Are you getting alerts from Anti-Malware Lab? Don't be tricked, Anti-Malware Lab is a not a real security application. It is a kind of program known as a rogue anti-malware application. These kinds of programs pretend to be genuine anti-malware utilities to trick you into buying them. Specifically, Anti-Malware Lab's interface is designed to mimic the interface for a typical Windows Security scanner. Anti-Malware Lab takes over your computer, to make you think it has a malware infection. Then, it will prompt you to buy Anti-Malware Lab to get rid of the supposed infection. Don't fall for it; Anti-Malware Lab is nothing but a scam. How Anti-Malware Lab Enters Your Computer Surprisingly, it is often the victims themselves that download rogue anti-virus applications like Anti-Malware Lab. This kind of attack is known as social...

Zeus Keylogger is a malware program that is designed to steal a computer user's private information. A keylogger is a program that is used to record every key that is pressed on the infected computer's keyboard. Zeus Keylogger also has the capacity to take the recorded data and relay it to a third party. A hacker can take all of this information and isolate online passwords, credit card information, and online banking data. To protect your privacy, out team of PC security researchers recommends using an anti-malware program to identify and remove Zeus Keylogger. How Zeus Keylogger Steals Your Personal Information Zeus Keylogger is specifically engineered to target financial information. This nasty spy program contains an extensive list of financial institutions, online banks and online payment websites. Whenever Zeus Keylogger detects...

WebDiscover Browser is an adware threat developed by a Canada-based company named WebDiscover Media. Once installed on a PC, the app makes a series of unwanted changes to all browsers installed on the computer, leading to a deteriorating online surfing experience. WebDiscover replaces the default home pages and search engines of affected Internet browsers with its own WebDiscover Homepage and WebDiscover Search, respectively. Furthermore, the app modifies the “new tab” settings so that the corrupted browsers launch the program's own search portal page when the user opens a new tab. Chrome users may not even recognize WebDiscover as an unwanted program and think they are using the regular...

Getting an OS system error message while working on a project can be quite an unpleasant surprise. Whether relating to MS Windows, or Mac OS, such a bug is always bound to disrupt your normal computer work. While some errors tend to be system-specific, others can affect both Windows and Mac-based systems, albeit designating totally different problems. The so-called Code 43 error message, for example, is primarily associated with device driver problems in Windows PCs, on the one hand, and file transfer issues on Mac machines, on the other. If you are using Windows and looking for a way to fix this specific error, click here for a guide with possible solutions. If you are a Mac user,...

KMSpico is a software made to illegally activate Windows 10 and other Windows operating systems for free. This software is unsafe and has no connection to the Microsoft Corporation. Instances of KMSpico may open the way to further malware infections, installation of Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) and more. There are many websites online that offer versions of KMSpico. Nearly all of them bundled with adware, malware and more. This may quickly put a computer at risk without the consent of the user. What does KMS stand for? KMS stands for Key Management Service, a technology used by Microsoft to activate services on a local network. This is done to remove the need for connecting each...

At first glance, the Newsbreak.com website appears to be a useful tool that would provide its visitors with the latest news. However, this is one of the countless bogus websites online that do not provide any content of value, and instead, seek to benefit from their visitors using various shady tricks. Spams Users with a Constant Flow of Advertisements Upon visiting the Newsbreak.com page, users will be asked to permit the site to display Web browser notifications. Keeping in mind that this fake page poses as a legitimate news website, many users may be tricked to allow browser notifications thinking that they will be alerted for the latest breaking news. However, this is not the case,...

The Segurazo application, a/k/a SAntivirus, presents itself as a helpful, genuine antivirus tool capable of bringing considerable benefits to those who give it a chance. However, in reality, Segurazo is far from helpful and is certainly not as trustworthy a tool as one would expect from an antivirus application. Instead of effective threat detection and real-time protection, SAntivirus will bombard you with dozens of falsely exaggerated security reports in a relentless effort to urge you to buy the premium version of this dodgy tool. Segurazo As a Drive-By Download In general, malware actors tend to distribute Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) by smuggling them into software bundles...

