Action Classic Games Toolbar is another product from Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. that may claim to relieve users of their boredom with more than 500 online games. The Action Classic Games toolbar is available for download from its official web page and Google Web Store, though it is normally distributed via advertising directly from its website. When installed, it will change your home page and new tab to MyWay.com and start gathering user browsing information while active.

Browsing the internet with Action Classic Games enabled will result in the additional ad and sponsored content placement throughout the browsing sessions. This extension has been flagged as a Browser Hijacker by several top anti-virus applications and is therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a type of unwanted program, usually a browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in web browser’s settings. There are plenty of reasons why you might experience an internet browser hijack; however commercial, marketing, and advertising are definitely the key reasons for their creation. The idea is to force users to visit particular websites which are looking to increase their website visitor traffic and produce higher advertisement revenue. While it might appear naive, these tools were created by vicious people who always look to take full advantage of you, so that they could make money from your naive and distraction. In a much worst case, your internet browser could be hi-jacked to download malicious software that will do a lot of damage to your computer or laptop.

Key signs that your web browser has been highjacked

Symptoms that a web browser is a hi-jacked include: 1. home-page is changed 2. your internet browser is constantly being redirected to pornography sites 3. default search engine is changed 4. you’ll see multiple toolbars in your browser 5. you find numerous ads appear on your browsers or computer screen 6. your browser has instability issues or exhibits frequent errors 7. you’ve disallowed entry to particular websites, including the website of an anti-malware software developer like SafeBytes.

How does a PC get infected with a browser hijacker

Browser hijackers infect computers via malicious email attachments, downloaded infected documents or by checking out infected internet sites. They also come from add-on software, also called browser helper objects (BHO), browser plug-ins or toolbars. Other times you might have accidentally accepted a browser hijacker as part of an application package (usually freeware or shareware). A good example of a well-known browser hijacker is the latest Chinese malware known as “Fireball”, which has attacked 250 million computer systems around the world. It works as a hijacker but can be changed into a full-functioning malware downloader afterward. The presence of any browser hijacker malware on your computer might considerably diminish the web browsing experience, monitor your online activities that result in major privacy issues, create system stability issues and eventually cause your computer to slow down or to a practically unusable condition.

Browser hijacker removal

The one thing you can try to get rid of a browser hijacker is to find the malicious software inside the “Add or Remove Programs” list in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. It may or may not be there. If it is, try and uninstall it. However, many browser hijackers are hard to get rid of manually. No matter how much you attempt to remove it, it may keep coming back again and again. Besides, browser hijackers could modify Windows registry so it could be very difficult to restore all the values manually, particularly when you’re not very tech-savvy individual. You might opt for automatic browser hijacker removal by just installing and running a reliable anti-malware application. To eradicate any type of browser hijacker from your personal computer, you should download the following professional malware removal tool – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Together with the anti-malware tool, a PC optimizer, such as SafeBytes Total System Care, will help you in removing all related files and modifications in the Windows registry automatically.

Learn How to Remove a Virus that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Malware could potentially cause all sorts of damage after they invade your computer, from stealing your personal information to deleting data files on your PC. Certain malware types modify web browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS configurations. In these instances, you will be unable to visit some or all of the sites, and therefore unable to download or install the necessary security software to remove the computer virus. If you are reading this article right now, you might have probably recognized that a malware infection is a reason behind your blocked web traffic. So what to do if you need to download and install an anti-malware application like Safebytes? There are a few steps you can take to circumvent this issue.

Boot your PC in Safe Mode

If the virus is set to run automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, stepping into Safe Mode may block the attempt. Just bare minimum required applications and services are loaded when you boot your computer into Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) At power on, hit the F8 key before the Windows splash screen starts to load. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and hit ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you should have online access once again. Now, utilize your browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) After installation, do a full scan and let the software program delete the threats it discovers.

