Install NordVPN on FireStick with these easy steps

Posted on by Vlad Constantinescu

VPNs are often regarded as being these amazing privacy-protection tools. But they’re so much more than that. For instance, did you know that you can use a VPN to access geo-restricted content?

For instance, NordVPN can help you watch US Netflix without being anywhere near the USA.

As you know, computers aren’t the only devices that can stream. You can also use your gaming console, or a smart device called Fire Stick that you plug into your TV‘s HDMI port and use it to access entertainment content.

For that reason, VPN providers such as NordVPN started to expand their range of supported devices. Thanks to them, you can now install VPNs even on your router, TV, console, or the Fire Stick we’ve mentioned above.

However, some users have a difficult time deploying the VPN to their Fire Stick device. Although the process underwent some changes lately, it’s still quite easy to perform. And we’ll show you just the way.

How to install NordVPN on FireStick?

1. Use the Amazon Appstore

  1. Purchase a NordVPN subscription
  2. Plug your Fire Stick in the HDMI port of your TV
  3. Load the Fire Stick’s home screen
  4. Type NordVPN in the search bar (magnifying glass icon)
  5. Choose the NordVPN app from the list
  6. Hit the Get button
  7. Wait for the download/install process to finish
  8. Click the Open button once it becomes visible
  9. Type your NordVPN username and password
  10. Choose a server of your choice
  11. Enjoy limitless, private streaming

Note that these steps also apply for any other FireStick-compatible VPN service. You just have to replace the name in the search bar and install the corresponding app.

Additionally, you can also use this method to install NordVPN on Fire TV. Or, as we mentioned above, any other VPN that works with Fire TV/Stick.

2. Install NordVPN manually

  1. Access the Fire Stick’s Settings menu
  2. Scroll right and choose Device
  3. Select Developer Options from the menu
  4. Toggle Apps from Unknown Sources ON
  5. Go back to the home screen
  6. Click the magnifying glass button
  7. Search for an app called Downloader and install it
  8. Launch the Downloader app
  9. Use its browser to navigate to NordVPN’s Android downloads page
  10. Hit the Download .apk button
  11. Once the download completes, click the Install button

After NordVPN finishes installing on your FireStick, you can launch it from the Settings menu. Open the Settings menu, then head to Applications, and select Manage installed applications.

Select NordVPN from the list and click Launch application when ready.

Note that you won’t be able to control the app with the Fire Stick default remote. Therefore, you might need to purchase a BlueTooth mouse or install a third-party controller on your phone such as remote for Fire TV.

You can use NordVPN with Kodi on your FireStick

  1. Turn on your FireStick
  2. Make sure you’ve enabled Apps from Unknown Sources (see above)
  3. Install the Downloader app
  4. Launch the Downloader app
  5. Locate and type the Kodi APK links in the app (see below)
  6. Click the Download button
  7. Hit the Install button when ready

The Kodi APK download links are as follows:

Now you’ve got Kodi and NordVPN on your FireStick. The best part is that NordVPN is lightweight enough not to eat too many resources. Thus, even if you want to stream with Kodi and stay private at the same time, it’s totally possible.

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How to open encrypted files in Windows 10

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Windows has a built-in encryption utility that is meant to protect your files from being accessed through opening, reading, or modification by other users and/or computers.

This makes it easy for individuals and businesses alike to secure their private and sensitive information and files. However, opening such files requires an encryption key, plus you have to be logged in as an administrator.

With encryption keys all around us today, there’s a need to protect our sensitive and private data and information, so this is the best way to do it.

But the question most people will ask is how to open encrypted files because once these are protected with a password, there are only a few ways that can open it, besides knowing the password.

So if you don’t know the password of the encrypted file, you forgot or just don’t have it, we’ll show you how to open encrypted files in Windows 10.

How to open encrypted files in Windows 10

  1. Use a dedicated program
  2. Use Certificate Manager
  3. Convert the file then open it
  4. Take ownership of the file or folder
  5. Grant access to the encrypted file

1. Use a dedicated program

There are different programs used to encrypt files that marked afterward so that you know that they are password-protected. The encrypted files can be opened, but you sometimes have to use the same programs that encrypted them.

WinZip is one such program, and one of the most popular.

The encryption option allows you to zip your files with certified 128- or 256-bit AES encryption, keeping your files safe from unwanted eyes. Plus, with WinZip, you can create read-only PDFs and add watermarks to deter copying.

However, to open an encrypted WinZip file you will also need the password. WinZip can’t help with the recovery of lost zip file passwords.

If you’re using the 256-bit AES encryption method, there is no other way of opening the file other than knowing the password. For the 128-bit or weak Zip 2.0 (Legacy) encryption, you can try using a password recovery tool available online.

Now, in order to avoid such an uncomfortable situation, we recommend having a password manager at hand to keep all your codes and passwords.

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

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2. Use Certificate Manager

  1. Log in to the user account that encrypted the file you want to access
  2. In the search box, type certmgr.msc and press Enter to open the Certificate ManagerHow to open encrypted files in Windows 10
  3. Open the Personal category in the left paneHow to open encrypted files in Windows 10
  4. Click Certificates
  5. Under Issued To, select the certificate that corresponds with your account name
  6. Open Action menuHow to open encrypted files in Windows 10
  7. Go to All TasksHow to open encrypted files in Windows 10
  8. Select Export and follow the prompts in the Export wizard
  9. Click Yes, export the private key and Personal Information Exchange when prompted
  10. Type a password for the certificate, and click Finish
  11. Transfer the certificate file to the computer you want to open the file on
  12. Open Certificate Manager on that computer
  13. Select Personal
  14. Open Action menu
  15. Go to All Tasks and select Import
  16. Follow the prompts in the Import wizard. Select the certificate file you moved, type the password and check the Mark this key as exportable box
  17. Select Personal as the location for placing the certificate
  18. Click Finish
  19. Double click the encrypted file to open it. The certificate you transferred will give you access to the file.

Looking to open TGZ files in Windows 10? Here’s how to do it

3. Convert the file then open itconvert file to open encrypted file

If you used EasyCrypto to encrypt a file, you won’t be able to convert it to any other format as the program doesn’t give a method of converting the files.

However, if you have any files that you want to be converted, and they’re inside the .encrypted file, decrypt them and then use a free file converter to change them.

4. Take ownership of the file or folder

  1. Open File Explorer and find the file or folder you want to take ownership of.
  2. Right-click the file or folder, click Properties
  3. Click the Security
  4. Click Advanced, and then click the Ownerchange ownership of a file
  5. Click Change, and then do one of the following:
    • To change the owner to a user or group that is not listed, click Other users and groups and, in Enter the object name to select (examples), type the name of the user or group, and then click OK.
    • To change the owner to a user or group that is listed, in the Change owner to box, click the new owner.

Note: You can change the owner of all subcontainers and objects within the tree, by selecting the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects checkbox. This is optional.

The owner of a file or folder controls the permissions set on the file/folder and to whom these are granted. The take ownership permission, or restore the files and directories user rights are the minimum requirements needed to perform this procedure.

An admin can take ownership of any file on the computer. However, assigning ownership may require you to elevate permissions by using User Access Control.

A user who has the Restore files and directories privilege can double-click Other users and groups and choose any user or group to assign ownership to.

Note: The Everyone group no longer includes the Anonymous Logon group.

5. Grant access to the encrypted file

  1. Right-click the file to bring up the selection menu and click Properties
  2. Select Advanced from the properties menu, which will open the Advanced Attributes section of Properties.grant access to an encrypted file
  3. Click Details, which will display all of the encryption information. Select Add. This will open an add users window.
  4. Select the user (yourself) to give access to the encrypted file. Click OK until you return back to the Properties window. Once to this window, click Apply. This will apply the changes. Click OK again to close out the properties window.
  5. Double-click the encrypted file. It will now be opened.

Speaking of encrypted files, we also have a great guide on how to convert ENC file into another format, so you might want to check it out.

Are there other ways you use to open encrypted files in Windows 10? Let us know what works for you, and if the methods above helped, by leaving a comment in the section below.

Windows vulnerability triggers Homeland Security reaction

Posted on by Claudiu Andone

Despite Microsoft being focused on privacy and security improvements, there are still crucial vulnerabilities to be attended to. And Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) demand that they have to be patched now!

The Federal authorities refer to the Windows DNS Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability code-named CVE-2020-1350.

On July 14th, Microsoft issued a security update to address this critical Windows vulnerability together with other 138 other vulnerabilities.

Microsoft had previously urgent updates to patch some vulnerabilities out of the blue like some apparently harmless codecs.

And let’s not forget that not long ago, NSA already warned about another vulnerability, CVE-2020-0688 that affected Microsoft Exchange servers. 

What is CVE-2020-1350 and what does it do?

The CVE-2020-1350 vulnerability is also known as SIGRed and it is a remote code execution that affects Windows Server versions 2003 through 2019.

The problem is that this vulnerability received the maximum severity rating of 10 out of 10.

The severity rating also comes from the fact that SIGRed is workable. That means that an exploit can extend throughout the network to vulnerable computers automatically, without any human help.

And as happens with most vulnerabilities, this is not a new one, it existed for over 17 years and it impacts all Windows Server versions 2003 through 2019.

Luckily, Microsoft issued a Registry workaround for this vulnerability but it has to be applied to the vulnerable servers at once.

What are the CISA’s recommendations?

The emergency directive from CISA recommends all agencies to update all endpoint computers running Windows Server within 24 hours (by 2:00 pm EST, Friday, July 17, 2020).

These requirements apply to Windows Servers in any information system, including information systems used or operated by another entity on behalf of an agency, that collects, processes, stores, transmits, disseminates, or otherwise maintains agency information.

The Federal authority also makes a clear statement about the gravity of the potential exploitation of this vulnerability:

CISA has determined that this vulnerability poses unacceptable significant risk to the Federal Civilian Executive Branch and requires an immediate and emergency action. This determination is based on the likelihood of the vulnerability being exploited, the widespread use of the affected software across the Federal enterprise, the high potential for a compromise of agency information systems, and the grave impact of a successful compromise.

If you have any thoughts about this, please lay them down in our Comments section below.

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How to Fix the ZIP File Association in Windows 10

Posted on by Matthew Adams

ZIP is a compressed file format that you can archive files with in Windows 10. File Explorer is the default file manager utility for extracting and opening ZIPs in Windows.

However, third-party file archive software can automatically replace Explorer as the default program for opening ZIPs. A third-party file archive utility can remain the default program for opening ZIPs even after uninstalling it.

As such, ZIP files might not open after uninstalling a default third-party file archive utility. Then you’ll have a broken ZIP file association. This is how you can fix the ZIP file association in Windows 10.

How can I fix the ZIP file association issues on Windows 10?

1. Reset to default apps

  1. Press the Windows button, type default apps, and open the app from the results.
  2. Then press the Reset button to restore all the default apps in Windows.

You can usually fix the ZIP file association by restoring File Explorer as the default utility for ZIP archives.

The Settings app includes options for adjusting default apps. This is how you can quickly restore the default associations for all file formats with the Settings’ Reset option.

2. Use WinZip

WinZip is one of the most used compression tools for Windows 10. Aside from compressing, WinZip also allows you to manage, share, and back up your files. Based on our in-depth analysis, we would recommend that you use WinZip as the best alternative to the default app.

The formats that WinZip unzips are RAR, GZIP, VHD, XZ, ZIP, ZIPX, and more. The tool also allows you to share your files via several social media channels.

With WinZip, you have easy access to convert your PDF files, manage your archives, and integrate them with cloud services.

Here are some of the cons of using WinZip:

  • Merges your file.
  • e-Signatura.
  • Easy to organize and manage files.
  • Option to convert your files and PDF’s
  • Good privacy of data.

WinZip

With WinZip you can manage all your files and extract, encrypt or share them via social media.
Free Trial Visit Website

3. Adjust the open with settings for ZIP files

  1. If you prefer not to restore all files to their default app associations, you can adjust the Open with settings specifically for ZIP archives. To do that, right-click a ZIP and select the Open with option.
  2. Click More apps to open a list of programs to open the ZIP with.
  3. Then select File Explorer as the default utility.
  4. Select the Always use this app to open ZIP files option, and then press the OK button.

4. Fix ZIP files with Remo Repair ZIP

If you still can’t open a ZIP, it might be the case that the specific ZIP file is corrupted. Try opening alternative ZIPs to see if they open.

Remo Repair ZIP is a third-party Windows utility that repairs corrupted ZIP files and recovers files from archives. You can try out a demo of that software by pressing the Download Now button on this webpage.

When you’ve got Remo Repair up and running, you can click its Browse button to select a ZIP to repair. The software will weave its magic when you press the Repair button. Then you can choose a path to save the repaired file to.

Those are a few Windows 10 resolutions that will probably repair the ZIP file association so that you can open ZIPs in File Explorer.

Remember that Explorer only opens a few file archive formats, so it’s better to have a third-party archive utility if you need to open other archive formats such as RAR, GZ, WIM, etc.

Xbox Game Pass launch brought over 1 million new players to No Man’s Sky since June

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

No Man’s Sky gained over 1 million new players since the game launched on Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC on June 11. The game’s creator Sean Murray announced the good news on Xbox Wire, along with the release of the new “Desolation” free update for the space exploration game.

“Last month we welcomed over a million new players into No Man’s Sky by virtue of Xbox Game Pass and the Windows 10 release. This, together with our cross-play update, meant that we are seeing some of our biggest ever in-game numbers, all playing together regardless of their gaming platform. It is genuinely humbling, nearly two years after first releasing on Xbox One, that there are still so many people interested in exploring our universe,” Murray wrote.

No Man’s Sky has been enjoying a successful renaissance since its Xbox One release back in 2018, which coincided with the release of the game’s “Next” free update that introduced a full multiplayer experience. Desolation, the latest free content update brings improvements to the combat experience and spices up the spatial exploration with procedurally generated abandoned starships.

With more than 10 million subscribers, Xbox Game Pass is surely becoming harder to ignore for both small and big developers. Project xCloud, Microsoft’s cloud gaming service will soon provide access to over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in select markets, which will allow game developers to reach mobile gamers interested in playing console-quality games on smartphones and tablets.

If you have yet to try Xbox Game Pass, you can get your first month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for just $1 and play No Man’s Sky for free on Xbox One and PC. Many other great games have been added to the catalog in recent months, including The Witcher 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Unable to delete folder, access denied in Windows 10 [Fix]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

We know some Windows 10 users are having issues deleting a folder or a specific file within the operating system.