DarkSide Ransomware is a type of malware that is created for the purpose of extorting money from computer users through holding their PC for hostage. The task of DarkSide Ransomware accomplishing its money extortion scheme starts with it encrypting files, which takes place after loading on a system often due to the user opening a malicious spam email attachment. The DarkSide Ransomware is known to encrypt many files and append them with similar file extensions. While each file encrypted by DarkSide Ransomware can be easily identified and found, they cannot be accessed or opened due to undefeatable encryption. Due to such, a computer user wanting to get their system back to normal...

Have you ever wondered which countries face the most cybercrime? If you have ever wondered which countries have the most cybercrime, then you may be surprised to know that there are few contributing factors that attract cybercriminals to specific regions of the world. Security research firm, Symantec, has discovered specific factors that determine why a certain country is plagued with cybercrime more so or less than another which allowed them to come up with a ranking for each. Symantec has ranked 20 countries that face, or cause, the most cybercrime. In compiling such a list, Symantec was able to quantify software code that interferes with a computer's normal functions, rank zombie systems, and observe the number of websites that host phishing sites, which are designed to trick computer users into disclosing personal data or banking...

The Random Music Playing Virus is a common name given to a variety of PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) and threats that cause annoying sounds and music to play on the affected computer. The Random Music Playing Virus will often activate because an advertisement is handling the background. It should be noted that, technically, the Random Music Playing Virus is not unsafe code. The Random Music Playing Virus may not actually be inserted into a file but is, rather, a symptom of a variety of other types of problems on affected computer systems. PC security researchers typically do not consider that the Random Music Playing Virus is a real virus, in the technical definition of the term....

The STOP Ransomware family, also denominated the STOP Djvu Ransomware family, is a threatening piece of malware. The STOP Djvu is just one of the multiple threats that share common characteristics and originate from the STOP ransomware, even though some of their methods to affect file types and encrypt file extensions differ. The original STOP Ransomware was spotted by security researchers as early as February 2018. However, since then it has evolved, and its family of clones and offshoots has grown. The primary method of distribution of the STOP ransomware was spam email campaigns using corrupted attachments. The STOP Djvu Ransomware performs in a way similar to other ransomware threats...

The Turian Backdoor is a new custom-made threat, employed in attacks by a previously unknown hacker group. This new threat actor established on the cybergang scene has been dubbed BackdoorDiplamacy and is believed to have been active since at least 2017. The setup and infrastructure of the group's threatening operations point towards it being a state-sponsored APT (Advanced Persistent Threat). The highly localized set of victims also supports this conjecture.  So far BackdoorDiplomacy has carried out attacks against government institutions such as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of multiple African countries as well as Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The group also has breached several telecommunications firms operating in Africa and at least one charity organization from the Middle East.  As for the Turian Backdoor, it is just...

The Mppq Ransomware is a new malware threat spawned from the STOP/Djvu Ransomware family. Being just another variant of the infamous STOP/Djvu Ransomware may mean that the Mppq Ransomware doesn't have any significant improvements. However, that doesn't diminish its destructive potential in the slightest. If the Mppq Ransomware manages to compromise a targeted system successfully, the threat will lock nearly all of the files stored there. Users will find themselves unable to access any of their private or work-related data.  Each encrypted file will have '.mppq' attached to its original name as a new extension. Upon completing its encryption routine, the Mppq Ransomware will proceed to drop a ransom note with instructions from the hackers. The note will be inside a text file named '_readme.txt.'  According to the message, Mppq...

The XCSS Ransomware operates as typical ransomware - it aims to compromise the user's computer, initiate an encryption routine and lock the data stored there. The hackers will then extort their victims for money in exchange for the potential restoration of the encrypted files. When XCSS locks a file, it will change that file's original name significantly. The threat will append a unique string representing the specific ID assigned to the victim, followed by an email address and finally '.xcss' as a new file extension. After completing its encryption process, the XCSS Ransomware will drop its ransom note as text files named 'FILES ENCRYPTED.txt' and displayed inside a pop-up window.  The note delivered inside the text files is extremely short and lacks any meaningful details. It just directs users to send a message to two email...