Download the security program using an alternate browser

Some malware may target vulnerabilities of a specific browser that block the downloading process. If you are not able to download the anti-malware software program using Internet Explorer, this means the virus may be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch over to an alternative internet browser such as Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes program.

Make a bootable USB antivirus drive

Another option would be to make a portable antivirus program on your USB stick. Try these simple actions to clean up your affected PC using portable anti-malware. 1) On a virus-free PC, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Put the pen drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the pen drive as the place where you want to store the software files. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Now, plug the pen drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes tool right from the thumb drive. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to begin the malware scan.

Features and Benefits of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Would you like to install the very best anti-malware program for your computer? There are various applications in the market that comes in paid and free versions for Windows computers. A few of them are good but there are numerous scamware applications that pretend as genuine anti-malware software waiting to wreak havoc on your computer. You should pick a product that has gained a strong reputation and detects not just computer viruses but other kinds of malware too. While thinking about reliable programs, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the highly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trusted software that not only protects your computer completely but is also very easy to use for people of all ability levels. Using its outstanding protection system, this utility will instantly detect and remove the majority of the security threats, including browser hijackers, viruses, adware, ransomware, trojans, worms, and PUPs.

There are numerous amazing features you’ll get with this security product. Listed below are some of the highlighted features included in the application.

Active Protection: SafeBytes gives real-time active checking and protection against all known viruses and malware. They’re highly efficient in screening and eliminating various threats because they’re regularly revised with the latest updates and safety measures. Best AntiMalware Protection: Safebytes is made on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines will detect and remove threats even during the early stages of a malware outbreak. Safe Web Browsing: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you’re going to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Light-weight: SafeBytes is renowned for its minimal influence on computer resources and great detection rate of various threats. It works silently and efficiently in the background so you are free to utilize your computer at full power all of the time. 24/7 Customer Support: Support service is accessible 24 x 7 x 365 days via email and chats to answer your questions. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is really great for securing your laptop or computer against all sorts of malware threats. There is no doubt that your PC will be protected in real-time once you put this software program to use. So if you’re searching for the very best malware removal tool out there, and when you don’t mind shelling out some dollars for it, opt for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove Action Classic Games manually, go to the Add or Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and select the program you want to get rid of. For web browser plug-ins, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the plug-in you intend to disable or remove. Additionally, it is advised to factory reset your web browser settings to their default state. To be certain of complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and remove it or reset the values accordingly. Please keep in mind that only advanced users should try to manually edit the registry because removing any single vital system file results in a major problem or even a system crash. Moreover, some malware keeps replicating which makes it tough to get rid of. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.

The Snapping feature was introduced as an essential part of Windows 11 and I like it very much, it lets you organize your opened windows much faster and with more control. However, some people do not like the feature, worry not because you can turn it off, or if you prefer you can just remove the showing layout option that is shown when hovering over Minimize/Maximize button.

Removing options all together

To completely turn off Snap layout in Windows 11 follow these steps

1. Open Windows 11 settings by pressing ⊞ Windows + I
2. Select System on the left part of the screen
3. In System options select Multitasking
4. At the top of Multitasking Click on the switch next to Snap Windows
5. Close settings

Changes will be automatically applied and you will no longer have Snap layout functionality.

Removing layout graphic from Snapping feature

If you like the snap Layouts feature but are not very fond of the layout graphic that is popping up each time you hover over Minimize/Maximize button do not worry, there is an option to turn just that off and keep the feature itself.

1. Open Windows 11 settings by pressing ⊞ Windows + I
2. Select System on the left part of the screen
3. In System options select Multitasking
4. Click on the Snap Windows menu
5. Deactivate Show Snap Layouts When I Hover over a Window’s Maximize button
6. Close settings

Now you will be able to use the Snap Layout feature without layout graphics showing. If you want to reverse any of these options and go back to standard-setting, just follow the steps and turn features ON.