If that is also your case, you are in luck. The tutorial below will show you exactly how to fix the Unable to delete folder due to access denied issue.

First of all, if you are unable to delete a specific folder in Windows 10, it might be because you don’t have enough administrative privileges on your current user. Or perhaps the file or folder is in use by another application you accidentally left open.

What can I do if I am unable to delete a folder open in another file or place?

  1. Log in as administrator
  2. Use dedicated software
  3. Close active apps using the folder
  4. Clean Boot your PC
  5. Additional troubleshooting solutions

1. Log in as administrator

Fix unable to delete folder in WIndows 8 or WINdows 10

You will first need to find out if you have enough privileges on your  Windows 10 device to delete a specific folder.

  1. Reboot your Windows Windows 10 device.
  2. Log in with your administrator account and password.
  3. Go to the directory where the folder is and try to delete it.
  4. If you are prompted by a UAC window, you will need to left-click on the OK button.

2. Use dedicated software

If you’re unable to delete user folders in Windows 10 using conventional methods, you might want to try a different, more professional approach.

Using dedicated file erasure software comes with many advantages. You will be able to permanently erase files that are beyond the scope of data recovery.

This type of software will delete undeletable files by unlocking or force removing them from your PC. The process is very easy for the user, you just have to select what you want to remove.

You can even schedule file erasure and generate comprehensive reports of erasure with perfectly scalable and cost-effective results.

3. Close active apps using the folder

Make sure you don’t have an application that uses the folder you are trying to delete.

Example: If you have a movie or music in the folder you are trying to delete and the files are used by a media player, then you will not be able to delete that specific folder until you close all the applications that use those files.

Note: If you closed the applications and you still have the same error message while trying to delete the specific folder, then you should reboot your Windows 10 device and try again.

4. Clean Boot your PC

Try Entering the Safe mode feature in Windows 10 and try to delete the folder from there.

You might have an application that is present in the startup feature of Windows and by using the safe mode feature your system will start only with the programs necessary for Windows 10 to run.

5. Additional troubleshooting solutions

If the problem persists, here are some additional workarounds that may help you fix it:

  • Check your antivirus: Sometimes your antivirus software may prevent you from deleting particular files or folders. You can try to temporarily disable it, delete the respective files/ folders and then, re-enable your antivirus.
  • Delete the file/folder with Command Prompt: Launch Command Prompt as admin and enter del alongside the location of the folder/file you want to delete, and hit Enter.  Eg: del c:usersMarkDesktoptext.txt
  • Use Microsoft’s Troubleshooter

There you have it, you don’t really need to be a computer specialist to perform the steps above and delete your files and folders in Windows 10 in just a couple of seconds.

Feel free to leave your questions or suggestions regarding this post in the comments section below.

How to Transfer Files Using FTP in Windows 10

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Many Windows 10 users want to create their own private cloud, upload files they can share, and transfer files of any size (up to 1000GB), without restrictions.

The solution: building an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server! It’s straightforward to build one, and users will have full control of the server. They will even create multiple accounts so their friends and family can access those files.

Today, we’ll teach you how to install an FTP server on a Windows 10 PC.

How do I transfer files using FTP?

1. Use Windows’ built-in FTP features

1.1. Install an FTP server on your computer running on Windows 10

  1. Click and hold down the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut
  2. When the Power User menu will appear, you will select Programs and Features
  3. Click the Turn Windows features on/off-link, then expand Internet Information Services
  4. Check the FTP Server option, and after expanding FTP Server, you will check the FTP Extensibility option.
  5. In continuation, you’ll check Web Management Tools and keep the default selections, then click OK to begin the installation and then on Close.

1.2. Create an FTP site on Windows 10, which will be used to send and receive files:

  1. Again, open the Power User menu using the same method and select Control Panel.
  2. Then, open Administrative Tools and double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
  3. After expanding right-clicking Sites on the Connections pane, select Add FTP Site.
  4. Now, choose the name of the new FTP site, enter the path to the FTP folder that will be used to send and receive files, then click Next.
  5. When you see Binding and SSL Settings, choose only the SSL option to No SSL, then click Next.
  6. Check the Basic option on Authentication, and on Authorization, in the drop-down menu, select Specified users.
  7. Enter the email address of your Windows 10 account or local account name so that you will gain access to the FTP server.
  8. Finally, check Read and Write, then click Finish.

2. Use a third-party product

The easiest way to transfer files via FTP is to use a third-party tool that can do it for you in a simplified manner.

One software that comes to mind when it comes to filing transfers is WinZip. Not only will it archive your files quickly and efficiently, but it can also secure them via encryption or password protection.

Once that is done, you can use WinZip to transfer your archives between different PCs, networks, or even clouds. As an added bonus, it also has integrations with many social media platforms, so sharing your archives has never been simpler.

WinZip

Send files to different PCs, networks, clouds, or social media platforms using this amazing tool.
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The steps mentioned above can also prove helpful if you’re also interested in the following:

Set up FTP to transfer files – Both the software and the steps listed above will help you set up an FTP to transfer files anywhere.

In case you want to share files locally, why not check our guide on how to connect two Windows 11 PCs?

What are your other preferences when creating an FTP server? Leave us a comment in the area below.

How to Archive Emails in Windows Live Mail

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

Microsoft discontinued the Windows Live Mail client to make way for the Windows 10 Mail app. However, there are millions of Windows users who continue to use Windows Live Mail.

Now if you are one of those and want to know how to archive email in Windows Live Mail, this is the article you need.

Being able to archive your emails allows you to save them locally on your system. This comes in handy if you want to remove emails from the mail server to free up space but don’t want to delete them permanently.

This can also be used as a backup option. In this article, we discuss how you can archive Windows Live Mail emails to keep them safe.

How I can archive Windows Mail emails?

1. Prepare the folders for archiving

archive Windows Live Mail emails
  1. Start the Windows Live Mail client if not already running.
  2. Make sure the Storage Folder are shown in the sidebar.
  3. If not, you can easily add them by clicking the View tab
  4. Click on the Storage Folders option.
  5. Next, you need to create a local Archive folder to save your emails.
    archive Windows Live Mail emails
  6. Right-click on the Storage Folders and select New Folder.
  7. Enter a name for the folder. Make sure you enter a name that is easy to recognize for you.
  8. Click OK to create the folder.
  9. Under Storage Folders, you should see your newly created Archive folder.

2. Move the emails to the archive folder

  1. To move your emails to the archive folder you can either drag and drop them, or you can right-click on the email and select Move to folder option.
  2. Select your newly created archive folder as the destination folders.
  3. You can also select multiple emails and move them simultaneously.

3. Use Gmail as an archive account

If you want to save your archived emails online, you can move the archived emails to a Gmail account. For this to work, you need a POP account and then configure a Gmail account.

To move the emails, you can either drag and drop the emails to the archive account or use the Move to Folder option. Since every Gmail account comes with 15GB of free storage you can use your Gmail account as a backup for your Windows Live Emails.

4. Consider using an alternative to Windows Mail

Windows Mail has always been a reliable email client, but like all built-in products that come with Windows, they pale in comparison to what a third-party dedicated tool such as Mailbird can do.

You get a unified inbox so that Mailbird can act as a centralized email client for all of your email addresses, including Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and more.

The Mailbird team complies with strong ethical standards when it comes to user privacy and security. It is apparent that Mailbird is regarded as a business that values customer privacy, allowing them to continue developing the finest communication hub ever for Windows.

That’s quite cool, and you can rest assured that your emails are encrypted and that all of your data is saved solely on your computer.

More so, no tool can compare to Mailbird when it comes to the email management department, allowing you to better organize yourself.

As far as archiving messages go, this is just one of the many tools that Mailbird provides, as your emails will be kept forever in a separate location so that you can unclutter your outbox and inbox without having to delete them.

Archiving your email has many advantages; following the steps in this article, you can archive emails in Windows Live Mail. You can free up space in your online mail server and keep a backup saved offline.

If you know of any other interesting way of archiving your Windows Live Mail messages, let us know by commenting in the section below.

Windows 10/11 keeps failing to upgrade, to users’ chagrin

Posted on by Don Sharpe

As successful Windows 10 upgrade comes with the promise of better features, improved system security, and sometimes, new apps.

But lately, due to a broad array of issues, many users are unable to successfully install their favorite version of the Windows 10 operating system. They’re instead reporting all manner of update error codes, from 0x80242016 to 0x0000005.

Why Windows 10 installation keeps failing

Most of the update bugs that users are reporting, such as, error 0x80242016, have something to do with corrupt system files, registry problems, and other similar issues.

For example, one user reported the following error message on the Microsoft Answers forum:

Windows Update

Feature update to Windows 10, version 2004

We couldn’t install this update, but you can try again (0x0000005)

Much to their dismay, the user got no definitive diagnosis even after running the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

On Reddit, another user says that they’re getting the 0x80242016 error code each time they try to update. Interestingly, the user claims that the upgrade goes smoothly until the system reboot phase.

The windows update suddenly reboots and throws me back to version 1903 with error “0x80242016” in my error logs.

It appears that these issues are also affecting users that try to do it the ISO way using the Microsoft Media Creation tool.

This particular user, for instance, was told to wait until Windows starts supporting their current system configurations.

Windows 10 won’t let me upgrade to the 1909 version using media creation tool and I keep getting this error every time I try to update, any idea on how to fix it please?

There are different ways to fix Windows 10 upgrade bugs. For starters, users of non-supported machines can wait until Microsoft delivers a compatible update via Windows Update.

But if you’re getting errors like 0x80242016, troubleshooting is necessary to determine the root cause of the problem. Sometimes, a clean boot and checking/fixing corrupt system files before reattempting to upgrade does help.

If you’re experiencing any Windows 10 upgrade issues, drop us a message in the comments section below.

Windows 10 Calendar preview has a refreshed text editor

Posted on by Don Sharpe

The Windows 10 Calendar preview arrived with the launch of insider build 19564 back in February.

Then, the app came with multiple feature enhancements including 30+ themes. It also introduced a cleaner, better-organized user calendar interface.

In addition, Microsoft announced that it would be adding more features to the beta version of the app each month. Well, a visually and functionally refreshed text editor is one of the latest improvements to come to the Windows 10 Calendar preview.

The New-look Windows 10 Calendar preview

If a recent tweet by Alumia_Italia is anything to go by, the Redmond-based firm is making good on its promise about the Calendar preview.

The Twitter user posted an animated GIF demo showcasing how to format text when creating events on the app. Overall, the application looks stunning, especially with the dark theme and the pink tones on the command buttons.

But the app’s text box is the highlight of the GIF demo. Looking at the feature, it gives the impression of a fully-fledged text editor, complete with all the formatting options you may need.

As you can see in the demo below, clicking a button at the bottom left of the text editor pops up common formatting options like bold and font color. You may also use the strategically-located menu to insert your links and add text to display.

It now shouldn’t take you too long to add an event and do all the necessary formatting on the Windows 10 Calendar preview.

Last month, Alumia_Italia posted another GIF demonstrating a new search feature that Microsoft had added to the Calendar app.

If Microsoft wanted to simplify event creation on the application, then the text editor helps a great deal with that.

The tech giant affirms:

Our goal is to empower our users with a simple, fast, and beautiful calendar experience.

What do you think about the new-look Windows 10 Calendar preview? Kindly reach for the comments section below to let us know.

[wl_navigator]

How to make Windows 10/11 connect to VPN before login

Posted on by Elena Constantinescu

If you’re interested in protecting your online privacy and digital identity, you can make Windows 10 automatically connect to a VPN as soon as you turn on your computer. However, this happens only after you log in with your Windows account.

Connecting to a VPN as soon as the Internet connection is established is a much safer solution, especially if you typically use a public, unprotected Wi-Fi at work, at a restaurant, or while traveling.

In that case, it’s a better idea to make Windows 10 connect to the VPN before login since it provides a higher level of protection against hackers and other Internet dangers.

Check out our step-by-step instructions below to find out how to auto-connect to a VPN before signing into your Windows 10 PC. Although you can do this without having to install any additional software, we suggest getting a premium VPN subscription for better privacy and security.

How do I make Windows 10 connect to VPN before login?

Add a VPN connection

add a VPN connection in Windows 10

  1. Right-click Start and open Network Connections.
  2. Choose VPN and click Add a VPN connection.
  3. Specify the VPN connection details.
  4. Write down the Connection name, User name, and Password.
  5. Click Save.

Don’t know what VPN details to add? Discover how to create a VPN connection in Windows 10.

Create a BAT file

Create a BAT file to auto-connect to VPN

  1. Launch the Notepad app in Windows 10 (press Ctrl + R, type notepad, press Enter).
  2. In the empty document, paste the following code:c:windowssystem32rasdial.exe YourConnectionName YourUsername YourPassword
  3. Replace the info above with the VPN details you wrote down.
  4. Save the Notepad document (press Ctrl + S) and exit.
  5. Rename the Notepad file to change the TXT format* to BAT.
  6. Store the document in a safe place.

*If the file formats are not displayed, you must show file extensions in Windows 10 to be able to change them.

Create and schedule a task

  1. Hit the Win key and type Task Scheduler*.
  2. Press Enter to launch this app.
  3. Go to the Actions panel on the right side.
  4. Click Create Task (not Create Basic Task).
  5. General tab
    • Write a task name, such as WindowsReport VPN.
    • At Security options, select Run whether user is logged on or not.
    • Enable Run with highest privileges.
    • Set Configure for to Windows 10.create a task in Task Scheduler
  6. Triggers tab
    • Click New.
    • Set Begin the task to At startup.
    • Make sure the Enabled box is checked.
    • Click OK.set triggers in Task Scheduler
  7. Actions tab
    • Click New.
    • Set Action to Start a program.
    • Click Browse and select the BAT file you created.
    • Click Open and then OK.set actions in Task Scheduler
  8. Conditions tab
    • Deselect all options.deselect all conditions in Task Scheduler
  9. Settings tab
    • Enable Allow task to be run on demand.
    • Disable Stop the task if it runs longer than.
    • Click OK.configure task settings in Task Scheduler
  10. Enter your user account information to confirm.

*You can find out everything about the Windows 10 Task Scheduler to master this application.

