BugsFighter

Yandex Bar is classified as a browser hijacker causing a number of browser changes in Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox. Usually, the most visible change spotted after its installation is the connection to all Yandex services. For example, your homepage, searched queries, and ads will go through the official Yandex domains. Although Yandex is a company providing a legitimate experience for its users, it can be installed against your will. The presence of Yandex Bar is less likely to cause any significant damage to your data, however, it also remains a question. There is no doubt that Yandex tends to employ "bundling" methods (a technique of promoting software with other programs) to advertise their products, but how about the clones? Whilst such Yandex products may be legitimate despite the distribution methods, there can be software that copies the appearance of legal services to run suspicious activity. A cloned version may look precisely the same, but collect sensitive data and sell it to cybercriminals. Also, worth mentioning that Yandex Bar is part of a browser plug-in, which hijacks your browser settings. The original Yandex, on the contrary, usually promotes the entire browser with full capabilities. On top of that, if you are unable to remove Yandex Bar manually, this might be another testament to its dubious intentions. This is because most unwanted programs install certain values that prevent users from removing the software. If you do not know how and which Yandex Bar ended up on your PC, it is better to remove it and roll back to default settings.

With the installation of Cumulative Update (both KB4493437 and KB4499167) for Windows 10 Version 1803 x64-based Systems, some users were forced to witness the error code named 0x800f0900 after failing to install the pending update. Usually, such updates are meant to fix previously existing bugs or errors, however, there are many cases when fresh patches bring new problems instead of solving the old ones. In most cases, users struggle to get rid of the issue for such reasons: missing or corrupted files, malfunctioned services, configuration issues, and other problems prompting the error. To solve it, we have prepared a list of instructions approved in rectifying the 0x800f0900 issue effectively.

Optical Rate Pro is an unwanted web application that alters the settings to promote a number of browser changes on Mac. The most obvious change is related to the addition of a new search engine. Optical Rate Pro does it to insert sponsored content like ads, banners, and so forth. Also, regarding search queries entered by users, Optical Rate Pro redirects them through a chain of unwanted pages until you finally end up on legitimate Yahoo, Bing, or Google platforms. The reason why Optical Rate Pro does it is that developers need an intermediary engine to generate fake traffic. Then, once you get a couple of clicks using Optical Rate Pro, the developers will be able to earn some money on you. If you try to reset the settings using traditional ways, you will be promoted by a message like "Optical Rate Pro is controlling this setting". You will see it each time unless the unwanted program is removed. The last, but not least threat imposed by Optical Rate Pro is data collection. Because it operates as adware and a browser hijacker having access to browser settings, it can record and sell personal data like passwords, IP addresses, geolocations, and other types of sensitive intel. This is why it is necessary to delete Optical Rate Pro from your computer as soon as possible.

Search In Tabs is a browser extension usually installed to Google Chrome along with bundled software. It acts as a browser hijacker, replacing the default search engine with searchintabs.com and as adware, generating ads and pop-ups on various websites. This means that users are more likely to receive Search In Tabs by accident rather than on purpose. This makes such applications categorized as Potentially Unwanted Programs. Analyzing the behavior of Search In Tabs helps testify its hijacking abilities. The most obvious traits are the change of a search engine and the display of unwanted banners whilst surfing the web. Search In Tabs does employ advertising networks to show various ads in favor of revenue gains. Unfortunately, these ads are often embedded with links redirecting users to shady or dangerous pages. Also, a good point to mention is that browser hijackers have data-tracking abilities. It means that users impacted by such an infection may also be tracked by cybercriminals for passwords, IP addresses, geolocations, and other types of data collected. Bearing such a threat, Search In Tabs can damage your privacy and make you a victim to make money on. This is why it is important to remove Search In Tabs and everything related to it from your PC as soon as possible.

