graphics driver via Device Manager, refer to these steps:

• First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
• After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
• After that, right-click on each entry under the Display Adapters and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
• Now restart your computer.
• After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.

Option 2 – Try disabling the hardware-accelerated video encoding

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to disable the hardware-accelerated video encoding in your computer. To do that, follow these steps:

• Open the Photos app and click on the visible three dots located in the upper right corner of the app and then select Settings.
• From there, you should see the version number of the app in the “About this app” section. So if your app is version 2018.18071.****0.0 or greater, you should see the Video section which has a toggle button.
• Turn that toggle button off to disable hardware-accelerated video encoding in the Photos app. This should fix the problem, if not, simply follow the next given options below.

Option 3 – Try to update the Microsoft Photos app

• Open the Microsoft Store and click on the three horizontal dots for the menu located on the top right portion of the window to see the options.
• Next, select Downloads and updates and then click the Get updates button in the top right. This will install any pending updates for all the apps including the Microsoft Photos app using the Microsoft Store.

Option 4 – Try resetting the Photos app

• To get started in resetting the Photos app, open the Windows 10 Settings.
• Then go to Apps > Apps & features.
• After that, scroll down until you see the Photos app option – click on it and open its Advanced options.
• From there, you will see the Reset button, click on it and click and then click on it once more to confirm.

Note: The process may take a couple of minutes to complete. Once it’s done, open the pictures again using the Photos app.

Option 5 – Try reinstalling the Photos app

If none of the options given above worked, then you might want to consider reinstalling the Photos app. Unlike what most users think, it isn’t really that hard reinstalling preinstalled apps as you have the Windows PowerShell for that. To use this program in reinstalling the Photos app, follow these steps:

• Open the Windows PowerShell program with admin privileges and key in the following command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

• After that, execute this second command to re-register and reinstall the Microsoft Photos app.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

Note: In the command given, do not forget to replace the “PackageFullName” with the actual package name for the Photos app. After executing the command, it will uninstall the Photos app from your computer so you need to install it again from the Windows Store by simply looking for it. Once you found it, just click on install to start the installation process.

Gaming has come a long way since its infant days and grown from spending some free time between coding to full e-sport events watched worldwide. As have some basic peripherals been upgraded like gaming keyboards and gaming mouse so have headsets been receiving similar treatments. In today's article, we are presenting you with some of the best headsets specifically designed and made for gaming purposes. If you are looking for headphones for music listening look elsewhere, these bad boys are all made for replicating precise audio positioning and similar technology specifically tailored for games.

SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X

The best gaming headset overall for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, Android The SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X is the best gaming headset overall, offering great sound, consistent wireless performance, and a comfy, attractive design at a reasonable price. The headset’s 2.4-GHz wireless connectivity keeps you glued to your game without any lag or interference. Even better: Thanks to its USB-C dongle and USB-A adapter, you can enjoy wireless performance with any system, from a PS5 to a Nintendo Switch in handheld mode, to an Android phone.

Razer Blackshark V2

Razer's best headset yet for PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox One The Razer Blackshark V2 is probably the best headset that Razer has ever made. This mid-range wired headset provides fantastic sound for both games and music, particularly thanks to its innovative THX profiles. The famous film audio company has lent its expertise to make the Blackshark V2's surround sound realistic and nuanced, especially for a handful of games like Apex Legends and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which have their own optimized profiles.

Logitech G Pro X

Built for tournament play for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Switch The Logitech G Pro X delivers tournament-grade performance for a reasonable price. The headset's distinguished black design sets itself apart from the competition, in no small part thanks to its flexible headband and supremely comfortable foam and leatherette earcup options. The Go Pro X delivers rich, direction-accurate sound out of the box whether you're playing on PC or console. It's also the first gaming headset to sport a built-in Blue microphone, allowing for extra-crisp voice chat whether you're practicing with your Apex Legends squad or streaming to your online fans

SteelSeries Arctis Pro

Audiophile sound for gamers made for PS4, PC (with GameDAC), Xbox One, Switch, mobile (analog) SteelSeries’ Arctis Pro + GameDAC brings audiophile-grade features to the already excellent Arctis design. This headset includes a DAC (digital-to-analog converter), which allows it to deliver high-resolution 96-kHz/24-bit audio. The GameDAC also allows for a wealth of customization options, whether you want to fine-tune sound via an equalizer or customize the headset’s subtle RGB lighting.