At every system startup, Windows 10 will connect to the VPN before logon. To disconnect, you just have to press the Network icon in the systray, select the VPN connection, and press Disconnect.

To temporarily disable the task, open the Task Scheduler app, select the task, right-click it, and press Disable. To permanently remove it, press Delete instead of Disable. You can also edit the task settings.

However, keep in mind that, if you wish to use a different VPN server, you must manually edit the VPN connection details in Windows 10 (at Step 1, where you added the VPN connection).

If you also change the VPN connection name, username or password, then you also have to update the BAT file you created (at Step 2 after updating the VPN profile in Windows 10).

How about connecting to a VPN client before logon?

Unfortunately, using Task Scheduler to schedule a VPN client to run before logon doesn’t work the same way as scheduling a manual VPN connection. Regardless of the settings configuration in Task Scheduler, a VPN client can’t run earlier than logon.

However, you can obtain the manual connection details of your VPN service to create a connection using the Windows 10 built-in VPN provider, such as Private Internet Access. Then, by following the instructions we provided above, you can make Windows 10 connect to the VPN before login.

Why use Private Internet Access

PIA is the best VPN for Windows 10

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a premium virtual private network solution and the best VPN for Windows 10. A product of Kape Technologies, PIA can hide your IP address, encrypt your entire network traffic, and keep you safe from hackers.

Furthermore, unlike Windows 10 that offers native support for few VPN protocols, PIA includes OpenVPN and WireGuard, which offer the best security features for your computer.

You also use native port forwarding without having to configure router settings, as well as set up an emergency kill switch to preserve your online anonymity.

Additionally, PIA supports exclusive DNS servers, up to 10 simultaneous device connections, split-tunneling mode, together with a malware and ad blocker.

It’s compatible with all major platforms, has a user-friendly interface, and provides manual configuration settings for OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, and SOCKS. 

More about PIA:

  • +3,300 VPN servers in 48 countries
  • A zero-logging policy
  • No IP or DNS leaks
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 30-days money-back guarantee (no free trial)
Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access

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To sum up, you can make Windows 10 connect to a VPN before login if you manually create a VPN connection and add its details to the Task Scheduler.

In older Windows versions, it was also possible to view the VPN connections on the logon screen and choose to connect or not (including Windows 8). But it doesn’t seem to work on Windows 10 anymore.

Nevertheless, by using the workaround we described above, you can instruct Windows 10 to automatically connect to a VPN before you get the chance to sign in with your user credentials.

To maximize security, though, we recommend signing up for a premium subscription service like PIA and obtaining the manual configuration settings for PPTP or L2TP. PIA’s VPN servers facilitate a higher level of security for your home PC.

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Microsoft Edge v84 rolls out to the Stable channel with improvements for full screen mode, Collections, and more

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Version 84 of Microsoft Edge has finally arrived in the stable channel. This release is bringing improvements for full-screen mode, the Collections feature, and more. Here’s a look at what you need to know.

We’ll start first with the new stuff. Microsoft says that Edge now provides full-screen mouse support when in full-screen mode, to access the address bar, and other items. In addition, users can now add custom nicknames to saved debit or credit cards. Finally, with Collections, Microsoft has added the ability to leave notes on Collections, and change the background color of notes. You can have a look below for other improvements and new features.

  • Read Aloud for PDF lets users listen to PDF content while carrying out other tasks that may be important for them
  • Now you can save an edit made to a PDF back to the file instead of saving a copy each time you edit the PDF.
  • This version of Microsoft Edge provides improved site list download times for Internet Explorer mode. We’ve reduced download delay for the Internet Explorer mode site list to 0 seconds
  • Microsoft Edge now allows users to sign-into the browser when it’s “run as administrator” on Windows 10.
  • TLS/1.0 and TLS/1.1 are disabled by default.
  • Microsoft Edge now enables Translation in the Immersive Reader. When a user opens the Immersive Reader view, they get the option to translate the page to their desired language.

In addition to the new features, Microsoft has also added support for The Storage Access API. Developers will also see some new DevTools updates, including support for customizing keyboard shortcuts to match VS Code and viewing the DevTools in high contrast. Of course, there are new policies too, for a total of 7. We invite you to read more about those here, as well as the other new things for developers and security updates.

Today is the first major version 84 release in the Stable Channel, but you can expect subsequent updates to follow later on. Version 83 of Microsoft Edge received a total of 8 patches after its initial release to Stable, so you can expect more of the same here, as Microsoft is always working to improve Edge. In fact, security researchers recently found that it beats out Chrome and Firefox when it comes to preventing and catching malware.

Best AES 256-bit Encryption Software to Protect Your Files

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

File encryption is important if you want to protect your files from unauthorized access. There are different types of encryption, but one of the most used is 256-bit encryption.

Encrypting your files is rather simple, and today, we will show you the best 256-bit encryption software.

Some users wonder what the difference is between 128-bit and 256-bit encryption. Basically, they are the same; the only difference is the length of the encryption key. Generally speaking, the key with the longest length is more secure. Thus, 256-bit encryption is stronger than 128-bit.

Encryption can be encrypted by a software program installed on your computer, such as the recommended one, or by a hardware chip. In this case, we usually refer to this as AES 256-bit hardware encryption.

So here we go, the best AES encryption software.

What’s the best 256-bit encryption software for PC?

WinZip – Best 256-bit encryption software

With WinZip, you get two advantages in one single package. First, you can create zip archives with multiple files. This way, it is easier to move them or share them, or it just makes it easier to organize yourself. Moreover, compressing the files will take up less storage.

Secondly, you have the option of encrypting your zip archive. WinZip offers the option to encrypt the files that you’ve selected to add to the archive with a strong 256-bit AES encryption. You can also choose 128-bit encryption.

Other great features besides the ability to encrypt the files are:

  • converting files to PDF
  • merging multiple PDFs into a single file
  • e-signature support
  • Windows Shell integration
  • support for a lot of different formats

WinZip

Encrypt your files and make use of powerful archiving tools with this professional software.
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Folder Lock – Create password wallets


Another professional tool that can encrypt your files, folders, and drives is Folder Lock. Using this tool, you can easily lock any folder and prevent other users from accessing it. The application supports on-the-fly AES 256-bit encryption, allowing you to encrypt any file easily.

The application also works with removable storage, optical media, and email attachments. In addition to file encryption, you can create password wallets and store important information, including credit card data and passwords. Lastly, you can permanently delete your files using the shredding feature.

Folder Lock is a great tool that can protect any file, folder, or drive with 256-bit encryption. The application offers a friendly interface, so it’s perfect for first-time users. The trial version is available for download, but if you want to continue using this tool, you need to purchase a license.

Folder Lock

Keep your documents safe by encrypting entire folders with this powerful tool.
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AES Crypt – Very easy to use

If you’re looking for multi-platform 256-bit encryption software, AES Crypt might be perfect. This tool is available for Windows, Android, MacOS, and Linux, so you won’t have problems using it on different platforms. The application is simple to use, and you can encrypt a file simply by right-clicking it and choosing the desired option.

All encrypted files are protected with a password, so unauthorized users won’t be able to access them. It’s worth mentioning that there’s also a command-line version available, which is perfect if you’re an advanced user and you want to encrypt your files quickly.

AES Crypt is a solid tool, and it’s perfect for both first-time and advanced users alike. The application is completely free and available on several different platforms. As a result, even if you don’t use Windows, you can use AES Crypt without any issues.

⇒ Get AES Crypt

VeraCrypt – Perfect for advanced users


Another free 256-bit encryption software is VeraCrypt. This is a multi-platform tool, and it’s available for Windows, MacOS X, Linux, and even Raspberry Pi. VeraCrypt offers advanced encryption features, so it’s more secure than other encryption tools on the market.

The application supports 256-bit encryption, and it will protect all your files with a password. Remember that you won’t be able to access your files if you lose your password, so be sure to remember it.

The application is relatively simple to use, and you have to create a virtual volume and choose a safe location for it. After that, you must set different parameters such as encryption and hash algorithm. Lastly, you need to set the volume size and its password. After doing that, your encrypted drive will be ready, and you have to mount it from VeraCrypt. Once you mount your encrypted drive and enter its password, you can access your files without problems.

VeraCrypt is a great encryption software, and if you need to protect your files with 256-bit encryption, consider this tool. The application also offers some advanced features, so it’s perfect for advanced users. VeraCrypt is relatively simple to use and completely free, so be sure to try it out.

⇒ Get VeraCrypt

AxCrypt – Integrated file exploration


If you’re looking for simple encryption software, AxCrypt might be just what you need. The application offers 128-bit and 256-bit encryption, fully supporting cloud sharing services.

There’s also support for collaboration, so you can easily work with other users on encrypted files. AxCrypt also supports password management, so you can store passwords and other important data.

It’s worth mentioning that the application supports folder encryption, so you can encrypt individual folders or files with ease. The application supports the drag-and-drop method, so you can easily encrypt your files. The tool also supports File Explorer integration allowing you to encrypt files simply by right-clicking them.

The application is rather simple to use, and you can access encrypted files simply by double-clicking them. The application has no backdoors, so if you lose your password, you won’t be able to access your files. We must mention that AxCrypt is a portable application, so you can run it on any PC without installing it.

AxCrypt offers a simple interface, so you should be able to encrypt your files easily. We have to mention that this tool has two versions available, Free and Premium. The Free version offers 128-bit encryption, while the Premium version offers 256-bit encryption.

In addition, the Premium version offers other features, such as support for secure folders, mobile apps, password management, etc. If you’re looking for a simple file encryption tool, AxCrypt will be perfect, but it’s biggest flaw is the lack of 256-bit encryption in the Free version.

⇒ Get AxCrypt

BitLocker – Windows native encryption


If you don’t want to use third-party solutions for encryption, you might want to consider BitLocker. This feature was available on Windows since Windows Vista and is also available on Windows 10. This feature supports both 128-bit and 256-bit encryption, and it’s available on Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10.

This tool doesn’t offer individual file or folder encryption which can be a flaw for some users. On the other hand, the application supports volume encryption, so you can easily protect an entire volume. If you want to encrypt individual files, you can create a new volume and move the desired files.

As for encryption, the device supports three modes: transparent, user authentication, and USB key mode. The transparent mode utilizes TPM chip for authentication, however this authentication method is vulnerable to cold boot attacks. User authentication allows you to access encrypted drives using your PIN code or password. Lastly, a USB Key Mode allows you to authenticate using a USB flash drive.

BitLocker offers solid protection, and it’s available on certain versions of Windows 10. The only flaw of BitLocker is the inability to encrypt individual files and directories, but that isn’t a major problem.

Gpg4win – Allows you to encrypt emails


Another great tool that allows you to encrypt your files is Gpg4win. This tool lets you encrypt folders or files from the File Explorer. To do that, right-click the desired file and choose the encrypt option from the menu. In addition to encryption, the application allows you to create checksums and use them to verify file integrity.

Besides files and folders, this tool also allows you to sign and encrypt your emails in Outlook. Using this tool, you can encrypt email messages and attached files. This feature is rather straightforward, allowing you to decrypt messages in Outlook easily. In addition, you can also manage certificates by using this tool.

Gpg4win is a great tool, and it offers advanced features such as email encryption, which can be rather useful. As for file encryption, you can easily encrypt your files simply by right-clicking them. If you’re looking for a powerful encryption tool with some advanced features, try Gpg4win.

⇒ Get Gpg4win

7-Zip – Support for command line


7-Zip is a small and lightweight file archiver, but it also supports archive file encryption. This tool can create archives in a 7z format that offers a high compression ratio. In addition, the tool can also unpack 30 different file types, and you can create 6 types of archives with this tool.

The application supports self-extraction for 7z format and full integration with Windows Shell. There’s also a built-in file manager as well as support for the command line. It’s worth mentioning that there’s support for 256-bit encryption for 7z and ZIP formats, so you can easily encrypt your files.

7-Zip is a lightweight and completely free file archiver, and it also offers solid file encryption features. You can’t use this tool to encrypt your system drive or an entire partition, which is its only flaw. However, if you’re looking for powerful archiving software that supports encryption, we strongly recommend considering 7-Zip.

⇒ Get 7-Zip

DiskCryptor – Can encrypt CDs and DVDs


Another free application that can encrypt your partition is DiskCryptor. This tool allows you to encrypt any partition, including your system drive. DiskCryptor supports AES, Twofish, and Serpent encryption algorithms while offering 256-bit encryption. According to the developer, the tool offers high performance as well as transparent encryption for disk partitions and full support for dynamic disks.

In addition, the tool offers high performance and support for hardware AES acceleration. We have to mention that DiskCrytor can also encrypt CDs and DVDs as well as USB storage devices. If you need extra security, you should know that you can easily combine two or more encryption methods.

DiskCryptor is a great tool, and it offers extra security to its users. The application is completely free, so be sure to try it out.

⇒ Get DiskCryptor

Challenger – Portable application


Another great application for file encryption is Challenger. The application can encrypt files, folders, and entire drives. We have to mention that you can use this tool as a portable application, so there’s no need to install it on your PC.

The tool is relatively simple to use; you have to select the desired files and drag and drop them to the application. Of course, you can also choose the desired files from the dialog.

The application supports multiple passphrases to protect different types of files with different passwords. In addition, you can easily manage all your passphrases from this application. You can also set your favorite files and folders to access them quickly if needed.

Once the application encrypts your files, it will change their extension, so you won’t be able to access them. In fact, the only way to access a file is to unlock it from Challenger. You can add a Challenger option to the context menu if needed to encrypt files more easily.

This is a decent tool, but it might take a while to get used to it, especially if you’re unfamiliar with file encryption tools. We also have to mention that this tool doesn’t have a list of encrypted files, making decrypting harder than needed.

The free version offers 128-bit encryption and doesn’t support network drives. You must purchase the full version if you want to use 256-bit encryption. Challenger is a solid application, but due to its design, it might be hard for some users to manage their encrypted files.

⇒ Get Challenger

Cryptainer PE – Encrypt by drag and drop


Another great tool that can encrypt your files is Cryptainer PE. According to the developers, this tool offers 448-bit encryption, which is impossible to break. The application will create an encrypted drive, which you can use to store any files on it.

Each encrypted drive can be up to 25GB in size, which is more than enough for most users. In addition, you can easily encrypt any file, directory, removable or optical drive. You can install the application to a USB flash drive and use it on any PC if needed.