Like most ransomware, the goal of the cybercriminals behind the Baxter Ransomware is to infect the users' computers and then let their ransomware creation encrypt the data stored there. Users will find themselves unable to access any of their files - documents, PDFs, archives, databases, pictures, photos, etc. The Baxter Ransomware is a new threat from the VoidCrypt Ransomware family. All encrypted files will have their names modified drastically. The Baxter Ransomware follows a complex naming pattern - it appends an email address(karusjok@gmail.com), followed by a random string, and finally '.baxter' as a new file extension. Upon completing the file encryption, the threat will then deliver its ransom note. The instructions from the hackers will be placed inside text files named 'Decrypt-info.txt.' According to the note, the most...

Microsoft Solitaire is a beloved game that millions of people have either played at some point or are still playing actively. With the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft introduced the Solitaire Collection - a set of all the usual card games users expect to find on Windows but with a round of polish to bring them up to the modern standards. Unfortunately, under certain circumstances, the Microsoft Solitaire Collection might refuse to launch. Instead of being flummoxed, try the solutions outlined below and see if one of them manages to fix the problem.  Try the Windows Store Applications Troubleshooter Windows comes with a built-in Store App troubleshooter and it might be worth it to give it a chance.  Type troubleshooter in the search field on the taskbar and open the top result. Scroll down and click on 'Additional troubleshooters.'...

The iCloud Photo Library is an extremely convenient service offered by Apple that allows users to upload photos and videos to the company's cloud storage. Doing so can free space on the specific device while also enabling users to download the uploaded data to any other of their devices. If you are not sure how to download iCloud photos on your particular computer or mobile device, check the guidelines outlined below. Downloading photos from iCloud (except on iPhone devices) This method allows users to download pictures from their iCloud profile via the Web browser. Keep in mind that instead of icloud.com, iPhones will be redirected to the Find My iPhone service. We will describe an iPhone-specific method to download photos from iCloud as a separate option. Open your browser and go to icloud.com. (On Android devices, you must first go...

PDFConverterSearchPro is a deceptive application that advertises itself as a convenient way for Mac users to manipulate PDF files, a useful utility took on face value undoubtedly. The problem is that PDFConverterSearchPro is distributed through deceptive marketing techniques designed to mask the fact that the application is being installed on the system. This dubious behavior classifies PDFConverterSearchPro as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program). Generally, most PUPs act as adware, browser hijacker, or a combination of both functionalities into a single program. Browser hijackers take control over certain browser settings (homepage, new page tab and default search engine) and modify them to open a promoted address, which in most cases is a fake search engine. Adware applications, on the other hand, are created with the sole purpose...

Search.blueslaluz.com is the address of a fake search engine that is being promoted through a browser hijacker application. While it may advertise itself as a convenient way to search the net - offering faster searchers, more concise and relevant results, etc, the truth is quite different. Results provided by Search.blueslaluz.com could include unrelated sponsored advertisements while at the same time tracking the activities of the user. Furthermore, browser hijacker applications also are classified as PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) due to the deceptive distribution techniques they employ. After all, users are extremely unlikely to download and install such applications willingly. Two of the most commonly used techniques are bundling - the PUP is packaged inside the installation process of another program, and masquerading as the...

Search.fbdownloader.com is a dubious search engine being promoted through a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program). The application described itself as a useful tool that will allow users to download pictures from the Facebook platform conveniently. While the program does have such functionality, it also acts as a browser hijacker on the systems it is installed on. Users will notice that specific settings of their Web browser have been modified without their knowledge. The homepage, new page tab, and the default search engine could now start to open the search.fbdownloader.com address in an attempt to promote the dubious search engine and drive artificial traffic towards it. Browser hijackers are usually capable of preventing users from reverting these settings to their original states.  Generally, it is not recommended to keep PUPs such...