HyperX Cloud Stinger

Big sound on a budget for PS, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, mobile The Stinger’s sturdy, feather-light frame and soft, faux-leather earcups make for one of the best gaming headsets on a budget, and its handy on-ear controls and solid microphone certainly don’t hurt either. Finding a comfortable fit is arguably the most important thing you can look for in a gaming headset, and the Cloud Stinger doesn’t disappoint on that front. The Stinger also offers very solid audio quality for the price, though things can get a bit blown out at max volume

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT

The best gaming headset with Bluetooth for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch (handheld), mobile The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is one of the best gaming headsets that Corsair has ever made. Not only is this headset extremely comfortable, but it also provides excellent sound quality. It works wirelessly with PCs and PlayStation consoles via USB, as well as mobile devices, streaming players, and smart TVs via Bluetooth. You can connect it to a Switch, Xbox controller, or older system via a 3.5 mm audio cable. There's very little that the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT can't do.

Xbox Wireless Headset

The best Xbox affordable headset for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, mobile The Xbox Wireless Headset is exactly what the name suggests: a wireless headset that works particularly well with Xbox consoles. Whether you have an Xbox Series X, an Xbox Series S, an Xbox One, or a Windows 10 PC with an Xbox controller adapter, this headset can provide fantastic sound with a simple pairing procedure. Not only that: the Xbox Wireless Headset supports Bluetooth as well, meaning that you can listen to music or take calls on your phone while you game.

Razer Kaira Pro

The best Xbox Series X wireless headset for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, mobile Debuting alongside the Xbox Series X, the Razer Kaira Pro is arguably one of the best gaming headsets for Microsoft's next-gen console. This sleek, lightweight wireless headset pairs with Xbox consoles right out of the box. But you can also use it with PCs and mobile devices, thanks to built-in Bluetooth capabilities. The Kaira Pro is not terribly expensive, and the sound quality is excellent, particularly for video games.

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless

Affordable wireless for PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Mobile (USB-C wireless), Xbox One (wired) Getting good wireless performance has never been this seamless, or affordable. Thanks to its high-speed, discrete USB-C dongle, the SteelSeries 1 Arctis Wireless allows you to instantly enjoy wireless game audio from your Nintendo Switch, Android phone, PS4, or gaming PC, with none of the convoluted pairing or interference that comes with Bluetooth-based headsets. It’s worth mentioning the Nintendo Switch functionality again, as it’s hard to get a wireless headset for Nintendo’s handheld hybrid.

Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero

Absolute best in wireless for PC, PS4 (Wireless); Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile (Wired) The highly customizable high-end headset that's especially ideal for PC, the new Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero is one of the best gaming headsets out there. This premium headset packs an incredibly comfortable pair of gel-infused ear cushions, which are also designed to play well with glasses. The Aero's 50mm speakers sound great out of the box, and it comes with a solid noise-canceling microphone to boot.

HyperX Cloud Alpha

Superior style, sound, and value for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Switch, mobile Thanks to a sturdy metal frame, a slick red-and-black paint job, and some of the most comfortable leatherette earcups this headset is really a steal for its price. This is a headset that you can transport with you anywhere and connect to almost any system, without ever having to worry about it breaking.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2

Console-centric wireless sound with Bluetooth for PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, mobile The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 is one of the best console headsets on the market, particularly if you want a wireless model. This peripheral boasts great sound, plush earcups, and two kinds of wireless functionality. The PS4 version can connect to either PS4 or PC via a USB dongle; the Xbox One version can connect to the Xbox One right out of the box. Both versions can connect to mobile devices and PCs via Bluetooth. It's an extremely convenient feature, especially since very few gaming headsets offer Bluetooth functionality.

Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2

Wireless headset for both PS5 and Xbox Series X and PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, mobile The Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 is an ambitious and full-featured headset from one of the most trusted manufacturers on the market. This wireless peripheral offers excellent sound quality and a comfortable fit. More than that, though, the Astro A20 can also connect wirelessly to both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X, which is a rare feat, even among the best gaming headsets.

Razer Barracuda X

The best wireless Switch headset also for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, mobile The Razer Barracuda X is a wireless gaming headset that's ideal for the Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms. Thanks to its small USB-C dongle, it can connect wirelessly o the Switch in handheld mode, a rarity among gaming headsets. However, it also comes with a USB-A adapter, which means you can connect it to just about any other system you like, from PC to PS4, to Switch in docked mode. The USB-C dongle also fits neatly into a PS5.