Besides file encryption, you can also encrypt your emails for extra protection. This tool is simple to use, and thanks to the drag-and-drop method, it’s perfect for all users. We have to mention that Cryptainer PE isn’t free, but you can download Cryptainer LE for free.

This version is completely free and offers the same features, however, LE version can only create drives that are 100MB in size, which is a major problem for some users. If you want to encrypt larger files with this tool, you must purchase the PE version.

⇒ Get Cryptainer PE

Kruptos 2 – Cloud support


If you’re looking for a professional application with 256-bit encryption, Kruptos 2 might be perfect. Using this tool, you can easily encrypt any file from your hard drive, regardless of size.

The application also offers auto encryption to automatically encrypt your files once you’re done editing. It’s also worth mentioning that this tool can encrypt file names, making unauthorized users unable to see the names of your files.

The application works on multiple platforms, and you can easily work with encrypted files on Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS devices. There’s also cloud support to easily upload encrypted files to Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive. The application also offers Windows integration, allowing you to encrypt files by using the context menu.

Kruptos 2 also has a file shredder feature that permanently deletes your files. As for additional features, there are email attachment encryption and secure notes. We also must mention that this tool can create self-decrypting files, which can be useful.

Kruptos 2 is a powerful encryption tool that offers an amazing user interface and a wide range of features. The application is available for a free trial, but if you want to continue using it, you’ll need to obtain a license.

⇒ Get Kruptos 2

CryptoForge – Built-in file shredder


Another great tool that can protect and encrypt your files using 256-bit encryption is CryptoForge. The application is rather simple to use and can work with files up to 16TB in size. As for encrypted files, you can easily share them with others.

Regarding decryption, the receiving party can decrypt received files without using CryptoForge. If you’re concerned about the safety of your files, you should know that this tool supports multiple encryption methods that will secure the files even further.

The application can encrypt files and directories on any kind of drive, including network drives. There’s also a built-in file shredder and compression feature available that can help you save some space.

In addition, the tool offers file name encryption, so it will keep the file names hidden from unauthorized users. Lastly, the tool is perfect for advanced users since it offers command-line encryption allowing you to encrypt files with just a single command easily.

CryptoForge doesn’t contain any backdoors, so you won’t be able to restore your password if you lose it, therefore be extra cautious. The application is available for a free trial, but if you want to continue using it, you’ll need to purchase a license.

⇒ Get CryptoForge

SafeHouse Explorer – Uses personal vaults to encrypt files


If you’re looking for lightweight and free software with 256-bit encryption, this one might be perfect. This application offers 256-bit Twofish encryption, and it can easily protect any file or directory.

The application uses personal vaults to encrypt your files, and you can create an unlimited number of vaults that are 2000GB in size. The application can run from USB flash drives and create self-extracting encrypted vaults.

SafeHouse Explorer is simple and completely free, but paid Personal and Professional versions are also available. The professional version offers 448-bit encryption, and it supports AES, Blowfish, and other encryption methods. In addition, both Professional and Personal versions offer command-line support so that they might be more suitable for advanced users.

⇒ Get SafeHouse Explorer

Privacy Drive – Doesn’t have any backdoors


If you need simple encryption software, you should definitely consider Privacy Drive. The application uses virtual disk and on-the-fly technology so you can easily encrypt your files. In fact, the application is so simple to use that you can encrypt files by using the drag-and-drop method. As for encryption, we have to mention that this tool supports both AES 128-bit and AES 256-bit encryption, so your files will remain safe at all times.

The application is rather fast, and there’s no limit on how many files you can encrypt. It’s worth mentioning that encrypted volumes don’t have any signatures, so they can’t be identified as encrypted volumes or containers. In addition, the application doesn’t have any backdoors, so your data will remain protected from unauthorized access.

Privacy Drive is simple, fast, and reliable encryption software, and it’s available for a free trial. You must obtain a license if you want to continue using this tool.

⇒ Get Privacy Drive

Advanced Encryption Package 2017 – Use USB to store encryption keys


Protecting your files is important, and if you’re looking for professional file encryption software, you might be interested in this application. The application offers 20 encryption algorithms, such as AES, Blowfish, Twofish, GOST, and others. There’s also Windows integration to encrypt files from the Windows context menu easily.

The application can encrypt any file or directory, and if you need extra security, you can use your USB flash drive to store encryption keys. There’s also a file shredder feature that can delete any file and make it completely irrecoverable. It’s worth mentioning that the application supports both symmetric and asymmetric encryption. If you’re an advanced user, you’ll be pleased to hear that this application supports a command-line interface, so you can easily encrypt files using the command line.

The application also allows you to share encrypted files easily and create self-decrypting files or encrypted optical discs. Lastly, the application also has a Clipboard Encryptor feature that can easily encrypt any text from your clipboard, so it’s perfect if you want to send completely secure text data.

Advanced Encryption Package 2017 is simple to use, and it offers some advanced features, so it’s perfect for both basic and advanced users alike. The application is available for a free trial, but if you want to continue using it, you’ll need to purchase a license.

⇒ Get Advanced Encryption Package 2017

Security of your files is rather important, and if you want to protect them from unauthorized access, be sure to try one of these 256-bit encryption tools.

In case you want to open the ENC file, you can use any of the tools now to decrypt the file and then use Word or Notepad to read it.

Can VPN be overloaded? How to fix an overloaded VPN?

Posted on by Vlad Constantinescu

We’re living in a world where seemingly private activities such as accessing a website from the comfort of your own home can be made public. There are several third parties that can get between you and your online whereabouts.

For instance, your ISP is just a few clicks away from getting a full report of your online activities. Sure, it can’t read emails or see your account passwords, but it knows what websites you visited and files you downloaded.

And that’s already too much.

However, things don’t need to be that way. Nowadays, there’s a huge selection of privacy tools that can help you protect your privacy. And the best, most powerful ones are, without a doubt, VPNs.

VPNs can easily help you put some walls between you and whoever feels like spying on you. It redirects your traffic through a secure tunnel, but not without encrypting it first.

Thus, even if someone were able to take a peek inside that tunnel, your traffic would look like gibberish.

However, what happens if the VPN server can’t take it anymore? Let’s find out.

How does a VPN work?

From a workload standpoint, a VPN is similar to any regular server. It can house a certain number of connections and, as the number of users reaches the limit, it becomes more and more difficult for it to allocate resources.

First and foremost, keep in mind that you’re almost never alone on a VPN server. That’s why providers mention shared IP addresses. After connecting to a VPN server, your default IP address is replaced by the server‘s address.

But many other users who use the same server will have the same address.

So, it’s really not rocket science to figure out that VPN servers can’t keep accepting connection requests forever and have to stop at some points. That’s why the best VPN services have huge networks in the first place.

Can VPN get overloaded?

Yes, there’s no way to sugar coat it, VPNs can and do get overloaded regularly. Much so during unfortunate events such as natural disasters and pandemics, when a lot of people need to work from home and generally spend more time indoors.

Considering that a VPN should fix issues such as packet loss and network congestion, an overloaded server could be quite inconvenient.

Additionally, we’ve already explained how VPN affects Internet speed. Thus, it should be no surprise that an overloaded VPN server can affect your Internet speed even more.

What to do if your VPN is overloaded?

  • Choose a VPN with a large network of servers
  • Use split tunneling to manage VPN traffic efficiently
  • Switch the server if you’re on a crowded one
  • Change the location (if convenient and possible)
  • Use a different protocol (it might be faster)
  • Try using a wired connection instead of WiFi

Although these are not exactly ways to solve an overloaded VPN issue, they can help you alleviate problems that an overloaded server can cause you.

VPNs with large server networks

We’ve put together a list of our recommendations for the best VPNs that have large server networks. Take a look:

Product NameNumber of serversCompany Name
CyberGhost VPN7,100Kape Technologies
NordVPN5,200Tefincom & Co., S.A.
Private Internet Access3,300Kape Technologies
ExpressVPN3000+Express VPN International Ltd.
Surfshark VPN1700+Surfshark LTD

Keep in mind that the number of servers shouldn’t be the only thing you judge a VPN after. However, for the purpose of avoiding an overload situation, this is quite a strong criterion.

Private Internet Access

Have a try with this proficient VPN solution with a great number of servers and increased stability.
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Yes, VPN can get overloaded

To wrap it up, it’s true that VPN can get overloaded, much so during natural disasters and pandemics. This, in turn, could lead to other issues such as slow Internet speed, packet loss, and jitter.

However, bypassing a VPN overload is quite simple, compared to other potential issues. Merely switching the server you’re currently on or changing the location should take care of things for good.

FIX: Too many simultaneous connections Outlook error

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Many Outlook users reported Too many simultaneous connections message while trying to check their email.

This can be a big problem and prevent you from receiving new emails, but there’s a way to fix this issue, and in this article, we’re going to show you how to do it.

How can I fix simultaneous connections error in Outlook?

  1. Use a different desktop client
  2. Disable Send & Receive All schedule
  3. Check your antivirus
  4. Install the latest updates
  5. Sign out from certain devices or applications
  6. Check your password
  7. Change Server Timeout value
  8. Use webmail

1. Use a different desktop client

Too many simultaneous connections message is usually caused by your email client, most notably Outlook, and if you keep getting this error, you might consider switching to a different email client.

There are many great email clients, no one can deny it. However, if you want one that works and feels like Outlook, we suggest that you try using eM Client.

Keep in mind that it is being constantly updated, so expect to enjoy an error-free experience. Other than that, it’s compatible with both Windows and Mac OS.

eM client

eM client

Experiencing repeated Outlook connection errors is frustrating. Try out Em Client and you’ll forget all about them!
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2. Disable Send & Receive All schedule

  1. Click on File > Info > Options in Outlook.
  2. From the left pane pick Advanced. Now click on the Send/Receive button.
  3. Send/Receive Groups window will now appear. Disable Schedule an automatic send/receive every option and click Close.
  4. Save changes.

If you’re getting Too many simultaneous connections Outlook error, the problem might be your settings.

As you know, Outlook has a certain schedule and it checks for new emails every few minutes.

However, sometimes you might not be able to receive your emails due to certain settings.

According to users, in order to fix this problem, you just need to disable Send & Receive schedule in Outlook. To do that, you need to follow the above steps.

After disabling this option, the problem with Outlook should be resolved. We have to warn you that by disabling this option Outlook won’t check for new messages automatically, so you’ll have to do that manually.

This is a solid workaround, so feel free to try it out.

3. Check your antivirus

Having a good third-party antivirus is important if you want to protect your PC from online threats.

However, sometimes your antivirus can interfere with Outlook and it can cause Too many simultaneous connections Outlook errors to appear.

To fix this problem, it’s advised to disable certain antivirus features and check if that helps. In case that doesn’t work, your next step would be to disable your antivirus entirely.

In several instances, users had to remove their third-party antivirus in order to fix this problem, so you might have to do that as well.

If removing your antivirus solves the problem, you should consider switching to a different antivirus solution.

There are many great antivirus applications, but if you want maximum protection that won’t interfere with your system, you should then try TotalAV.

4. Install the latest updates

  1. Use Windows Key + I shortcut to open the Settings app.
  2. In the Settings app, go to the Update & Security section.
    outlook error too many simultaneous connections
  3. Now click Check for updates button.
    outlook error too many simultaneous connections

If you’re getting Too many simultaneous connections errors in Outlook, the problem might be the missing updates.

To ensure that this issue doesn’t appear, it’s advised that you update Outlook to the latest version and check if that solves the problem.

In addition to Outlook, it’s important that you update Windows as well.

By default, Windows 10 downloads the updates automatically, but you can also check for updates manually, as described above.

Windows will now check for available updates and download them automatically in the background. ]Once you download the updates, restart your PC to install them. Once your system and Outlook are up to date, check if the problem is still there.

5.  Sign out from certain devices or applications

  1. Open Gmail in your browser.
  2. Scroll all the way down and locate Last account activity. Now click Details.
    outlook error too many simultaneous connections
  3. A new window will now appear. You should be able to see all your current sessions. Click Sign out all other web sessions.
    outlook error too many simultaneous connections

Too many simultaneous connections message can appear due to certain limitations in Gmail.

In case you don’t know, you can have 15 simulations connections to your Gmail account, and if you exceed this limit, you’ll get the aforementioned error message.

It’s worth mentioning that certain applications can use two or more connections to access Gmail, so if you have several email clients or multiple devices connected to your Gmail account, it’s possible to quickly exceed this limit.

To fix this problem, it’s advised to sign out of certain email clients on your PC, phone, or tablet.

After you sign out on a couple of clients, the problem should be resolved, and you’ll be able to access Gmail once again.

If you want, you can also sign out of all sessions. However, you’ll have to log back in again in every client manually.

After doing that, you’ll be signed out from Gmail on all other devices and the issue should now be resolved.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to sign back in manually on each email client, but that shouldn’t be a big problem.

6. Check your password

Too many simultaneous connections Outlook errors can occur if your password was changed or if it’s expired. This can be a problem, but you can fix it simply by resetting your password.

Once you reset your password you need to make changes in Outlook and change your login credentials accordingly.

After doing that, the problem should be completely resolved and everything should start working again.

7. Change Server Timeout value

  1. In Outlook open Account Settings.
  2. Go to the Advanced tab and lower the Server Timeout value.
  3. After doing that, click OK to save changes.

Too many simultaneous connections error message can appear due to Server Timeout value, and in order to fix this issue, you need to make a couple of adjustments.

Apparently, if the Server Timeout value is too long, the client will try to make additional connections causing this error to occur.

After making these changes, check if the problem is still there.

8. Use webmail

If you keep getting Too many simultaneous connections Outlook error, you might be able to fix the problem simply by using webmail.

Almost all email providers offer webmail, so if you keep getting error messages in Outlook, you might want to try using webmail for the time being.

Webmail doesn’t have many problems that desktop clients have, so if you have any issues, we suggest that you try using webmail as a temporary solution.

Too many simultaneous connections Outlook error will prevent you from receiving any new email messages, but you should be able to fix this problem using one of our solutions.

Use them when dealing with these issues too:

  • Too many concurrent connections opened in Outlook. Cannot open Gmail – If you are also experiencing this issue, we’d suggest trying out a different desktop client.
  • Outlook 365 too many active sessions connected to this mailbox – We investigated this particular issue and it seems that creating a different throttling policy is the quickest solution.
  • IMAP too many simultaneous connections in Outlook – A quick fix for the IMAP server failure caused by the high number of simultaneous connections is resetting your password. You should also check if it works in webmail, as described above.
 