As you know, the Google Drive service is a Backup and Synchronization service provided by Google. It was launched way back in April 2012 which provides users with the options to synchronize, store and share files by uploading them to Google’s servers where they stay until they are deleted personally by the users and can be accessed anywhere using the Google Account that’s used to upload them. Recently, a lot of users reported that they were unable to connect to Google Drive from their Windows 10 computers. This kind of problem has been noticed in the middle of the upload process and can be seen at times after the app launches. If you also experience the same issue, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing it. There are a lot of possible reasons why this kind of problem occurs. It could be that the app was not able to launch properly or the internet got disconnected when the app was about to launch. It is also possible that the Firewall has blocked the app from connecting to the internet or that the antivirus program is preventing the app from making contact with its database. Aside from that, it is possible that the account you are using on your computer is preventing Google Drive from connecting to the internet due to some configuration errors. Follow the suggestions provided below to fix the connection issue with Google Drive.

Option 1 – Configure the Firewall

As mentioned, the Windows Firewall might be blocking the app from contacting its database so, in this option, you have to allow Google Drive through the Firewall. To do so, follow these steps:

• In the Windows Start Search, type “firewall” and click on the “Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall” option from the search results.
• After that, you will see a list of apps, and here, click on the “Change Settings” button.
• Next, scroll down and make sure to check both the “Public” and “Private” options for Google Drive.
• Now click on Ok to save the changes made and then try to launch Google Drive again.

Option 2 – Try to launch Google Drive again

Google Drive might have not launched properly that’s why it can’t connect to its servers so you can try to launch it again and see if it helps.

• Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
• Next, go to the Processes tab and click on the “View” option located at the top.
• After that, uncheck the “Group by Type” option and click on the “Google Drive Sync” from the list of processes.
• Then click on the “End Task” option and close the Task Manager.
• Launch Google Drive again and see if the issue is now resolved.

Option 3 – Temporarily disable third-party antivirus

Aside from Firewall, antivirus programs, especially the third party ones, are also known to block files applications the instant it detects a threat to the system. Thus, your antivirus program might be the reason why you can’t download anything on your Windows 10 computer. To fix this, you can try to disable the antivirus program on your computer in the meantime and then try to launch Google Drive again. Do not forget to enable them again as disabling them can leave your computer vulnerable to cyber threats.

Option 4 – Try to create a new account

There are times when a certain configuration for a user account might be blocking some elements of the Google Drive app. In such cases, you can try to create a new account to fix the problem.

• Click on the Windows key and then click on the icon for Settings.
• From there, click on the Accounts button and select the “Family & Other People” option from the left pane.
• Next, click the “Add someone else to this PC” option.
• After that, click on the “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” option and select the “Add a user without a Microsoft Account” setting.
• Type in the credentials for the new account you are creating and click on Next.
• After the account is created, click on the account and then select the “Change account type” option.
• Click on the drop-down menu and select the “Administrator” option and then click on OK.
• Now sign out of the current account and sign in to the new one and then open Google Drive again.

As you know, Diskpart is a useful utility that helps in managing the disks in a computer. It is a very useful tool that even when the GUI-based disk management tools in Windows 10 operating system fails, the Diskpart utility still tends to work. However, it also does not mean that this utility does not experience issues as it still does, from time to time. One of the issues you may encounter when using the Diskpart utility is when you encounter an error message that says, “DiskPart has encountered an error, Access is denied”. This kind of error in the Diskpart utility could be caused by a number of factors. For one, it could be that the Write-Protection is enabled on the drive where the operating is being performed or it could also be that the Command Prompt terminal does not have administrator-level permissions to carry out the command. Thus, you can try to run the Diskpart utility again but this time with admin privileges or you could also remote the Write-Protection from the concerned drive. For more details, refer to the instructions given below.

Option 1 – Try running Command Prompt with Administrator-level permissions

• In the Start Search, type “command prompt” and from the search results that appear, look for Command Prompt.
• Once you found it, right-click on it and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that, try to execute the Diskpart operation once again and see if you still encounter the same error.