A lot of users prefer to use Microsoft OneDrive when it comes down to cloud storage as it does not only come with the seal of approval from Microsoft but it’s also primarily good and better compared to other cloud storage services. However, that doesn’t mean that OneDrive isn’t without any issues. For one, you might encounter an issue where the OneDrive thumbnails do not show in File Explorer in Windows 10. If you are currently experiencing this problem, read on as this post will help you fix it. As you know, you can add OneDrive to your Windows 10 computer and have all the files locally synchronize to the cloud and so on. This means that whatever is available in the cloud will be seen on your computer. It is smooth and definitely saves you a lot of time which is why a lot of users prefer to use it. So if you suddenly not see any thumbnails in OneDrive, then that would be a problem. You are actually not the only one having this problem as there are other users who reported getting the same issue recently about the picture thumbnails that no longer show up in the OneDrive folders in the File Explorer. At the time of writing, it isn’t clear yet what the cause of the issue really is. Even so, there are still potential fixes you can check out to resolve it, and the sooner you do it, the better as this can be a major problem. To get started, refer to the instructions given below.

Option 1 – Try to disable Files on Demand

The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to disable the Files on Demand. This is what you have to do to get things under control.

• First, right-click on the OneDrive icon located in the taskbar and go-to of OneDrive.
• After that, click on More and Settings. This will open a new window where you have to click on the Settings tab and uncheck the “Files on Demand” service.
• Once done, restart your computer and check if you can now see the thumbnails in the OneDrive folder. However, if it didn’t work, then proceed to the next given option below.

Option 2 – Try to change the icon view

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to change the icon view. It is possible that the problem might have something to do with the size of the icons than anything else. So you have to change the icon view and to do that, follow these steps:

• First, open Control Panel in Windows 10.
• Next, in the search box, type “folder” and then click on the File Explorer Options.
• From there, click on the View tab and uncheck the “Always show icons” option, and make sure that showing thumbnails is active.
• Now go back to Control Panel and type “system” in the search box. This will open a new window where you have to select the “View advanced system settings” option.
• Then under the Performance section, click on Settings and click on the option that allows you to show the thumbnails instead of icons.

A general rule of thumb, which is followed by most users, is to download the specific missing DLL file and place it within the software’s installation directory. However, this can be harmful to your system as hackers often upload popular malicious DLL files to target systems. Thus, you should avoid downloading DLLs from the internet. And follow these steps to fix the DLL error:

• Restart your computer
• Recover the .DLL file using the RESTORO; it helps to recover lost data
• System restore to an earlier state
• Run a malware/virus scan
• Update all the hardware drivers
• Running SFC /scannow command in command prompt
• Then do as the error suggests, reinstall the program if it’s feasible. Game files can take several hours to install and therefore, reinstallation can be a cumbersome job. Also, frustrating if the error appears after reinstallation.
• Update device drivers manually, such as graphics drivers, DirectX software if you see DLL missing error while running game

Sadooma is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome. This extension offers users the ability to search for any trending news on the web.

This extension changes your default search engine to Yahoo, and while active it changes the displayed ads on your browser, allowing it to make revenue on every ad you click. While this is not inherently malicious, the extension redirects your search to its servers first before forwarding it to yahoo and displaying search results. The information that is sent back to the servers contains your browsing data & visited web pages. As this represents a security and privacy risk, Sadooma is classified as a browser hijacker for its potentially unwanted functions and poor user experience. From the Author:

We’ve got what you need! If you are like us, addicted to interesting viral content, you’ve reached the best place for this. Sadooma will help you to find what is trending right now on the internet in an easy and immediate way. Privacy – We don’t share your information with others. Trending Content – New viral content every day Up to Date – We update sources to keep things fresh. Made with Love – Our content is safe and suitable for all ages.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a type of unwanted software, commonly a browser add-on or extension, which then causes modifications in the web browser’s settings. Browser hijackers can do more than simply modifying home pages. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and inserts advertisements on the internet browser that helps its creator generate earnings. A lot of people think that these types of sites are legitimate and harmless but that is not true. Nearly all browser hijackers pose an existent threat to your online safety and it is vital to classify them under privacy dangers. In a much worst case, your web browser could be hijacked to download malicious software that will do a lot of damage to your computer.

Indications of browser hijack

There are many symptoms that point to a browser hijacking: you see unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s homepage; you get re-directed to sites you never intended to visit; default web engine is modified; you’re getting browser toolbars you haven’t noticed before; your internet browser will display constant pop-up windows; your web browser starts running slowly or presents frequent errors; You can’t access certain websites, particularly anti-virus websites.