Gelsemium is an APT (Advanced Persistence Threat) group that has been active since at least 2014. The hackers have carried out multiple attack campaigns against targets located in East Asia and the Middle East regions predominantly. Among their potential victims are entities from a wide range of different verticals. So far Gelsemium APT's victims include government agencies, electronic manufacturers, religious organizations, as well as several universities. Malware Toolkit The Gelsemium APT group establishes a multi-stage attack chain for their operations. After breaching the targeted system, the hackers deploy a dropper malware named Gelsemine. The dropper is unusually large for this malware type but it includes eight embedded executables. The large size is used by Gelsemine to accommodate a sophisticated mechanism that allows the...

Gelsevirinie is delivered to the compromised machines by a mid-stage loader named Gelsemicine. Gelsevirinie is the last stage malware module deployed in attacks by the Gelsemium APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) group. The loader exists in two different versions and the one that gets executed depends on whether the infected user has administrative privileges or not. If the victim has the required privileges, Gelsevirine will be dropped under C:\Windows\System32\spool\prtprocs\x64\winprint.dll, otherwise it will be delivered as a DLL named chrome_elf.dll in the CommonAppData/Google/Chrome/Application/Library/ location. Once deployed on the targeted system, Gelsevirine initiates a complex setup to reach and maintain communication with its Command-and-Control server. First, it relies on an embedded DLL to perform the role of...

The Punisher Ransomware is a newly detected malware threat that has been unleashed in the wild. Generally, Punisher acts in the manner expected from a ransomware threat - it aims to infect the chosen system and then runs an encryption routine with a strong cryptographic algorithm. As a result, users will find themselves unable to access any of their files stores on the breached device. A rather uncommon aspect of Punisher is that the threat doesn't modify the names of the files it encrypts and instead leaves them intact. The ransom note with instructions for the victims is presented as a pop-up window. The message warns users against restarting or turning of the compromised device as that could lead to critical OS (Operating System) errors. To receive the decryption key (password) needed to restore the locked data, users are expected...

The ZIG Ransowmare operates as typical ransomware - it aims to infect the targeted system, initiate an encryption routine, and then extort the victim for money in exchange for the restoration of the locked data. Whenever the ZIG Ransomware encrypts a file it changes that file's original name drastically. First, a unique ID assigned to the specific victim will be appended. It will be followed by an email address belonging to the hackers - honestly@tutanota.com, in this case. Finally, '.ZIG' will be placed as a new file extension. The next step of ZIG Ransowmare is to deliver its ransom note. It does so by creating text files named 'info.txt' as well as displaying a pop-up window. The ZIG Ransomware is a new, threatening variant belonging to the infamous Dharma Ransomware family. The text files contain little useful information, simply...

Icotocotac.biz is a deceptive website designed to deliver questionable content to its visitors. In essence, it is virtually identical to all the other dubious websites dedicated to performing the same function. Also common for this type of deceiving website is its attempt to bait its visitors into subscribing to its push notification services.  The behavior of Icotocotac.biz varies depending on the user's geolocation. The site determines this factor by analyzing the IP address of its visitors and it can then redirect them to one or more dubious pages or proceed to deliver the questionable content by itself. Landing on sites such as Icotocotac.biz also exposed users to a popular browser-based scheme. By employing misleading alerts or warning messages the misleading websites try to bait users into subscribing to the site's push...

Discord managed to turn from a niche messaging application focused predominantly on PC gamers to one of the major platforms offering VoIP, video, streaming and instant messaging services. Users can congregate to different communities named servers. Discord is undeniably a popular application but sometimes its client might refuse to update properly and instead users would be presented with an 'Update Failed' error. The main causes for this issue are potential network issues or Discord files becoming corrupted (more specifically the 'Update.exe').  Try to reset the network configuration The first potential fix involves resetting the system's network configurations. One of the best methods to do so is to use command lines in an elevated Command Prompt.  Press the Windows (Windows logo key) + R keys on your keyboard...