Option 2 – Try to remove the Write Protection from the drive

As mentioned, removing the Write-Protection on the concerned drive could also help you fix the problem and there are two ways to get rid of the write protection – you can either use the Diskpart utility or the Registry Editor. How? Refer to the following steps.

Via Diskpart utility:

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges and then type the “diskpart” command and tap Enter to execute it.
• Next, type “list disk” and tap Enter to get the list of all the Disk connects or all the partitions that are formed on those disks.
• After that, you need to choose one command depending on the list of commands you entered. Type “select disk #” and tap Enter to select the disk or partition you want to select.
• Then type “attribute disk clear readonly” and tap Enter to Disable the Write Protection on the selected disk or partition.

Via Registry Editor:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to the following registry key:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies

• After that, look for the DWORD named “WriteProtect” and double click on it, and then set its Value Data to “0”.
• Now restart your computer and see if the problem is now fixed or not.

If your Windows PC encounters an error, it will display a Blue Screen of Death or BSOD error which usually comes up for a fraction of second and creates some logs or Dumps Files as what other user prefers to call it and then boots your PC suddenly. This process usually takes place quickly that most users find it hard to get the error code and won’t probably be able to check what really went wrong with their PCs. This is where the dump files come in. They are stored internally in your computer and can only be accessed by an administrator. They are classified into 4 main types and in Windows 10 they are either:

1. Complete Memory Dump
2. Kernel Memory Dump
3. Small Memory Dump (256 KB)
4. Active Memory Dumps

Dump Files are useful as they could help you in resolving the problem and so you need to configure your Windows 10 PC to create them but first, you need to make a system restore point. This is essential as you are about to modify some system files as well as critical Windows 10 settings. There are two ways you can create Dump files – first is by modifying the settings in the Startup and Recovery and lastly is via the WMIC command line. Refer to the instructions prepared below to be guided on how you can create Dump files after any BSOD error using these options.

Option 1 – via Startup and Recovery

• Type in “control panel” in the Cortana Search box and then click on Control Panel from the search results to open it.
• After opening Control Panel, you need to make sure that you view the contents by their Category then click on the header link which is labeled “System and Security” or you could also right-click on the This PC icon and then click on Properties.
• Next, select the Advanced system settings from the left panel. Once you do, a new and small window will pop up.
• Under the newly opened window, look for the section called Startup and Recovery and then click on the Settings button.
• And from the System Failure section, you can choose any option from the drop-down for Write debugging information such as:
  • None – this means that there is no dump file created by Windows
  • Small Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create a Minidump file on BSOD
  • Complete Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create a Complete Memory Dump file on BSOD
  • Automatic Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create an Automatic Memory Dump file on BSOD
  • Active Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create an Active Memory Dump file on BSOD

Note: The complete dump needs a page file that is allowed to be the size of the physical memory installed in your PC with a dedicated 1 MB of space for just the page header.

• Now once you have selected the most suitable option for you, just click on OK/Apply and then exit.
• Restart your PC to successfully apply the changes made.

Option 2 – via the WMIC command line

• The first thing you need to do to create Dump files via the WMIC command line is to tap the Win + X keys combination or simply right-click on the Start button and then select the Command Prompt (Admin) option. You could also type in “cmd” in the Cortana search box and then right-click on Command Prompt from the results and select Run as administrator.
• After that, type in any of the commands given below depending on your preferences so that your Windows 10 PC will be configured to create Dump Files:
  • No dump file: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 0
  • Small Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 3
  • Kernel Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 2
  • Complete Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 1
  • Automatic Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 7
  • Active Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 1

Note: A complete dump has to have a Page file which is allowed to be the size of the physical memory installed on your PC accompanied by a 1 MB space for just the page header.

• Now type in “exit” in the Command Prompt to exit it.
• Restart your PC to apply the changes made successfully.