How they get into your computer or laptop

Browser hijackers infect computers via malicious email attachments, downloaded infected computer files, or by visiting infected sites. Many web browser hijackings originate from add-on software, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or extensions added to web browsers to give them extra features. Browser hijackers sneak to your computer along with free software application downloads that you unknowingly install alongside the original. An example of some well-known browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing.

Removal

Certain browser hijacking could be quite easily stopped by finding and removing the corresponding malware application from your control panel. But, the majority of hijackers are really tenacious and require specialized applications to remove them. You should think about undertaking manual repairs only if you’re a tech-savvy individual, as potential risks are associated with fiddling with the system registry and HOSTS file. You might opt for automatic browser hijacker removal methods by simply installing and running a reliable anti-malware application. One of the top tools for correcting browser hijacker malware is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. It can help you remove any pre-existing malware in your computer and gives you real-time monitoring and protection from the latest internet threats. Together with the anti-malware tool, a system optimizer, such as SafeBytes Restoro, will help you in removing all linked files and modifications in the computer registry automatically.

What To Do When You Cannot Install Any Antivirus?

All malware is inherently dangerous, but certain kinds of malware do a lot more damage to your computer than others. Some malware variants modify internet browser settings by including a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS configurations. In such cases, you’ll be unable to visit some or all websites, and thus unable to download or install the required security software to clear out the computer virus. If you are reading this, you may have infected by a virus that prevents you from downloading computer security software like Safebytes Anti-Malware. Although this sort of issue will be difficult to circumvent, there are some steps you can take.

Make use of Safe Mode to resolve the problem

In Safe Mode, you could adjust Windows settings, un-install or install some programs, and eliminate hard-to-delete malware. If the malicious software is set to load immediately when the computer starts, switching into this mode may well prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the computer is starting up or run MSCONFIG and locate the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you are in safe mode, you can try to download and install your anti-malware software program without the hindrance of malicious software. After installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate most standard infections.

Switch to some other browser

Malicious code may exploit vulnerabilities on a specific internet browser and block access to all anti-virus software websites. When you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by hackers, the best plan of action is to switch to a different internet browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari to download your chosen security application – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install and run anti-virus from your Thumb drive

Another solution is to save and run an antivirus program entirely from a USB drive. Try these simple actions to clear up your infected PC using a portable antivirus. 1) Make use of another virus-free PC to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you would like to install the anti-virus. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation process. 5) Remove the pen drive. You may now use this portable anti-malware on the infected computer. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the flash drive to run the program. 7) Run Full System Scan to identify and get rid of all kinds of malware.

Let's Talk About SafeBytes Anti-Malware!

If you are looking to download the anti-malware program for your computer, there are several tools in the market to consider however, you cannot trust blindly anyone, no matter whether it is paid or free program. Some of them do a great job in getting rid of malware threats while some will affect your PC themselves. You have to purchase a tool that has got a good reputation and detects not just viruses but other sorts of malware as well. One of the recommended tools by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the safest program for Microsoft Windows. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection software made to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and removing malicious threats out of their personal computers. Using its cutting-edge technology, this application will help you get rid of several types of malware including computer viruses, PUPs, trojans, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers. There are many great features you’ll get with this security product. Below are some of the highlighted features included in the tool. Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your PC restricting malware intrusions instantly. It will regularly monitor your laptop or computer for hacker activity and also provides users with advanced firewall protection. World-class AntiMalware Protection: Safebytes is made on the best virus engine in the industry. These engines will find and get rid of threats even during the early phases of a malware outbreak. Faster Scanning: This software has got one of the quickest and most effective virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are very accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes provides an instant safety rating on the web pages you are about to check out, automatically blocking unsafe sites and make sure that you’re certain of your online safety while browsing the net. Lightweight Tool: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly anti-virus and antimalware solution. Since it uses minimal computer resources, this application leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually. 24/7 Online Technical Support: You could get high levels of support round the clock if you’re using their paid software. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is pretty great for securing your laptop or computer against all sorts of malware threats. There is no doubt that your computer will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software to use. So if you’re trying to find a comprehensive antivirus program that’s still simple enough to use, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is exactly what you will need!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t want to use malware removal software and prefer to eliminate Sadooma manually, you could do so by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and removing the offending software; in cases of browser add-ons, you may uninstall it by visiting the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. You might even want to reset your browser settings, as well as clear your web browser cache and cookies. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard disk and registry for all the following and eliminate or reset the values as needed. However, editing the Windows registry is actually a complicated job that only advanced users and professionals should try to fix it. In addition, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. You are encouraged to do this procedure in Safe Mode.