 

Outlook email fails after Windows 10/11 upgrade [Fixed]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Email is a crucial part of our lives and it can be quite frustrating for you if you find yourself not being able to send emails.

Speaking of which, it seems that Outlook won’t send emails after upgrade to Windows 10, so let’s explore this issue.

Users have reported that they are unable to send emails using Outlook on Windows 10, and this issue seems to affect various versions of Outlook.

In order to fix this issue, we have a couple of solutions for you.

What can I do if Outlook email fails?

1. Change your email client

enjoy Mailbird

We know that switching to a different email client isn’t easy, especially if you’re used to the same Outlook for a long time.

However, if none of these solutions help, maybe you should consider switching to an alternative email client.

There are many free ones available and most of them will do perfectly as an Outlook replacement. We would strongly suggest you Mailbird as one of the leaders on the market.

It is a friendly user choice and best of all, it has many great features that will be very helpful in mailing management and using all your favorite apps from one place.

Mailbird

Mailbird

When Outlook email fails after a recent upgrade, the well-designed Mailbird is a great alternative to try out.
Get it free Visit website

2. Run System File Checker scan

SFC scan

  1. Right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (Admin). If for some reason Command Prompt isn’t available, you can choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) instead.
  2. When the Command Prompt opens you need to type sfc /scannow.
  3. Press Enter and wait for the process to complete. System File Checker can take about 20 minutes on a regular hard drive, so make sure that you do n0t interrupt it.
  4. When the scan finishes it will inform you whether it was successful or not.
  5. Restart your computer and check if the problem is solved.

If you’re not familiar System File Checker is a scan that will scan your Windows 10 for any corrupted system files, and it will repair those files if possible.

To perform a System File Checker scan, complete the above steps.

scannow command has stopped before the process finished? Don’t worry, we’ve got an easy fix for you.

3. Perform a clean install of Windows 10

Windows 10 install

If the System File Checker was unable to help, maybe you should perform a clean install of Windows 10.

Just make sure that you create a backup for your important files and not delete them by accident. In that regard, use these great local data backup software tools.

Reinstalling Outlook might also help. If you’re not sure how to do this, ask someone to help you out, or hire someone to do it for you.

Also, keep in mind that the above solutions are ideal when no images appear in emails after Windows 10 upgrade. That’s a similar issue that many Outlook 2010 complain about.

Are things any better now? Let us know via the comments area below.

[wl_navigator]

 

Windows 10/11 2004 audio issues not gone just yet

Posted on by Don Sharpe

When Microsoft realized that some devices weren’t ready for Windows 10 2004, it put them on a compatibility hold. It usually does that to preserve the user experience.

However, avoiding a Microsoft compatibility hold doesn’t always guarantee that a machine will have no compatibility issues with the Windows 10 May 2020 Update. That’s the hard fact that some users have come to accept after the OS caused audio issues with their PCs.

Windows 10 2004 sound issues

Recently on the Microsoft Answers forum, a user reported that they kept losing their Windows 10 2004 PC audio. It seems that they’re using NVDIA and Sony audio devices, both of which tend to disappear from the device manager list.

I have a sony x800 with nvidia 1080ti. For some reason, since going to 2004 version of win 10, i keep losing the sound device in the listing. The only way to get it to come back is to pull the video cable and put it back in.

Windows 10 2004 audio complications date back to the OS’ prerelease days.  A couple of months ago, a Windows insider claimed on Reddit that their system lost sound after updating to a beta version of Windows 10 2004.

Another user on the Answers forum laments:

My audio is still not working after the recent Windows 10 version 2004 update. It causes the system to auto lockdown after initial booting and the audio functions are now totally lost.

Here’s yet another recent May 2020 Update audio concern:

After the update, it no longer finds the Realtek sound card, as if it is not connected at all.

But the machines in question should be compatible with Windows 10 version 2004, which is why Microsoft offered them the OS in the first place.

The good news is that some of the affected users resolved the issues after troubleshooting their audio device. Updating sound card drivers also seems to work for others.

What’s your experience with the May 2020 Update so far? Any sound card issues? Talk to us via the comments section below!

[wl_navigator]

Latest Skype update brings predefined backgrounds, 3×4 grid view for video calls

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has released a new Skype update on all platforms which brings some interesting new platform-specific functionalities (via Neowin). On the desktop, Microsoft has now made it possible to choose from a library of pre-selected images, in addition to uploading your own custom backgrounds for video calls.

To customize your background, follow these steps:

  • Start a call, hover over the video button, or click the More menu.
  • Now, click Choose background effect, and you should see an option to choose an image from the predefined backgrounds.

Skype custom backgrounds

The recent update also includes a new grid view that brings the ability to see 12 participants at once on desktop, and 9 attendees on mobile during a video call. To switch views during a Skype video call on desktop, click the Switch View button, and select the 3×4 Grid view from the menu.

Lastly, Microsoft noted that it has rolled out improved message sync experience, as well as some general improvements on all platforms. Microsoft has also added the ability to blur your background during video meetings when using Skype on iPhone and iPad.

Microsoft Outlook Crashing [Exception Code 0xc0000005]

Posted on by Teodor Nechita

Those of you that use Microsoft Outlook may have noticed a sudden increase in crashes and error messages whenever they try launching the app.

More precisely, we are talking about an error code 0xc0000005, and it can later be displayed in the event viewer.

This issue was even confirmed by our own users that commented:

I did the microsoft update, restarted and now outlook crashes. Obviously it was the update.

Apparently, this issue is most likely related to the July 2020 MS Office release. Luckily enough, if you too are experiencing any similar crashes with Outlook, we’ve compiled this guide to help you solve the issue in no time.

How do I fix Outlook error code 0xc0000005?

1. Perform an MS Office rollback to the June 2020 version

  1. Press Start, and type in CMD
  2. When the Command Prompt window opens type in the following line, and then press Enter:
    • cd "\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun"
  3. This will open the ClickToRun folder. Type in the following line, and then press Enter:
    • officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.12827.20470
  4. Wait for Microsoft Office to download and install that version
  5. When a window appears stating that Downloads were installed, you may press Close

Note: If this method doesn’t work for you, use this command line instead of in step 3: officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.12527.20880

2. Start Outlook in Safe Mode

  1. Hold the Ctrl key pressed, and launch Microsoft Outlook
    • You will be asked whether or not you want to start it in Safe Mode.
  2. Select Yes
    • This will start Outlook in its most basic form, without any interferences from outside programs of add-ins.

Note: This particular solution was confirmed by some of our readers:

Irepaired the net. framework with a microsoft tool. after that i can open outlook in safe mode

By following this step, you should be able to now use Microsoft Outlook without any more issues.

It should be noted that this isn’t the only time error code 0xc0000005 has appeared, having affected different applications in the past as well.

Thankfully enough, we’ve covered that issue as well in this detailed troubleshooting guide.

Let us know which method helped you by leaving us a message in the comments section below.

How to recover deleted/archived Outlook messages [Guide]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Are you wondering how to recover some deleted archive Outlook messages? There’s no need to be alarmed, we have got the solutions for you.

Microsoft Outlook is a component of the Microsoft Office suite. It is normally used as an email application and can sync with any POP3 or IMAP webmail server.

Other Microsoft Outlook features include calendar, contact manager, journal, task manager, and web browsing.

Sometimes, you can accidentally or intentionally delete archived Outlook messages from your mailbox; however, it is possible for you to recover the deleted messages but not permanently deleted items.

We have compiled solutions for different Outlook versions which you can use to recover the deleted archive folders in Outlook 2016 and not only.

How can I recover deleted/archived messages in Outlook?

1. Recover in Microsoft Outlook app for Windows

  1. Launch Microsoft Outlook and login to the email account.
  2. Click on the Mail Folder tab and then Deleted Items.recover deleted archive outlook
  3. Now, right-click on the deleted archived message and select Move to folder option.recover deleted archive outlook
  4. Then, click on Inbox to move the deleted message to the Inbox”and wait for the process to be completed.recover deleted archive outlook

The simplest way to recover deleted archive messages on your Outlook mailbox is to undelete from the Deleted Items folder.

This folder consists of messages which have not been permanently deleted, so use the above steps with no hesitation.

However, if you are unable to find the specified message in the Deleted Items folder, you may need to access the Recoverable Items folder.

Recoverable Items folder is a hidden folder in Microsoft Outlook which consists of items that have been cleared from the Deleted Items folder.

Here’s how to access the Recoverable Items folder:

  1. In the Outlook account display, go to your email folder list, and then click Deleted Items.
  2. Click on the Home tab, and then click on Recover Deleted Items From Server.
  3. Now, select the deleted archive Outlook messages you want to recover.
  4. Click Restore Selected Items, and then click OK.

You cannot recover items deleted from the Deleted Items folder if you do not have an Exchange account in Microsoft Outlook.

However, we have an additional guide on how to recover your Outlook emails using OST to PST Converter that will fix this problem in a fraction of the time.

2. Get back your Outlook messages by using a dedicated tool

Do note that there are some Windows friendly programs that you can use to recover deleted archive folders in Outlook.

With the number of free programs available for card making, you can clearly find a good fit to your interests and needs. For example, we recommend trying out Stellar Outlook Repair.

This utility is specially designed to extract mailbox components from corrupt PST file in intact form. This includes emails, contacts, photos, and all other attachments.

On top of that, this high-rated tool restores them in a new PST file that can be easily imported back in Outlook.

Stellar Outlook Repair

Stellar Outlook Repair

Looking for a powerful software to recover deleted/archived Outlook messages? Stellar Outlook Repair is the best pick!
Get it free Visit website

3. Recover in Microsoft Outlook web app

  1. Go to the Outlook and then Sign in to your account.
  2. In your email folder list, click on the Deleted Items tab.recover deleted archive outlook
  3. Locate the specific message, right-click on it, and then click Move > Inbox.recover deleted archive outlook

Another way of recovering deleted archived Outlook items is by accessing the Outlook website and undelete from the Deleted Items folder.

Alternatively, if you can’t find the message in the Deleted Items folder, you need to look for it in the Recoverable Items folder. Here’s how to access the Recoverable Items folder:

  1. Go to the Outlook Web App, and then Sign in to your account.
  2. In your email folder list, right-click on the Deleted Items tab.
  3. Now, click Recover deleted items.recover deleted archive outlook

In addition, you can also use the search box to find the deleted archived message you want to recover. After locating the item, select it, and then click Recover.

To learn more about archiving, we have a great guide on how to apply AutoArchive settings to subfolders in Outlook that you might want to check out.

In conclusion, the methods and program listed above can help you to recover deleted archive Outlook messages on your Windows PC. Feel free to comment below if you have any questions.

I used the consumer features in Microsoft Teams for one week, and it’s better than you’d think

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

In these times, there’s a lot of ways to communicate with friends and family. From Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, iMessage, and so much more, there are no shortages of ways to talk to people.

But riding the momentum of Microsoft Teams in the enterprise and business space, Microsoft recently brought Teams over to the consumer world to enter the fray of messaging platforms. The company envisions Teams as not only something you can use for work, but also for friends and family.

With a beta of these features recently making their way over to the iOS version of the Microsoft Teams app, I thought I’d try it out. I really had my doubts, but after a week of using Teams consumer features, I loved it. Here’s my story.

The setup

Much like signing up for WhatsApp or other services, setting up Teams for consumer was quite easy. For most people who aren’t already using Microsoft Teams in their work — and are trying Teams for the first time — this will be an important step. Luckily, Microsoft makes it simple.

Since I already use Teams for work at OnMSFT, I simply went into the hamburger menu, and under accounts and orgs, signed in with my personal Microsoft Account then confirmed my phone number. I also opted to sync my contacts, too, as I wanted to see if anyone else was using Teams. I was then good to go.

Coincidently, an old college friend of mine (who now lives in Kazakhstan) was already using Teams’ consumer features. After I synced my contacts, I noticed that her name and number showed up when I went to create a list of messages in the chat. My colleague at OnMSFT also showed up too, and we used the app to talk instead of our usual method of communication, WhatsApp, and iMessage. I spoke to both these people on Teams throughout my week with the app thus far, and it is still ongoing.

I even convinced my mother to give Teams a try. As a first-time Teams user, she found the setup process quick and easy. She clicked the Sign up for free button, signed up with her phone number, confirmed it, added a profile picture, synced her contacts, and was good to go!

The chat experience

Just like Teams for business and enterprise, the core experience of Teams’ consumer features is the chat experience. As someone who is quite used to messaging on WhatsApp and iMessage, I must say this is where Teams’ consumer experience is just as good.

In the chat, you not only can send out text messages, but you also can record and send voice audio messages. This is a feature that has been present in iMessage and WhatsApp for quite some time, and it’s something that I am glad made its way to consumer Teams, too. After all, there are situations where written words are not right.

Another thing I liked about the chat experience is how similar it is to WhatsApp. The locations for the user interface are almost exactly the same. A plus icon to the left of the compose box to send files and GIFS, or location. There’s also a camera to the right to quick-send a photo, and then the microphone to record audio.

Composing messages, meanwhile, is the same as WhatsApp. If you opted to sync contacts, you’ll see everyone with Teams appear under the compose box. You can also add someone to a group chat without them already having Teams. Just tap their phone number, and add them. They’ll be sent an invite link via text to download and join Teams.

The same goes for a chat, too. If you want to chat with someone on Teams who doesn’t yet have the app, just tap their number and they’ll be sent a unique link to join the later. (This is possible in WhatsApp, but the recipient of the invite won’t be able to automatically join the group chat or the chat you had for them.)

As my mother told me when she tried it out, most people will feel right at home when using Teams. There’s not much learning curve to using it. In my one week so far, chatting with my colleague and friend has been as natural as it is on WhatsApp and other apps. Not to mention, the emoji reactions (which aren’t on Whatsapp) have made for some funny moments and some more prolonged conversations between myself and my friends.

But there are some advanced features in chat that can only be found in Teams. This includes a formatter to bold, italics, and underline things in your messages. There’s also the ability to @mention someone to get their attention (outside of a group chat) or use the Task and the Safe features. Keep in mind, WhatsApp doesn’t support these, which is why I will dive deeper into these next.