Recently, some users reported that they were unable to access a website and only got the Error 1005 Access Denied instead. Specifically, users experience this issue when trying to open the Crunchyroll website – one of the largest anime and manga websites. This particular error is encountered not just on Crunchyroll but on a variety of websites like blogs, video streaming, forums, and so on. Here’s the full context of the error message:

“Error 1005 Access Denied – The owner of this website has banned the autonomous system number (ASN) your IP address from accessing this website.”

Usually, this error occurs when the website administrator decides to block an IP address or IP range. To fix this error, here are some suggestions you can try:

Option 1 – Uninstall the VPN service you are using or use a different provider

If you are using a VPN service, you might want to uninstall it. As mentioned, website administrator blocks IP ranges if they notice any malicious activities and because of this, your IP address might fall into the banned range even if you didn’t do anything at all. To uninstall the VPN service, follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box
• Then type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
• From there, look for the VPN service you are using, select it and then click on Uninstall to remove it.
• After that, restart your computer and try to install the latest version of the program again. It should work now. If not, proceed to the next available option below.

Option 2 – Try disabling the Proxy server

There are some users who reported that they’ve fixed the problem after they’ve disabled the use of a proxy server using the built-in way. Follow the steps below to disable proxy server.

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

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

Option 3 – Use the Google Public DNS

You might want to change your DNS to Google Public DNS as it could also help you in fixing the ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID error in Chrome. To do so, follow the steps below.

• The first thing you have to do is right-click on the network icon in the Taskbar and select Network and Sharing Center.
• Next, click on the “Change Adapter Settings” option.
• After that, search for the network connection that you are using to connect to the internet. Note that the option might be “Wireless Connection” or “Local Area Connection”.
• Right-click on your network connection and click on Properties.
• Then select the new window to choose the “Internet Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
• After that, click on the Properties button and click the checkbox in the new window for the option “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
• Type in “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” and click OK and exit.

Option 4 – Try contacting the website administrator

If the first three given options didn’t work, you might want to consider contacting the website administrator especially if you’ve already determined that the issue does not occur due to a VPN or proxy server that you’re using. This option can be quite tricky since you won’t be able to submit a contact form since you’re banned from accessing the website but you can contact the admin via the form section if available.

A copy of Windows gets into a grace period when it is installed on a computer which means that you can use your Windows computer without any constraints on its feature. However, if you suddenly encounter an error code 0xC004F009 then this means that the grace period has already expired. In such cases, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“Error Code 0xC004F009, The Software Licensing Service reported that the grace period expired.”

One of the possible causes of this error is that it could be that the grace period has already expired way before the system was activated which is a result of which the system is in the Notifications state at this moment. The error code 0xC004F009 has something to do with MAK-enabled computers in an enterprise when it comes to Volume Licensing. One of the reasons that this error pops up is due to the possibility that the computer was not activated yet even when it was already connected to the Enterprise. Another most likely cause of the error is when the system was never connected with the Enterprise at all and the given grace period has expired before your computer system is activated. Whatever the real cause of this error, this post will guide you in fixing it. Just refer to the instructions given below to fix it.

Option 1 – Try activating Windows using the command-line tool

• First, you need to obtain your MAK key from the IT administrator.
• Once you have it, tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard and then type “cmd” in the field and hit Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
• After that, type this command and hit Enter to install the product key or replace the existing one: Slmgr.vbs –ipk <your mak key>
• Next, type another command and hit Enter: slmgr.vbs –ato
• Once you’ve executed the given commands, Windows should be activated after it connects to Microsoft servers and then gives it some time and try to check if error code 0xC004F009 is now fixed or not.

Option 2 – Try activating Windows using your mobile phone

Activating Windows 10 can also be done using your phone. Just note that you have to call Microsoft to do so.