As you know, “JPEG” is one of the commonly used formats for image files which is a compression of digital images. It is one of the topmost used file formats by mobile phones and digital cameras and usually achieves a 10:1 compression with little visible loss in the quality of the image. There are tons of cases as of late, most particularly after the latest Windows 10 update where users were not able to open JPEG files on their PCs. Every time they try to open any JPEG file, they either get an error or nothing happens at all. This issue could be due to the default handler application for JPEG applications not being set or there could be some third-party image viewer not working properly. To fix this issue with JPEG files, refer to the troubleshooting options below.

Option 1 – Try to change the file type association

You need to check if the file type association of the JPEG files are correctly set or not since there are tons of third party programs that change the file type association automatically to themselves without your permission the instant they are installed and so if any of these third-party programs are broken, then naturally, your JPEG files won’t really open. That’s why you can try changing the setting to the default photo viewer instead of the third-party one. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type in “control panel” in the field and hit Enter to open the Control Panel.
• After opening Control Panel, click on the Programs category and select the “Default Programs” option from the menu.
• Next, select the second option “Associate a file type or protocol with a program” and then select the “Choose default apps by file type” option.
• After that, click on the .jpg file extension and choose the option from the pop-up.
• Now restart your PC to refresh all your programs and then see if it has fixed the problem or not.

Option 2 – Try to update your computer

Microsoft frequently releases updates to target bugs and improve users’ experience. And this particular error where JPEG files won’t open is already acknowledged by Microsoft so you need to make sure that your Windows 10 PC is updated to the latest released update and that there are no pending updates.

• Tap the Win + S keys to open Search and then type in “update” in the field and open the system setting from the search results.
• After that, check for updates and then download and install them if needed.
• Now restart your PC once the update is done and check if you can now open JPEG files.

Option 3 – Try to reset the Photos app via Settings

Resetting the Photos app could also help you in fixing the problem. Note that this option will reset all the configurations and your data associated with your Photos and makes the application go into a state when you first started using it and that this option will fix any discrepancies that your application might be experiencing right now.

• Tap the Win + S keys to open the search bar.
• Then type in “settings” in the field to open the Settings application.
• After opening Settings, click the “Apps” category.
• From there, a list of applications installed on your computer will appear.
• Navigate through these applications until you find the Photos app and then click on the Advanced options.
• Afterward, click the Reset button that appears on the next screen. Then a new pop-up comes up and will warn you that all the preferences, as well as sign-in information, will be lost. Click on “Reset” anyway to proceed in resetting the Photos app.
• Restart your PC once the reset is done.

Option 4 – Try to reinstall the Photos app

Before you start using other third-party image viewers just yet, you can try to reinstall the Photos app first. Thus, if there is something wrong with it, it will instantly get fixed right after it reinstalls. Just take note that this option requires administrative privileges so you need to be logged in as an administrator.

• The first thing you have to do is tap the Windows + S keys and type in “PowerShell”.
• Next, right-click on the file and click on the “Run as administrator” option from the context menu.
• Once PowerShell is opened, execute this command: get-appxpackage *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | remove-appxpackage
• The command you just entered will remove the Photos app. After the process is done, go to the Microsoft Store and look for Microsoft Photos then download and install it again.

As you know, the internet has changed the world immensely. Nowadays, JavaScript is pushing the modern web ahead. One of the things that make these experiences with the internet seamless and with less clutter is redirection. It is often used on web pages and there are times when a user is prompted about them and most of the time, we barely notice them. However, there are also instances when things can go wrong with redirects as they could become a loop that could mess things up. And since the browser takes a lot of system resources, redirection can result in a poor user experience. That’s why in this post, you will be guided on how you can stop these automatic redirects on browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, on your Windows 10 computer. To get started, refer to each one of the options provided below to stop automatic redirects in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.

Option 1 – Configure the browsers to stop pop-ups and deceptive contents

There are a lot of browsers with built-in settings that allow users to stop pop-ups and deceptive content. To configure these settings, refer to these steps:

• Microsoft Edge:

  • Click on the three horizontal dots icon or the menu button.
  • Next, click on Settings and select Privacy & Security from the left side navigation.
  • After that, scroll down on the right-side panel and look for Block pop-ups and Windows Defender SmartScreen and then turn their toggle buttons to On.

• Google Chrome:

  • Open Google Chrome and click on the three vertical dots icon for the menu located in the top right corner of the browser.
  • Next, click on Settings and scroll down until you see the Advanced option. Click on it to open the Advanced Settings.
  • Now scroll down until you reach the Privacy and Security section and look for the Safe browsing option and turn its toggle button to On.