The Dashboard has lots of cool uses

Asides from chat, another thing that makes Teams consumer unique is the Dashboard. From here, you’re able to use Teams for consumer features to your advantage. There’s a lot to get into, including the Safe, location sharing, uploading files, and more. As a summary, though: the dashboard is essentially a hub, showing you all the things that happened within a chat or group chat.

I’ll start first by talking about location sharing. This was one of the features Microsoft spoke a lot about when it first unveiled Teams for consumers. Just go to a chat, then tap the Dashboard, then choose Share location. You’ll be able to share the location for 30 mins, 1 day, or always on. If your contact is also sharing location, you even can pull up a map to see a comparison of where you are in comparison to each other. You can stop sharing at any time with a Stop Sharing button in the UI.

Alas, the point is the person in the chat will be able to see exactly where you are. I used this with my mother to show her where I was when I left the home one day, but it’s a feature I think will be useful for families, and keeping kids safe. Say, a kid leaving school, etc. It’s not exactly exclusive, though, as WhatsApp has the same exact feature, though, as do iPhones with the “Find My” app.

But what is exclusive to Teams is the Safe. Setting this up is simple, as you’ll need to enter a PIN (and store an encryption key for it on your MSA.) You’ll then need to grant your contact access to your safe, and they’ll be able to access it in real-time (or vice versa, too.) This is a great way to share information like passwords, passports, memberships, and more. Once you share your safe, the contact will be able to access it, too, and add content. I used it with my mother to share step by step instructions on how to do things in Teams and to give her the WiFi password. This is quite nifty, and Safe is even locked behind FaceID or TouchID for extra security. I have yet to see something like this on other messaging platforms, and it’s really Teams’ big potential.

Then there are the other features. You can create a shared calendar so you and contact can plan an event. You also can create a shared task. This one was useful for me and my mother, as I left her a grocery list, and she was able to check things off as she went to the store. Meanwhile, as I was home and was able to see the things she picked up from the store as she checked it off the list. Again, something that can be useful for families and giving children tasks or chores to do.

Finally, there is the ability to upload files. If you and the person you’re sharing the file with both share or have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can edit and co-edit the documents together by viewing the file in Teams, and then opening it through the Office app. This is great, as it combines the power of Office with Teams, allowing you to get your maximum productivity.

Still some faults, but still great

After one week, I’m now a believer in Microsoft Teams being used by consumers. Although most features are already on iMessage, WhatsApp, and other platforms, it’s great to see Teams expand its reach. After all, most people already likely use Teams for work, so why not bring it into their homes, too?

But, not everything is perfect. Currently, Teams’ consumer features are only available on the mobile apps. There is no way to enjoy it on the desktop. Photos, videos, and other content sent on Teams don’t easily transfer to desktop, as they would with enterprise and business.

Also, switching between work and personal accounts could lead to some serious problems. It really annoyed me to get double notifications, from both work and my personal account when using a single app for communication

This experience is still in beta, so more changes could be coming soon. Until then, I am a believer. Here’s to hoping that Teams become just as popular as WhatsApp.

Microsoft removes Windows 10 May 2020 Update compatibility hold related to Thunderbolt docks

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft acknowledged a bunch of compatibility issues hitting the Windows 10 May 2020 Update since launch, with one of them causing a compatibility glitch with Thunderbolt docks. Some Windows 10 users have been unable to install the latest feature update so far while Microsoft was investigating blue screen of death errors triggered due to “plugging or unplugging a Thunderbolt dock”.

Microsoft has recently confirmed that it has removed the compatibility hold that was in place for PCs with certain settings and a Thunderbolt dock, and these machines can now install the Windows 10 May 2020 Update normally. Following the release of the July Patch Tuesday updates earlier this week, Microsoft updated the Windows 10 Health Dashboard to indicate that the KB4565503 cumulative update includes a fix for this issue (via Bleeping Computer).

If you haven’t been able to get the latest feature update on your PCs with Thunderbolt ports yet, you should be able to grab it now via Windows Update. Microsoft noted that the “safeguard hold is estimated to be removed in the coming days,” so it can take up to 2-3 days before the Windows 10 May 2020 Update will show up on your device.

However, since the problem has been resolved now, Windows 10 May 2020 Update through the Media Creation tool should now be possible. Notably, the Windows 10 Health Dashboard still lists 8 known issues affecting the latest feature update, and hopefully, these will get fixed too in the coming weeks.

Xbox Series X will drop support for Kinect, including Kinect games

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft’s Kinect accessory won’t be supported on the company’s next-gen Xbox Series X console launching later this year. The news came from Xbox head Phil Spencer today in a blog post that also mentioned the free inclusion of Project xCloud with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in September.

“It’s our intent for all Xbox One games that do not require Kinect to play on Xbox Series X at the launch of the console. And because of the unprecedented power of Xbox Series X, most of your favorite games will load faster and look and perform many times better on the new console,” Phil Spencer explained.

“There’s no way for Kinect to work,” the head of Xbox also said in an interview with The Verge. That’s a bit surprising, as the Xbox Series X will apparently use the same OS as the Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles, which still support Kinect via a USB adapter. However, that accessory has been discontinued in 2018, one year after Microsoft stopped manufacturing the Kinect 2.0.

The original Xbox One console that launched in 2013 included a Kinect in the box, with Microsoft hoping that making the accessory broadly available will push more game developers to create Kinect games. That ultimately didn’t happen, and Microsoft started offering cheaper Xbox One bundles without its Kinect 2.0 accessory a year later.

Microsoft’s Kinect technology lives on in other products such as the Azure Kinect DK camera, which developers can use to build computer vision and speech models. Kinect fans will still be able to use the accessory on Xbox One consoles, but Kinect voice commands can now be replaced by Xbox skills for Alexa and the Google Assistant.

PowerToys for Windows 10 gets another maintenance update

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has released PowerToys version 0.19.2 this week which fixes more bugs affecting the collection of Windows 10 tools. The patch resolves a high CPU load issue and addresses additional problems affecting the PowerToys Run and FancyZones tools.

Here’s the full list of improvements and fixes in PowerToys version 0.19.2:

  • #4578 – WinKey for launcher throws a lot of false positives
  • #4521 – Improving performance of Adding and Removing Packaged Apps
  • #4694 – FancyZone Windows Snap Behind Top Mounted Windows Task Bar

Microsoft has acknowledged that PowerToys version 0.019.2 didn’t fix all previously reported bugs, and the recurring issue that has been preventing users from opening PowerToys Settings when it’s minimized in the taskbar still persists in this release. The software giant noted that the bug will be resolved in PowerToys version 0.20. In the meantime, if you want to get the latest stability improvements, head over to the GitHub releases page to download the recent version.

Twitter: Your media file could not be processed [Fixed]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Users experience Twitter video upload errors all the time, and this issue stops you from publishing videos on Twitter and throws an error when you try.

One thing that users with the Twitter your media file could not be processed problem note about it is that the error only shows up to specific videos.

This selective nature of the issue goes to tell you that the error is caused by the content and not your Twitter account or app.

Troubleshooting the Twitter video upload error is straightforward if you know what causes it. Therefore, the next section will explain more about the problem.

How to fix the Twitter video upload error?

1. Convert the video to the MP4 format using Adobe Premiere Pro

  1. Transfer the video to your computer.
  2. Download and launch Adobe Premiere Pro.
  3. Click the File menu and select Import… from the dropdown menu.
  4. Browse for and choose the media file that couldn’t be processed by Twitter.
  5. Import it into the Adobe Premiere interface.
  6. Click on the File menu again, but this time, choose Export and click on Media.
  7. Select the H.264 format.
  8. Finally, click on the Save button and hit Export. The video will now be saved as an MP4.

To get unparalleled video and media editing capabilities you should indeed proceed with Adobe Premiere Pro.

2. Compress the video

From the above sections, you know that Twitter has recommended specs for its video uploads.

While the prime suspect for the Twitter video upload error is the video format, it can also be caused when your video is too large for Twitter to handle.

On Twitter, you cannot upload a video that exceeds 512MB. If you do, you will get the Twitter your media file could not be processed issue.

In this case, you need to compress the video to reduce its size.

Adobe Premiere also does an excellent job of compressing videos. However, if you’re not sold on the application, this guide will help you select video compression software.

Twitter saying your media file could not be processed has nothing to do with your account. It’s just a matter of the file format.

Therefore, the most common solution is to compress the video to a size that doesn’t exceed 512MB.

More useful information about accepted video formats on Twitter

Why can’t I upload my video to Twitter?

When you attempt to post some videos, the application (or website) takes a longer time than usual processing it.

While in the processing stage, you get slapped with the error saying that your Twitter media file could not be processed.

In the case of batch uploads, the error goes, Some of your media failed to upload error Twitter.

These error messages don’t imply a problem with your smartphone or Twitter account, but it does point to an issue with the format of the file you’re trying to use.

What is the best video format for Twitter?

Although Twitter supports MOV and MP4 videos, you can only upload MOV videos through Twitter mobile apps.

Because of this, the best format for Twitter is the MP4 format. Added to the list, are also the MP4 with H264 format, and AAC audio files.

Twitter says your media file could not be processed whenever you try to upload videos in unsupported formats to the platform.

The video format is a key factor for Twitter uploads, but some other aspects of your video can also cause the Twitter your media file could not be processed problem.

To upload video content to Twitter, it must meet the specifications below, according to Twitter.

  • Its aspect ratio must be between 1:2.39 and 2.39:1
  • The video cannot has a resolution that’s less than 32 X 32
  • Twitter’s maximum resolution for videos is 1920 X 1200 and 1200 X 1900
  • The framerate of your video must range from 40fps to 25Mbps
  • Maximum size: 512MB

How long can a Twitter video be?

Social media platforms limit the lengths of users’ video uploads, and this limit varies from one platform to another.

For Twitter, you can only upload up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds of your video.

Twitter trims the video if it exceeds 2 minutes and 20 seconds, but, the great thing is that the trimming isn’t automatic.

When uploading the video, the preview screen page lets you trim the video easily simply by sliding your finger on the sequence at the bottom of the screen.

We hope this guide has proven useful in your situation. Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below this guide.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Ash of Gods Redemption, and Frostpunk are free to play on Xbox One this weekend

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Xbox One console owners with an active Xbox Live Gold subscription will be able to play Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Ash of Gods Redemption, and Frostpunk: Console Edition for free this weekend beginning at 12:01 AM PDT on Thursday, July 16th and running through the end of Sunday.

As with previous Free Play Weekend promotions, all three video games will be able to be played in full, Xbox Achievements can be unlocked, and all progress will be saved to the cloud for future playing. Each title has also been discounted rather significantly for those that decided to buy them after the Free Play period is over.

Here’s the info on each title:

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint

Play Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint full game for free for 6 hours by downloading the trial! Your progression is saved if you decide to buy the game. Experience a military shooter set in a diverse & hostile open world that you can play solo or up to four-player co-op.

Ash of Gods Redemption

Ash of Gods: Redemption is a turn-based RPG that combines tactical combat, CCG elements, and a constantly evolving story in which no one is safe from death, including the main characters. Ash of Gods is the story of three separate protagonists rising in response to a centuries-old menace once thought to be mere folklore.

Frostpunk: Console Edition

Offering players a complex strategic challenge alongside a rich narrative featuring an alternative take on the 19th-century industrial revolution, Frostpunk weaves a story of how our planet mysteriously freezes, putting an end to civilization as we know it and forcing the human race to adapt to the harsh conditions. As the leader of possibly the last civilized society on Earth, you’re going to build the city your survivors live in, discover new technologies, explore frozen wastelands and most importantly, manage and rule society to prepare it for life in an unforgiving world.

Which Xbox One video game are you going to play this weekend? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Facebook for more Xbox news.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon® Breakpoint
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon® Breakpoint
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Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Breakpoint
Developer:
UBISOFT
Price:
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Ash of Gods Redemption
Ash of Gods Redemption
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Ash of Gods Redemption
Developer:
Ravenscourt
Price:
$19.99


Frostpunk: Console Edition
Frostpunk: Console Edition
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Frostpunk: Console Edition
Developer:
11 bit studios
Price:
Free

[Solved] CE-34788-0 PS4 Error Code

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The PlayStation 4 is a gamer favorite, with top-of-the-line graphics and impressive hardware. This console is not prone to many errors, but the CE-34788-0 PS4 error code has recently appeared on users’ consoles.

The affected consoles usually have the error message appear after booting up the console. The system boots into Safe Mode and a black screen comes up, which says that The update file cannot be used. 

Thankfully, this error message provides tips on how to troubleshoot this problem. On the error screen, the message advises using a USB storage device that contains the most recent update file.

How to fix the PS4 error CE-34788-0?

1. Hard reset the PS4 console

  1. Press and hold the Power button on your PS4 console and wait for the system to power off completely.
  2. Disconnect the power source from the console and press the Power button twice or thrice to ensure all the energy is drained from the system. Leave the console in this state for around three minutes.
  3. Next, reconnect the power source and allow it some time (wait for the front LED light to change from white to orange color).
  4. Power on the PS4 and confirm if the CE-34788-0 PS4 error code has been cleared.

This solution should fix the problem. It also works when your PS4 system randomly turns off. Proceed to the next solution if hard resetting the console doesn’t fix the error.

2. Manually update the PS4 system

Back up your PS4 using a USB disk

  1. Format a USB drive to either the exFAT or FAT formats (if you encounter a system error, fix it with this guide).
  2. Power on your PS4 system and insert the USB storage device.
  3. Navigate to Settings and click on System. Next, choose Back up and Restore.
  4. Select the Back up PS4 option from this screen.
  5. Check the Applications saving option by tapping X on your PS4 controller.
  6. At this point, the system will begin to reboot while backing your data to the USB drive. This process could take a while – from a couple of hours to more than a day.

Install the latest firmware

  1. When the backup process is completed successfully, open your computer and create a new folder named PS4.
  2. Create another folder inside the newly created PS4 folder and call it UPDATE.
  3. Download the PlayStation 4 firmware update from the Perform a new installation of the firmware section.
  4. Rename the downloaded firmware to PS4UPDATE.PUP and save the downloaded file in the UPDATE folder created earlier.
  5. Copy the PS4 folder from your computer and place it in the root folder of a USB drive.
  6. Open up Settings on your console, and navigate to System Software Update.
Note icon NOTE
If you downloaded the update correctly and named the folders accordingly, you must follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Restore your PS4 system

  1. Connect the USB storage device you used to back up your files to your PS4.
  2. Navigate to Settings.
  3. Select the Application Saved Data Management option.
  4. Click on the Saved Data on USB Storage Device option and select Download to System storage.
  5. Finally, select a title and press the X button to mark the checkbox for the backup to use. Hit Copy to finalize the process.