• In the Start Search box, type in “Slui 4” and tap Enter.
• Next, select your country and click on Next.
• Keep the window open and call the toll-free number of the country you’re from.
• Afterward, a confirmation ID should be given by the automated system which you must take a note of.
• Finally, in the box on the window, type in the confirmation ID and click on the Activate button. That should do it.

Option 3 – Try to prolong the grace period

On the other hand, it is also possible for you to prolong the grace period but you might have to get another genuine Windows key for that. Before you proceed, you need to create a System Restore point first afterwards, refer to the steps given below to increase the grace period of the Software Licensing Service on your Windows 10 computer.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field then hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• After that, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSetupOOBEmediabootinstall
• Next, change the value of the “mediabootinstall” key to “0”.
• Now open Command Prompt with admin privileges and then type this command and hit Enter: slmgr –rearm
• The command you just entered will add another grace period to your system activation. After that, you have to obtain a new key and then activate Windows.

Option 4 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

You can also try to run the Windows 10 Activation troubleshooter to help resolve the error code 0xC004F009.

• Go to Settings and then select Activation.
• After that, click on the Windows Activation and then troubleshoot. This will help you address most of the commonly found activation issues in Windows devices.

What is PyLocky ransomware? And how does it execute its attack?

PyLocky ransomware is a file-locking malware created in order to lock important files and demand ransom from victims in exchange for data recovery. This new ransomware uses the .lockymap extension in marking the files it encrypts. It starts to execute its attack by dropping the following malicious payload in the system:

Name: facture_4739149_08.26.2018.exe SHA256:8655f8599b0892d55efc13fea404b520858d01812251b1d25dcf0afb4684dce9 Size: 5.3 MB

After dropping its malicious payload, this crypto-malware connects the infected computer to a remote server where it downloads more malicious files and places them on system folders. It then applies a data gathering module used to gather data about the user and the computer. The malicious files that were downloaded earlier along with the data obtained are used for another module called stealth protection. This allows PyLocky ransomware to execute its attack without detection from any security or antivirus programs installed in the system. It also modifies some registry keys and entries in the Windows Registry such as:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop
• HKEY_USERS.DEFAULTControl PanelDesktop
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
• HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce
• HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce

Once all the modifications are carried out, PyLocky ransomware will begin encrypting its targeted files using a sophisticated encryption cipher. Following the encryption, it adds the .lockymap extension to each one of the encrypted files and releases a ransom note named “LOCKY-README.txt” which contains the following content:

“Please be advised: All your files, pictures document and data has been encrypted with Military Grade Encryption RSA ABS-256. Your information is not lost. But Encrypted. In order for you to restore your files, you have to purchase a Decrypter. Follow these steps to restore your files. 1* Download the Tor Browser. ( Just type in google “Download Tor“ 2‘ Browse to URL: http://4wcgqlckaazungm.onion/index.php 3* Purchase the Decryptor to restore your files. It is very simple. If you don’t believe that we can restore your files, then you can restore 1 file of image format for free. Be aware the time is ticking. Price will be doubled every 96 hours so use it wisely. Your unique ID : CAUTION: Please do not try to modify or delete any encrypted file as it will be hard to restore it. SUPPORT: You can contact support to help decrypt your files for you. Click on support at http://4wcgqlckaazungm.onion/index.php”

How does PyLocky ransomware spread over the web?

PyLocky ransomware spreads using malicious spam email campaigns. Creators of this threat embed an infected attachment to spam emails and send them using a spambot. Crooks may even use deceptive tactics to trick you into opening the malware-laden immediately which is something you must not do. Thus, before opening any emails, make sure that you’ve thoroughly checked them. To successfully obliterate PyLocky ransomware from your computer, refer to the removal guide laid out below.