• Mozilla Firefox

  • Open Mozilla and click on the three horizontal lines icon for the menu button located in the top right corner of the browser and click on Options.
  • Next, go to the Settings section and click the Privacy & Security tab and scroll down and then click on Permissions.
  • From there, make sure that the Block pop-up windows checkbox is checked.
  • Finally, scroll down until you reach the Security section and make sure that the checkbox for the Block dangerous and deceptive content is checked.

Option 2 – Try to reset Winsock, TCP/IP & Flush DNS

To stop redirects, you can also reset Winsock and the TCP/IP as well as flush the DNS cache. To do so, follow these steps:

• Right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator) so you can pull up an elevated Command Prompt.
• After that, execute each one of the commands listed below. And after you typed in one after the other, you have to hit Enter.

1. netsh winsock reset – type in this command to reset Winsock
2. netsh int ip reset resettcpip.txt – type in this command to reset TCP/IP
3. ipconfig /flushdns – type in this command to flush the DNS cache

• Next, restart your PC and check if the problem’s fixed.

Option 3 – Edit your Hosts File

• Tap the Win + R keys to open then type in %WinDir% and then click OK.
• Go to System32/drivers/etc.
• Open the host file using Notepad.
• Delete all the suspicious entries.
• After that, save the changes you’ve made and close the file.

Computers viruses, worms, ransomware, etc. are kinds of malicious software that no user should take lightly. On several occasions, we have touched upon security steps that each user should take in order to protect its identity and data. Sadly sometimes even when all precautions are taken some malware can still slip through and wreak havoc. Today we are looking at some of the worst or the best, depending on your view that has indeed wreaked plenty of havoc.

10 worst computer viruses in history

In the list of the 10 most famous computer viruses below, we show the costs, dates, reach, and other key facts. First a note about terms: we use the words “virus” and “worm” interchangeably because most readers search for them that way. But there’s a subtle difference that we explain after the list.

1. Mydoom – $38 billion

The worst computer virus outbreak in history, Mydoom caused estimated damage of $38 billion in 2004, but its inflation-adjusted cost is actually $52.2 billion. Also known as Novarg, this malware is technically a “worm,” spread by mass emailing. At one point, the Mydoom virus was responsible for 25% of all emails sent. Mydoom scraped addresses from infected machines, then sent copies of itself to those addresses. It also roped those infected machines into a web of computers called a botnet that performed distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks were intended to shut down a target website or server. Mydoom is still around today, generating 1% of all phishing emails. That’s no small feat considering the 3.4 billion phishing emails sent each day. By that figure, Mydoom has taken on a life of its own, infecting enough poorly-protected machines to send 1.2 billion copies of itself per year, 16 years after its creation. Though a $250,000 reward was offered, the developer of this dangerous computer worm was never caught. Wondering what makes the world’s most secure computers so safe? See the Tech@Work guide: Upgrade to the World's Most Secure and Manageable PC

2. Sobig – $30 billion

The 2003 Sobig computer virus is actually another worm. It is second only to the Mydoom virus in its scope. The $30 billion figure is a worldwide total, including Canada, the U.K., the U.S., mainland Europe, and Asia. Several versions of the worm were released in quick succession, named Sobig.A through Sobig.F, with Sobig.F being the most damaging. This cybercriminal program masqueraded as legitimate computer software attached to emails. It disrupted ticketing at Air Canada and interfered with countless other businesses. Despite its widespread damage, the creator of the successful bug was never caught.

3. Klez – $19.8 billion

Klez is a close third on the list of the worst computer viruses ever created. With nearly $20 billion in estimated damages, it infected about 7.2% of all computers in 2001, or 7 million PCs. The Klez worm sent fake emails, spoofed recognized senders and, among other things, attempted to deactivate other viruses. As with other viruses and worms, Klez was released in several variants. It infected files, copied itself, and spread throughout each victim’s network. It hung around for years, with each version more destructive than the last. Windows has come a long way since most of the computer viruses on this list hit the web. Thankfully, built-in protection with Microsoft Defender is always on the watch.