Bar1 New Tab is an unwanted application that integrates into browser settings of Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari after successful installation. Its capabilities are very similar to traditional browser hijackers that change the UI (User Interface) appearance and sets up a new search engine. Bar1 New Tab does not impact the visual appearance too much, instead, it tries to look as identical to default homepages as possible, so that inexperienced users could not spot the difference. On paper, it looks like nothing has changed, but it does when users start surfing the web. Getting further into the usage, people detect unexpected redirects to suspicious pages, suspiciously bigger amount of online ads, pop-up windows, messages, and other traits saying that something is wrong. Whilst Bar1 New Tab may not be able to harm your system itself, the changes imposed by it certainly can. Content generated by Bar1 New Tab can expose your data to third-party ventures seeking data collection (passwords, IP addresses, geolocations, etc.). This is why it is important to delete Bar1 New Tab and restore your browser settings as soon as possible. If you struggle to do it on your own, we have prepared a guide to help you down below.

If your browser appearance has changed for unknown reasons, then maybe it got infected with adware and a browser hijacker. ExpandedLibrary belongs to this exact category of unwanted programs as it alters certain browser settings and sets up a new search engine (search.igt5d4.com). This search engine is not independent like Google or other legitimate engines. Usually, it is linked with legal engines and acts as an intermediary to redirect queries of users. By employing this type of technique, cybercriminals are able to generate fake traffic and get revenues from content searched by users. ExpandedLibrary changes your search preferences and other UI settings to serve advertising banners without consent. Stealth infiltrations like ExpandedLibrary would not pursue monetary benefits unless they were distributed in a fishy way. Keep in mind that all browser-changing applications like hijackers are also capable of running data surveillance. This means that the unwanted program might record data entered during the session. To prevent such privacy threats, we recommend deleting ExpandedLibrary from Mac as soon as possible.

Browser-App is presented as a web application meant to improve online shopping. In reality, it is an unwanted browser extension developed to earn money by advertising various content. Usually, this content includes coupons, offers, and product comparisons for different retail websites like Amazon or Aliexpress. Nobody can argue that being able to save on online shopping is a good thing, however, Browser-App may work with untrustworthy networks that deliver unwanted content. For example, shopping banners can be chained with other links leading to suspicious or potentially dangerous resources. When you click on them, Browser-App might redirect you through multiple pages suspected of fishy behavior. Not to mention that Browser-App is compatible with popular browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. Since it configures your browser settings to insert additional ads, there is a threat of data surveillance. Applications like Browser-App are considered to be hijackers, which tend to collect personal data for revenue gains. Be careful and do not trust such extensions, especially if they appeared without your consent. To delete Browser-App, follow our step-by-step guide presented below.

Qlocker is a ransomware infection spotted in attacking and encrypting data on QNAP NAS (Network Attached Storage). The virus squeaks through security problems, encrypts the stored data, and clears the log traces during the process. This, therefore, helps intruders to cover their activity and prevent people from detecting the source of infection. Qlocker uses the short .7z extension to highlight the blocked data. Quite interesting is that Qlocker does not touch media files like videos or music in most cases. Its main target seems to be documents and similar types of data that could be valued by victims. During the encryption, all data will lose its access and change the name to something like 1.pdf.7z. Then, after this process is done, the virus creates a text note called !!!READ_ME.txt and containing ransom instructions. The note says that all files have been encrypted. The only feasible way to recover the files is to purchase the private key (in BTC) stored on cybercriminals' servers. To do this, users are asked to follow the Tor page and enter your so-called "client-key". Once you visit the page, you will be able to process the payment and receive the recovery tools. Different victims reported different costs of the keys, but, on average, this amount can range up to 1000$. Unfortunately, trusting cyber criminals means a huge risk to be taken. They can scam you and do not send any promised tools after committing the transfer. Also, it is not recommended to trust some data recovery services claiming they have a way to decrypt your data. Note that there is no official tool that could unlock access to files encrypted by Qlocker at this moment.