This method has a downside: It wipes all of your data from the system. However, the CE-34788-0 PS4 error code leaves you with few choices, which may be a worthwhile price to pay to get your PS4 working again.

To avoid the CE-34788-0 PS4 error code next time, always ensure you turn off your PS4 console properly before putting it away.

You may be able to turn off the system by long-pressing the Power button or directly from the switch, but this will eventually affect your system considerably.

Beyond this, you risk getting the CE-34788-0 PS4 error code every time you do this. If you’re having more problems, we have a guide on troubleshooting PS4 CE-34335-8 issue, so don’t miss it.

To find out more about the CE-34788-0 PS4 error code, let us tell you that it indicates file corruption in the PS4 operating system. This damage occurs unexpectedly when you switch off the console without following the correct procedure.

You can also see the CE-34788-0 PS4 error code even when you properly turn off your system. Users have explained that they suffered the problem because their internet went off while downloading firmware updates.

Other instances of this issue have arisen when the USB device or its content used for restoring or updating is corrupt.

Read this guide to the end to learn how to repair your PS4 and clear the CE-34788-0 PS4 error code.

If you already experienced this issue, follow the solutions above to get your game back on!

The PeacockTV app is now live on Microsoft’s Xbox One video game consoles

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The official Xbox One app for the new PeakcockTV streaming service is now live to download for free from the Microsoft Store on Xbox One consoles or remotely via claiming it here.

PeakcockTV is a streaming service owned by NBCUniversal that offers both free and paid plans for its content. A large variety of classic and new TV series and movies are available on the platform with a surprising amount of content made available for free viewers.

Here’s the full rundown:

Introducing Peacock: the new streaming service from NBCUniversal. It’s where the best of streaming meets the best of TV. And best of all, you can watch for free (or upgrade for more).

With Peacock, you can stream current hits, hundreds of timeless movies, thousands of episodes of your favorite TV shows, and exclusive Originals. Plus… timely news, live sports, and pop culture, updated daily.

Here’s what you get with PEACOCK FREE:

  • Instant access to hundreds of movies from major Hollywood studios such as Universal, DreamWorks Animation, Focus Features, and Illumination; fascinating documentaries like Murderball, Dying Laughing, I Am Ali, and Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.
  • Thousands of hours of iconic TV shows, including full seasons of buzzworthy faves, bingeworthy classics, and current-season NBC hits.
  • Peacock Channels – playing your favorite movies, shows, and clips, 24-7. Scroll less and stream more with The Office Shorts, SNL Vault, Fallon Tonight, Seth Meyers Now, TODAY All Day, True Crime, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
  • Exclusive Originals for everyone in the household, including the new Psych movie and In Deep with Ryan Lochte.
  • A daily dose of live news, showcasing the best of NBC News, CNBC, MSNBC, and E! News; plus late night and pop culture to satisfy your FOMO.
  • Live sports, including the Tokyo Olympics.
  • Kids’ movies and shows, including brand-new seasons of Curious George and Where’s Waldo?
  • Hit Spanish-language TV shows and news from Telemundo.

Upgrade to PEACOCK PREMIUM ($4.99/month) for an all-access pass to everything Peacock has to offer – every movie, every episode, every season, every live sporting event. More to watch. More to binge. More to love.

  • Stream everything— including even more blockbuster movies and full seasons of premium TV.
  • Full seasons of Exclusive Peacock Originals, including Brave New World, The Capture, Intelligence, Lost Speedways with Dale Earnhardt Jr., and more.
  • More live sports, including hundreds of Premier League soccer matches.
  • Next-day streaming of current-season NBC hits like New Amsterdam, Manifest, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Saturday Night Live.
  • Unlimited access to the entire library of Kids and Family entertainment including titles from the vaults of DreamWorks Animation: Trolls World Tour and the upcoming Peacock Original Madagascar: A Little Wild.

With PEACOCK PREMIUM PLUS ($9.99/month), you get everything included in Peacock Premium, plus ad-free* streaming.

* Due to streaming rights, Peacock Channels, events, and a few shows & movies will still contain ads.

PeakcockTV joins the growing library of streaming apps available on the Xbox One console such as YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Twitch, CW, and HBO Max which also launch recently.

What streaming apps do you watch on your Xbox One console? Share your recommendations with the community in the comments below and then follow us YouTube for more Microsoft content.

PeacockTV
PeacockTV
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PeacockTV
Developer:
Peacock TV LLC
Price:
Free

5 Best Encrypted File Sharing Tools to Use in 2026

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Secure file sharing brings a lot of advantages for various types of businesses and individual users as well.

There are a few industries that are placed under a deep level of scrutiny in the present digital era that we live in and for these, it’s vital to use encrypted file sharing tools.

Secure file sharing options come with a vast variety of features that are designed to protect against all kinds of threats making sure to help you keep your data safe and secure whenever you are sharing it.

Thankfully, there’s enough open source privacy software available on the market for everyone.

But, just to make your decision much more comfortable, we decided to pick four of the best options that you can currently find.

So, make sure to check out their complete sets of features because they bring lots of benefits for your security.

The products mentioned above also apply if you are interested in the following topics:

  • Secure file sharing encryption – All of the products guarantee secure file transfers by encrypting the data

What are the best encrypted file-sharing tools?

WinZip (recommended)

Topping off our article is a tool that a few years ago you may have never imagined that it could make it into such a list.

WinZip has come a long way ever since it was first developed, evolving from your typical archiver to a powerful tool that not only ensures data compression but also encryption services and data transfer as well.

It can still unzip all major file formats, and it even supports several proprietary formats as well, and the archives it create can be encrypted and password-protected so that only designated users can discover what is inside them.

Once you are done compressing your data and protecting it via encryption and passwords, you can then go ahead and transfer it between different PCs, networks, clouds, or even share it on social media.

Here are some of the perks of using WinZip:

  • Lightweight and easy-to-use
  • Available to try before you buy
  • Allows for great file compression
  • File encryption and password protection features
  • Good for file conversion and watermarking PDFs and images

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”Encrypt
”Get
&aff_sub2=Native” current_url=”true” button_text=”Get it now” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/WinZip-button-210×160.png”]

OnionShare

OnionShare is a great open-source tool that allows users to securely and anonymously share files of any size. This works by starting a web server and making it accessible as a Tor onion service. It generates an URL that cannot be guessed in order to access and download the files.

OnionShare does not require any setting up of a server on the Internet. You will not have to use any kind of third-party file sharing service either.

Check out more features include in OnionShare:

  • You will host the file on your own system and use a Tor onion service in order to make it temporarily accessible on the web.
  • Using OnionShare, you will never have to worry about file sharing ever again because this process will be finally completed in the safest environment.
  • The receiving user just has to open the URL in Tor Browser in order to be able to download the files that you sent, and this is it.

You will be able to find any other information about the product’s features and on how to best use it on Github’s page.

⇒ Download OnionShare

Magic Wormhole

If you need to transfer a few hundred megs to a friend or coworker across the country, you will have a few options, and one of the best ones is Magic Wormhole. Developer Brain Warner is the developer behind Magic Wormhole.

Using this tool, you will finally be able to send your files straight to the person you want to without any kind of intermediate upload, web interface or login.

Check out the best features that are implemented in Magic Wormhole and the way this tool works:

  • For starters, you and the recipient have to be both online and have the minimal software installed on your systems.
  • You will have to invoke a wormhole via command line with the file that you want to send.
  • The public or private server will give you a simple password that you can only use one time.
  • After that, you will have to tell your friend the password over the chat, or phone.
  • That user will have to enter the password in the wormhole console, and the encrypted download will begin between your computers.
  • Using Magic Wormhole, you will be able to transfer files from one computer to the other safely.
  • The program identifies the two endpoints by using identical wormhole codes as you have seen above.

⇒ Download Magic Wormhole

Muonium

Muonium is another handy tool that ensures the secure sending of your files online. Their policy states that Internet privacy is an essential right and we shouldn’t accept the things that we don’t accept offline, in our daily life. It’s imperative to encrypt conversations these days, and this is why developers created this tool.

Muonium’s goal is to provide an alternative for securely storing and sending your documents online.

The tool’s policy requires Muonium to encrypt end-to-end files, and as a result, the users are the only actual owners of their data.

Here are the best features and functionalities that are included in this tool:

  • The tool comes with an intuitive and modern interface that allows you to access your files quickly and effortlessly.
  • TLS 1.2 technology secures all users’ connections to Muonium.
  • All the data is encrypted in your browser, and this means that you are the only one who is able to consult it.
  • While using this tool, your files are protected against espionage.
  • Using your password, you are the only person who can get access to your files.
  • Muonium is a free open source tool, and you can get the code on GitHub if you are interested.
  • The program does not require, and it does not collect any personal data, and you will have the ability to remain anonymous.

⇒ Download Muonium

Crypho

Crypho is a cloud-based application that is used to securely chat and share notes and files in real time. There’s also a desktop app that is compatible with systems running Windows. It’s based on end-to-end encryption and not even the staff managing the collaboration platform will be able to access your data.

You won’t have to install anything in order to be able to use Crypho in your system. The encryption and key management will run in the background.

Take a look at the essential features that are included in this software below:

  • In order to open an account on Crypho, you will need to enter a valid email address and confirm it by clicking a link.
  • You will also have to confirm a mobile phone number where you will get a verification code to log into the system.
  • Crypho is multi-platform and to be able to get the most out of it, you are required to use it from various platforms.
  • All your clients will be synced automatically.
  • You will be able to use the desktop app in your office while you will also get the chance to stay in touch while you’re remote.
  • The desktop app is available for Windows and it will just sit conveniently on your desktop tray, notifying you of messages and other activity.

⇒ Download Crypho

These are our four picks for the best encrypted file-sharing software. It’s best to check out their complete sets of features and their benefits before making the final decision for your safety needs when sharing files online and more.

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Microsoft’s Xbox One X console possibly killed off months ahead of the Xbox Series X launch

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft appears to have ended production of new Xbox One X consoles for the Australian market several months ahead of the Xbox Series X’s launch later in the year. A similar situation is likely happening in the United States and other regions too.

The Xbox One X’s end-of-life status in Australia was first noticed by Press Start who confirmed with JB Hi-Fi and EB Games (two of Australia’s largest video game and electronic store chains) that the console had been removed from their systems and that no new stock was expected. The product listing on Amazon Australia has also been removed and the link to buy an Xbox One X console on the official Microsoft Australia website forwards to a page promoting the Xbox One S and says that all Xbox One X models are sold out, suggesting that the Xbox One S will continue to be an option for gamers on a budget going forward at least for the near future.

Curiously, the Xbox Series X page on the USA Xbox website also forwards to a page showing the sold out status of the Xbox One X, prompting users to buy an Xbox One S instead. Amazon is also now showing “Discontinued” in the product title making it incredibly likely that the Xbox One X is being discontinued in most major markets.

While no release date has been confirmed for the Xbox Series X console, it is expected to launch in either November or December which are around four months away. With pre-orders likely going live very soon, it does make sense that Microsoft would want to remove competition by taking the Xbox One X, which would be cheaper than the Series X, off the shelves.

It’s also a good idea for Microsoft to limit the number of Xbox consoles on the market to avoid consumer confusion during the upcoming holiday season. It’s not hard to imagine people getting confused when tasked with choosing between an Xbox One S, Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, Xbox One X, and the Xbox Series X. Never mind the rumored and basically confirmed (though not officially) Xbox Series S console which is expect to launch along the Series X as a cheaper alternative.

The Xbox One X is currently the most-powerful of the Xbox One generation of consoles and offers support for both HDR a 4K gaming and media viewing. It launched in late-November 2017, about three years before the expected launch of the next gen Xbox Series X.

Want more Xbox news? Make sure to check out our Xbox news hub here and then follow us on Pinterest and Twitter for all the latest.

Windows File Protection: Here is all you want to know

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Windows File Protection happens to be a built-in Windows feature designed to protect critical system files from getting replaced or overwritten, be it inadvertently or intentionally.

In the unlikely scenario of that ever happening, the feature also restores the original copy of the particular file automatically to ensure the smooth operation of the PC.

What is Windows File Protection?

Those files that are needed by the operating system as well as other supported applications for the smooth functioning of the PC come under the coverage of Windows File Protection.

Such files typically have extensions such as .dll, .exe, .ocx, and .sys extension and some True Type fonts.

It works on the basis of file signatures and catalog files generated by code signing to make sure if the files under its purview are indeed the ones that came with the original Windows installation.

If not, the affected files are identified and replaced though the replacement is done strictly in accordance with the following method:

  • Windows Service Pack installation using Update.exe
  • Hotfixes installed using Hotfix.exe or Update.exe
  • Operating system upgrades using Winnt32.exe
  • Windows Update

Third-party file protection programs

A far simpler alternative than to use your system’s built-in tools is to use third-party software that is especially dedicated to this particular task. In the case at hand, One program that can ensure the safety of your files is none other than WinZip.

While most of you may know it as a basic archiving tool, WinZip has evolved a lot ever since its inception, adding many new features to its toolset, including the ability to lock files and protect them from deletion.

This is done via something that the developer likes to call banking-level encryption, meaning that no one other than yourself will ever have access to the data that you are archiving.

Of course, it hasn’t forgotten its roots, since it can still unzip all major file formats, compress files in the best ways possible, and even share them afterward over various platforms.

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”A
”Get
&aff_sub2=Native” current_url=”true” button_text=”Get it now” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/WinZip-button-210×160.png”]

How does Windows File Protection work?

Further, there are two ways the WFP feature works though fortunately for the user, most of its working goes on behind the scene and requires least intervention by the user.

For instance, the WFP feature kicks in automatically whenever there is a directory change notification raised. The latter again springs to life if there is a change detected in any files present in the protected directory.

The next thing for WFP to do is to determine which file has undergone a change and if the file is in the protected category:

  • If yes, WFP will then attempt to match the file signature with the file catalog to make sure if the new version of the file is indeed genuine.
  • If not, WFP will then replace the file with the correct version of it from the cache folder – %systemroot%system32dllcache.