4. ILOVEYOU – $15 billion

The year 2000’s ILOVEYOU virus worked by sending a bogus “love letter” that looked like a harmless text file. Like Mydoom, this attacker sent copies of itself to every email address in the infected machine’s contact list. Shortly after its May 4 release, it had spread to more than 10 million PCs. The virus was created by a college student in the Philippines named Onel de Guzman. Lacking funds, he wrote the virus to steal passwords so he could log into online services he wanted to use for free. He reportedly had no idea how far his creation would spread. This virus is also known as Loveletter. Need to up your remote work security game before there’s another entry on the list of most deadly computer viruses? See our guide: How to Work Remotely and Securely

5. WannaCry – $4 billion

The 2017 WannaCry computer virus is ransomware, a virus that takes over your computer (or cloud files) and holds them hostage. The WannaCry ransomware ripped through computers in 150 countries, causing massive productivity losses as businesses, hospitals, and government organizations that didn’t pay were forced to rebuild systems from scratch. The malware raged like wildfire through 200,000 computers worldwide. It stopped when a 22-year-old security researcher in the U.K. found a way to turn it off. Computers with out-of-date operating systems were hit especially hard. That’s why security experts always recommend updating your systems frequently.

Ransomware strikes again

In September 2020, one of the potentially largest computer virus attacks in medical history hit Universal Health Services. The U.S. hospital chain, which has more than 400 locations, was reportedly struck by damaging ransomware. The attack forced the cancellation of surgeries and made healthcare workers switch to paper records.

6. Zeus – $3 billion

The Zeus computer virus is an online theft tool that hit the web in 2007. A whitepaper by Unisys three years later estimated that it was behind 44% of all banking malware attacks. By then, it had breached 88% of all Fortune 500 companies, 2,500 organizations total, and 76,000 computers in 196 countries. The Zeus botnet was a group of programs that worked together to take over machines for a remote “bot master.” It originated in Eastern Europe and was used to transfer money to secret bank accounts. More than 100 members of the crime ring behind the virus, mostly in the U.S., were arrested in 2010. It’s not as prominent today, but some of the virus’ source code lives on in newer botnet viruses and worms. Zeus caused documented damage of $100 million. But the real cost in terms of lost productivity, removal, and undocumented theft is undoubtedly much higher. A $3 billion estimate, adjusted for inflation, puts this virus at a cost of $3.7 billion in today’s dollars.

7. Code Red – $2.4 billion

First observed in 2001, the Code Red computer virus was yet another worm that penetrated 975,000 hosts. It displayed the words “Hacked by Chinese!” across infected web pages, and it ran entirely in each machine’s memory. In most cases it left no trace in hard drives or other storage. Financial costs are pegged at $2.4 billion. The virus attacked websites of infected computers and delivered a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on the U.S. White House’s website, www.whitehouse.gov. In fact, the White House had to change its IP address to defend against Cod Red. Can your printer get a virus? See our cool infographic: The State of Printer Security

8. Slammer – $1.2 billion

The SQL Slammer worm cost an estimated $750 million across 200,000 computer users in 2003. This computer virus randomly selected IP addresses, exploiting vulnerabilities and sending itself on to other machines. It used these victim machines to launch a DDoS attack on several internet hosts, significantly slowing internet traffic. The Slammer worm hit banks in the U.S. and Canada especially hard, taking ATMs offline in many locations. Customers of Toronto’s Imperial Bank of Commerce found themselves unable to access funds. The attack reared its ugly head again in 2016, launching from IP addresses in Ukraine, China, and Mexico.

9. CryptoLocker – $665 million

Thankfully, ransomware attacks like the 2013 CryptoLocker virus have dipped since their 2017 peak. This malware attacked upwards of 250,000 machines by encrypting their files. It displayed a red ransom note informing users that “your important files encryption produced on this computer.” A payment window accompanied the note. The virus’ creators used a worm called the Gameover Zeus botnet to make and send copies of the CryptoLocker virus. According to a report by security firm Sophos, the average ransomware attack costs a business $133,000. If we estimate that CryptoLocker hit 5,000 companies, that would put its total cost at $665 million. Where will cybersecurity go next? See our guide: The Future of Cybersecurity