• Step 1: Launch the Task Manager by simply tapping Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard.
• Step 2: Under the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and look for the process named facture_4739149_08.26.2018.exe and any suspicious-looking process which takes up most of your CPU’s resources and is most likely related to PyLocky ransomware.
• Step 3: After that, close the Task Manager.
• Step 4: Tap Win + R, type in appwiz.cpl and click OK or tap Enter to open Control Panel’s list of installed programs.
• Step 5: Under the list of installed programs, look for PyLocky ransomware or anything similar, and then uninstall it.
• Step 6: Next, close the Control Panel and tap Win + E keys to launch File Explorer.
• Step 7: Navigate to the following locations below and look for PyLocky ransomware’s malicious components such as facture_4739149_08.26.2018.exe and LOCKY-README.txt as well as other suspicious files, then delete all of them.

%TEMP% %WINDIR%System32Tasks %APPDATA%MicrosoftWindowsTemplates %USERPROFILE%Downloads %USERPROFILE%Desktop

• Step 8: Close the File Explorer.
• Step 9: Tap Win + R to open Run and then type in Regedit in the field and tap enter to pull up Windows Registry.
• Step 10: Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop HKEY_USERS.DEFAULTControl PanelDesktop HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce

• Step 11: Delete the registry keys and sub-keys created by PyLocky ransomware.
• Step 12: Close the Registry Editor and empty the Recycle Bin.

Try to recover your encrypted files using the Shadow Volume copies Restoring your encrypted files using Windows Previous Versions feature will only be effective if PyLocky ransomware hasn’t deleted the shadow copies of your files. But still, this is one of the best and free methods there is, so it’s definitely worth a shot. To restore the encrypted file, right-click on it and select Properties, a new window will pop up, then proceed to Previous Versions. It will load the file’s previous version before it was modified. After it loads, select any of the previous versions displayed on the list like the one in the illustration below. And then click the Restore button.

Prompted For A Product Key – What Is It?

Some Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 users are having a hard time upgrading to Windows 10 as they are being prompted for a product key. By default, the Windows 10 operating system does not require a product key and users should not be prompted for one, given you upgraded your computer from an activated Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 license or from the Windows 10 Preview build. However, there are some users encountering this problem and there are several reasons for this.

Solution

Error Causes

There are a few reasons why some users are being prompted for a product key when upgrading to Windows 10:

• Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 license is not activated.
• You’re upgrading to Windows 10 final release from a preview build.
• There are broken operating system files.
• Activation servers get overwhelmed due to the high volume of upgrades.
• The Windows 10 copy you downloaded does not correspond with the current Windows system you are upgrading from.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Before you can fix this problem, you need to know why you’re being prompted for a product key. Some things you should know about Windows 10 product key activation are the following:

• You cannot activate Windows 10 using your Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product key. Windows 10 has a unique product key.
• Error codes such as 0x8007232b, 0XC004E003, 0x8007007B, or 0x8007000D might pop up during system upgrade especially when the activation servers get overwhelmed with the high volume of upgrades.
• You don’t really need to know your Windows 10 product key.

Now, if ever you’re prompted for a product key when you’re upgrading to Windows 10, you can apply the following methods:

Method One: Give It A Few Days

If you’ve been prompted for a product key upon upgrading to Windows 10, you should click on the “Do this later” option. Wait for a few days then Windows 10 will get activated automatically.

Method Two: Download A Copy of Windows 10 Corresponding Your Current System

One of the reasons Windows users are being prompted for a product key when upgrading to Windows 10 is that they have downloaded a wrong edition of Windows 10 and do not correspond with your current system.

• Users of Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 7 Starter, Windows 8.0 Core, and Windows 8.1 Core should download Windows 10 Home ISO.
• Users of Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8.0 Pro, and Windows 8.1 Pro should download Windows 10 Pro ISO.

NOTE: Users of Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8.0 Enterprise, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise are not eligible for the free upgrade offer.

Method Three: Ensure Windows Is Activated

If your Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 is not genuine or activated, you will get prompted for a product key. You need to make sure first your current system is activated.

1. Click on Start then right-click Computer. For Windows 8 and up users, you can simply press on Windows key + X then select Choose Properties.
2. When the Properties window appears, check if the Windows you’re running is activated.