Or if the said file is missing in the cache folder, WFP will then attempt to source the same from the installation source which can be either the Windows DVD, image file or such.

In such a scenario, WFP shows a message wherein it mentions the name of the corrupted file along with the original location of the said file. Point to note here is that the said messages will be shown only if you are logged in as an administrator.

Else, the system will wait for the administrator to log in for the message to be displayed.

SFC scannow and Windows File Protection


The other protection mechanism WFP feature comes with is the System File Checker or SFC. The way it works is this – the System File Checker will scan all protected file once the GUI mode of setup is complete.

This way, SFC will ensure all protected files are exactly how it should be. The SFC will also scan all the catalog files as well, the ones that are used to check the authenticity of the protected files.

And just in case there is any discrepancy found in the catalog file, it makes the necessary correction using the cached version of the file from the cache folder.

However, if the cached copy of the catalog file is also missing, the WFP feature will request the original Windows installation media to retrieve the correct version of the affected catalog file.

Windows File Protection originally debuted with Windows 2000 followed by other subsequent Windows versions such as Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

With Windows Me, it came to be identified as System File Protection or SFP through the basic functioning remained the same.

Starting Windows Vista and all subsequent editions of Windows post that, its Windows Resource Protection that took on the role.

That included preventing undesired system configuration changes, protecting crucial registry keys and values besides ensuring all critical operating system files are in the current form and order, thereby preventing what has come to be known in the tech circle as the dreaded .dll hell state.

[wl_navigator]

How to protect files from deletion in Windows 10

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

You probably have certain files on your computer that you’d like to keep safe and secure. However, deletion is quite an easy process in Windows, so you can accidentally delete some of your precious files.

In case you delete an important file, perhaps the best solution is to try to restore it with a third-party program. But, safe is definitely better than sorry, so the right move is to secure your files from deletion in the first place.

Unfortunately, Windows 10 doesn’t have a straightforward option that will allow you to prevent your files from deletion, and that could be a big problem. However, there are a few ‘other’ ways to keep your files secure from deletion in Windows 10.

You can use a third-party program specially designed for preventing deletion, you can change security permissions of a file you want to secure, or you can completely lock it.

The choice is yours, and we’re just going to explain to you what each method does, and how to perform it. So, you can choose the best option for you.

How do I keep files safe from a deletion in Windows 10?

1. Use WinZip to lock a folder


This method involves doing the same thing as in the first method, but only with a third-party program. So, we’re going to use a file-locker software to forbid access to a file to everyone else.

This method is for those who want to this the simpler way, as using a program requires less effort. There are a handful of effective programs for protecting your files out there.

WinZip is one such tool, even though you may not consider it at first glance.

Despite starting off as a basic archiving and unzipping tool, WinZip has evolved over the years to include tools that make it an excellent addition to any office worker’s digital library.

Besides the efficient compression methods and formats, which include the best ones available, WinZip is now also capable of locking, encrypting, and sharing your archives over social media and the cloud.

Besides file lock and encryption, you can set passwords to specific folders and files, the interface being self-explanatory for setting it up.

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”Protect
”Get
&aff_sub2=Native” current_url=”true” button_text=”Get it now” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/WinZip-button-210×160.png”]

2. Change security permission

If you’re a fan of first-party solutions and don’t like to install various third-party tools on your computer, the only thing you can do to keep your files safe is to change some security permissions.

What you’ll need to do is to forbid access to a file you want to secure to everyone else except you. That way, only you’ll be able to access and delete the file, so you don’t have to be afraid that someone else will delete it.

Here’s exactly what you need to do:

  1. Right-click the file you want to secure, and open Properties
  2. Go to the Security tab, and choose Advanced
  3. Now, click on disable inheritance
  4. Click on a user you want to deny access to your file, and go to Edit
  5. From the Type: dropdown menu, select Deny, and click OKprevent file deletion windows 10 2
  6. Repeat the previous three steps for each user account you want to deny access to
  7. Click OK

There you go, after performing this method, nobody but you will be able to access, change, or delete a secured file.

You can also forbid access to yourself, but then you’ll have to change security permissions each time you want to access the file.

Epic guide alert! Find out more about taking ownership of a file or a folder on Windows 10!

That’s about it, you now know how to protect your files from a deletion in Windows 10. Unfortunately, the system doesn’t have its own option for this, and we doubt Microsoft will ever introduce it.

Therefore, you either need to find an alternative way or install a special program for that. But even that is better than nothing.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, just let us know in the comments below.

[wl_navigator]

Windows 10 build 20170, Microsoft Launcher v6 roll out

Posted on by Don Sharpe

The news that Microsoft was deprecating the Microsoft Launcher Preview has been in the public domain for a while now. Well, earlier today, the tech giant just launched the app’s replacement, Microsoft Launcher v6, in general availability.

Likewise, Windows 10 insider preview build 20170 arrived in the Dev Channel. This version brings fixes and improvements on some of the features that came with build 20161.

Microsoft Launcher v6 supports dark theme and much more

Microsoft Launcher v6 sports a new look and feel, and it even has a new icon!

The app, which requires Android 7.0 or higher, lets you customize icons and personalize your news feed. Similarly, it supports vertical and horizontal orientations, on top of letting you use dark theme.

This launcher is built on a new codebase allowing us to bring multiple new features to you – such as Personalized News, Landscape mode, Customizable App Icons, Bing-Supported Wallpaper, Dark Theme, and numerous performance improvements like speed to load, low memory utilization, battery optimization and fluent animations.

New Windows 10 build 20170 features

Windows 10 build 20161 brought insiders the programmable Taskbar. Now, with build 20170 the feature sports a double-column layout that lets you find what you need much faster.

In addition, you can launch the redesigned Windows 10 search interface by simply clicking Search in the Taskbar or pressing the Windows key + S.

Windows 10 build 20170 has a couple of feature improvements/changes too, including:

  • Fluent Design Settings icon: Insiders now get to sample a new-look Settings icon, which is a perfect match for the recently launched Windows 10 Start menu with theme-aware tiles.
  • Notepad: For a while, the app’s windows will no longer be capable of staying open even when you reboot your machine or update it.
  • Transport Layer Security (TCL) beta testing: Windows 10 build 20170 has the implementation of this feature enabled by default.

Have you downloaded Windows 10 build 20170 yet? Please tell us more about it in the comments section below.

Outlook now crashes at every startup, to users’ despair

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Microsoft is right now dealing with a barrage of criticism from distraught users who have Outlook crashing every time on startup. The bug, which Microsoft has acknowledged, is affecting multiple clients across organizations.

Outlook startup crashes

Outlook startup crashes have users up in arms online, from Twitter to Reddit. The issue appears to affect Office 365 business account and Outlook 2016 owners.

According to one of the affected users, Outlook opens for 2 seconds before crashing with an exception code 0xc0000005. The issue is so widespread that this user said they had received five reports about it in 10 minutes.

 I’ve just received 5 calls in 10 minutes about outlook opening for 2 seconds and closing. Is anyone experiencing this issue? Make that 6 calls. Seems to be 365 business on all accounts.

Yet another user reports:

I just got my second report today of Outlook crashing for the end user. I am working on the first one now and it won’t even open in safe mode with outlook.exe /safe.

On Twitter, user Lennon Kaufman says that they’re experiencing the same issue with Outlook 2016, which is not connected to any Office 365 account. They’re also having crash issues with Outlook 2019 connected to a Microsoft 365-based exchange.

Workaround

Via the Microsoft 365 Status Twitter account, Microsoft said that it’s looking into whether a recent update triggered the Outlook startup crashes.

Apart from that, it appears that the bug doesn’t affect Outlook on the web or mobile clients. That explains why Microsoft is suggesting reverting to these alternatives as a temporary workaround.

In the meantime, some users on Reddit claim that rolling back the update resolved the issue for their Outlook clients.

For example, user Quintalis says that they used CMD to fix the issue. The user reports that they started experiencing the Outlook crash issue after installing the July 14, 2020 Patch Tuesday updates.

I’ve got a fix, after this hit several of our clients. Performing a rollback fixed it, must be a bad office update.

So, are you too experiencing any Outlook startup crash issues? Kindly let us know in the comments section below.

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Windows 10 May 2020 Update Breaks Outlook Contacts Search

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Is there really a single thing on your PC that the Windows 10 May 2020 Update can’t wreck? As you may have heard, installing the new OS has caused all manner of issues for some users, from Windows 10 search bugs to Bluetooth connectivity problems.

And now, broken Outlook contacts search is one of the operating system’s latest side effects, according to users on the Microsoft Answers forum.

Outlook contacts search not working for Windows 10 May 2020 Update user

A Windows 10 May 2020 Update user has expressed their frustration with the inability to find contacts after searching their Outlook address book.

The glitch started occurring after the Outlook user upgraded to the latest version of Windows 10 in general availability. So, when they now look up a contact by name or company, they get the typical no results response.

It appears that the user wants to quickly access email recipients’ full contact details, including name, address, telephone number, etc. But they can’t do that due to the broken search issue.

Since upgrading to Windows 10/2004 (June 2020), when I search for a contact in my outlook address book – either by name or company – the response is no results. I can scroll down my contacts list and see/read my contact details and it looks like to search works when i start a new email – but searching the address book offers no results!

What’s even more frustrating to the user is that they know the contacts they’re searching for do exist. They just can’t find anything about them without scrolling down their contacts list.

An independent advisor, who had reached out to help, tried changing the scope of the search to no avail. As a result, they resigned to filing a bug report with Microsoft.

Have you installed the Windows 10 May 2020 Update yet? Any difficulty executing search in Outlook so far? If anything comes up, don’t hesitate to reach out via the comments section below.

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Can VPN Be Detected? Which VPNs Cannot Be Detected?

Posted on by Vlad Constantinescu

If you’re spending most of your free time online, privacy should be one of your main concerns. There are numerous third parties out there ready to get their hands on your private data and use it for their own personal gains.

However, if you landed here, chances are you’re already in the know. Or at least you want to discover more about the privacy wonder tool that is VPN. Either way, we’ve got you covered.

We’ve already put to rest some of the most searing questions on end-users minds, such as:

However, there are a lot of potential scenarios, and for each one of them, there’s an unanswered question. So we’re tackling them one by one until everything is as clear as daylight.

In this article, we’ll focus on whether or not a VPN can be detected. Also, we will show you what to look for best privacy online.

How does VPN work?

First of all, a VPN isn’t some magic invisibility cloak that you just throw over your router. Helping you get online, while also keeping your virtual whereabouts to yourself is kind of a big deal.

Your VPN stands between you and the world wide web and helps you access it safely. You install a VPN client on your PC, which encrypts your traffic and routes it through a secure tunnel.

The traffic gets through the tunnel and into a VPN server, which decrypts it, and sends it to your destination, whether it’s a website, a game, or an Internet service we’re talking about.

The host then sends a response back to you, which gets encrypted by the VPN server, routed through the same secure tunnel, decrypted by your VPN client, and displayed to you.

If you consider using a VPN and don’t know exactly where to start, we recommend trying a reputable service like Private Internet Access.

The VPN provides strong encryption, unlimited bandwidth, and data, and offers advanced features that can mask even the fact that you use VPN.

Private Internet Access

Use PIA’s private servers to remain untraceable online!
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Can a VPN be detected?

Normally, if you’re not using a VPN, your ISP plays the role of the VPN client, secure tunnel, and VPN server.

So everything you send towards the service of your choice gets through the ISP’s infrastructure.

Now when you’re relying on a VPN to secure your traffic, your ISP isn’t yanked out of the picture. Instead, it kind of oversees the whole process, but without knowing what’s happening.

Imagine that your regular non-VPN traffic is a transparent tube that your ISP can see into. Your VPN traffic is like a smaller, opaque tube, which obscures traffic so that your ISP can no longer see it.

With that in mind, let’s get back to the original question: can a VPN be detected by ISP? Yes. Your ISP can detect whether or not you’re using a VPN, and the fact that you’re passing encrypted traffic is a strong indicator.

Can they do anything about it? Yes, but it’s not very likely. An ISP could block your VPN, but it would take a lot of time to do so since it involves manually blocking IPs and ports associated with the VPN.

You may also wonder whether a VPN can be detected by the government. If the VPN uses a zero logs policy and encrypts data, then it’s unlikely that the government can track it.

However, most VPNs, even those with zero logs may let legal agencies track users if they have to comply with court orders or such.

How to use a VPN without being detected?

Well, as we said earlier, even if your ISP detects that you’re using a VPN, there’s little they can do about it. Unless you live in a country where VPN usage is illegal and they decide to let authorities know, that is.

However, if you’re really determined, you can start looking for VPNs that cannot be detected. Such VPNs offer obfuscated servers, which make VPN, encrypted traffic to look just like regular traffic.

Here are our strongest suggestions:

Product NameObfuscationCompany Name
ExpressVPNStealth serversExpress VPN International Ltd.
Private Internet AccessWireGuard VPN protocolKape Technologies.
NordVPNObfuscated ServersTefincom & Co., S.A.
Surfshark VPNCamouflage ModeSurfshark LTD
VyprVPNChameleon protocolGolden Frog GmbH
IPVanishScramble OpenVPN trafficStackPath, LLC
TunnelBearStealth VPNMcAfee, LLC
Windscribe VPNStealth VPNWindscribe Limited
VPN UnlimitedKeepSolid WiseKeepSolid Inc.

If you choose either one of these services, you’ll be able to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN from third parties, including hackers and even your trusted ISP.

However, that’s the easiest way to avoid VPN detection. There are some other ways, such as redirecting your VPN traffic to another port.

Firewalls usually monitor UDP port 1194, since it’s commonly used by OpenVPN.

So you might want to redirect all your VPN traffic to port 443, since most HTTPS traffic uses this port, as well, and it’s harder to detect and block.

VPNs can be detected but it’s usually not a big deal

To wrap it up, VPN can and usually is successfully detected without too much effort. However, unless you live in a country where VPN usage is illegal, or try to access a service that blocks VPN users, it’s not a big deal.

There are several ways to bypass VPN detection, including switching your IP address (if possible), changing the port from within the VPN client, and even forwarding VPN traffic to a common port such as 443.

However, if the suggestions above look like gibberish to you, just try using a VPN that offers obfuscated servers. These servers pass VPN traffic as regular, unencrypted traffic, so detecting you is virtually impossible.