10. Sasser – $500 million

The Sasser worm was written by a 17-year-old German computer science student named Sven Jaschan. He was arrested at the age of 18 in 2004 after a $250,000 bounty was posted for the computer virus’ creator. A friend of Jaschan’s tipped authorities that the youth had penned not only the Sasser worm but also the damaging Netsky.AC attack. Jaschan was given a suspended sentence after it was found he was a minor when he wrote the malware. The Sasser worm crashed millions of PCs, and though some reports put damages at $18 billion, the relatively low infection rate suggests a more likely cost of $500 million. Other notable viruses The top 10 worst computer viruses above are just the ugly tip of a gargantuan digital iceberg. With a million new malware programs popping up every 3 years, we may miss the forest for a few outstanding trees. Here are just a few more viruses that have wreaked havoc over the years: Mimail: This worm tried to harvest data from infected machines to launch a string of DDoS attacks, but was relatively easy to remove. Yaha: Yet another worm with several variants, thought to be the result of a cyber-war between Pakistan and India. Swen: Written in C++, the Swen computer worm disguised itself to look like a 2003 OS update. Its financial cost has been pegged at $10.4 billion, but not reliably. Storm Worm: This worm showed up in 2007 and attacked millions of computers with an email about approaching bad weather. Tanatos/Bugbear: A 2002 keylogger virus that targeted financial institutions and spread to 150 countries. Sircam: A computer worm from 2001 that used counterfeit emails with the subject line, “I send you this file in order to have your advice.” Explorezip: This worm used fake emails to spread to every machine on thousands of local networks. Melissa: The most dangerous computer virus in 1999, Melissa sent copies of itself that looked like NSFW pics. The U.S. FBI estimated cleanup and repair costs at $80 million. Flashback: A Mac-only virus, Flashback infected over 600,000 Macs in 2012 and even infected Apple’s home base in Cupertino, Calif. In 2020, there’s now more malware on Macs than on PCs. Conficker: This 2009 virus still infects many legacy systems and could do significant damage if it ever activates. Stuxnet: This worm is reported to have destroyed Iranian nuclear centrifuges by sending damaging instructions.

Troubleshoot Error Code 17

Error Code 17 - What is it?

Code 17 is a typical Spotify error code. Spotify is a music streaming service. Through this software, PC users can browse songs and search by artist, album, and playlist. Simply put, it is an audio player available for BlackBerry, iOS, and Microsoft Windows desktop. You may experience error code 17 if the process fails when downloading Spotify from the internet. The error message is displayed in any one of the following formats:

Error 17: Spotify has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Spotify could not be started (Error code 17)

Some of the symptoms of this error code are program crash, slow Windows performance, and periodic system freeze.

Solution

Error Causes

Error 17 may be triggered by several reasons such as:

• Viral infection
• Incomplete installation of Spotify software
• Corrupt download
• Registry corruption
• Windows Installer service terminated

To use the audio player Spotify successfully on your PC, it is advisable to fix error 17 right away on your system. Delay may cause inconvenience and limit your access to your desired program.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To repair this error code on your PC, you don’t have to hire a professional or be a technical whiz yourself. The good news is that this error is quite easy to fix. You don’t need to be technically sound to resolve it. Here are some proven methods for you to fix error code 17 on your system. So let’s get started:

Method 1 - Make sure that the Windows Installer is running

Sometimes Spotify error 17 may occur if the Windows Installer service is terminated. Therefore before you download, make sure the Windows Installer is running. This is a good way to ensure the error code 17 messages don’t pop up on your PC again. For this here’s what you need to do, first quit all programs. Now go to the start menu and in the search box type RUN, and press enter. In the Open Box, type msiexec /unregister and then press OK to confirm. After that, perform the same steps again, and now in the Open Box type msiexec /regserver and press OK to save. Reboot your PC and try downloading Spotify again. If the program successfully downloads on your system, then this means error 17 is resolved. However, if the error code still persists, then try other methods given below.

Method 2 - Use System Restore to Undo Recent Changes

Another reason for the cause of error 17 is the improper or incomplete installation of Spotify. Improper installations can configure settings and also leave bad entries in the registries. To resolve, use System Restore utility built-in Windows. By using this system tool, you can undo recent changes and resume your computer to its previous condition as it was before the proper installation was attempted. To do this, go to the start menu, then in the search box type System Restore and press enter. Go to System Restore and choose a restore point. Once you’ve selected the point, reboot your PC to activate changes.

Method 3 - Remove Viruses

Viruses can enter and damage your PC if you download software programs from unknown websites. These not only damage your PC but also hinder your ability to install desired programs successfully in this case audio player Spotify. In such an event, simply use an antivirus to remove all viruses infecting your system. After they are removed, make sure you download and install Spotify software from a trusted website.

Method 4 - Repair the Registry

Another cause of error 17 is registry corruption. This occurs due to bad entries, invalid and junk files saved in the registry. To fix the corrupt registry simply download Restoro. This is a user-friendly PC Fixer embedded with a powerful registry cleaner. This software is compatible with all Windows versions. The registry cleaner detects all registry issues, removes all file corrupting the registry, and cleans it immediately in just a few clicks. Click here to download Restoro on your PC and resolve Error 17.