Method Three: Reset License Status

1. Press on Windows key + X.
2. Select Command Prompt (Admin).
3. Once the command prompt window appears, type vbs –rearm then press Enter.
4. Exit Command Prompt then restart your PC.
5. Input the product key by following the instructions given.

Method Four: Force Activation

1. Press on Windows key + X
2. Select Command Prompt (Admin).
3. Once the command prompt window appears, type vbs –ato then press Enter.
4. Exit Command Prompt then restart your PC.

Method Five: Run System File Checker

Another thing you can try doing is to run the system file checker utility to scan if there are any broken operating system files. In doing so, you’ll be able to detect problems that might be preventing the product activation of your Windows 10 upgrade.

Method Six: Contact Microsoft Activation Center

If in case you’ve exhausted all your resources and you are still being prompted for a product key when upgrading to Windows 10, you can try contacting the Microsoft Activation Center for further details. Check here for the appropriate telephone numbers to contact.

Method Seven: Download An Automated Tool

If you still experience the error after doing the methods above, you might want to try a powerful and trusted automated tool to fix the job.

Error Code 0xc004f210 – What is it?

Error code 0xc004f210 is one of the many activation errors that affect Windows 10 users. Users will be able to identify error code 0xc004f210 because of the following common symptoms which occur:

• Inability to activate Windows 10 operating system
• Message box with error code 0xc004f210

Solution

Error Causes

Error code 0xc004f210 usually occurs due to issues related to one’s product key or digital entitlement. Both the product key and digital entitlement are used by Microsoft to enable customers to activate the version of Microsoft that they have legitimate access to. If you enter the wrong product key or if you upgrade to Windows 10 but the current version of Windows to which you are attempting an activation does not match the edition of your digital entitlement, error code 0xc004f210 may occur. To correct this issue, you will need to implement one or more manual repair procedures. This will depend on the problem that caused the error to occur in the first place.

Further Information and Manual Repair

The methods below are simple procedures that Windows users lacking technical knowledge will be able to successfully complete. However, do contact a Windows repair technician if you have difficulty completing the manual repair methods listed below, or if the problem persists after completing these steps.

Method One: Enter Valid Product Key

In order to successfully activate your Windows 10 operating system and resolve error code 0xc004f210, you will need to enter a valid product key. Ensure you enter the 25-character code in the order it is given as making a simple mistake while typing the product key can lead to the reoccurrence of the error code. Follow the instructions below to enter the product key.

• Step one: Click the Start button then select Settings
• Step two: Select Update & security then Activation
• Step three: Click the Change product key
• Step four: Type in your valid product key with its 25 characters in the correct order

You should be able to successfully activate Windows 10 once you complete the process. However, move to the next manual method suggested below if the problem persists as error code 0xc004f210 could be due to an issue with your digital entitlement.

Method Two: Reinstall Windows 10 Edition that Matches Your Digital Entitlement

Digital entitlement, a new form of activation that doesn’t require the use of a product key, could be the real reason you are experiencing error code 0xc004f210 on your device. To combat any issues related to your digital entitlement, ensure the version of Windows 10 installed on your system matches your digital entitlement. This will require that you reinstall your operating system as well. After reinstalling Windows 10, follow the steps below to complete the process.

• Step one: Click the Start button then select Settings
• Step two: After selecting Settings, click Update & Security
• Step three: Select Windows Update then the Check for updates tab
• Step four: Activate Windows 10 update

If this method is successful, you will no longer see the error code 0xc004f210 pop up on your screen. However, contact a Windows repair technician to evaluate your system if the issue persists.

Method Three: Use an Automated Tool

This method involves the use of a powerful automated tool. But why is this important you might ask? A third-party tool is often the best solution when all manual repair efforts fail. Automated tools come equipped to tackle the most serious PC problems including error codes which can cause frustration and result in reduces PC performance.