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How to remove VLC Addon ads

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VLC Addon tries to exploit users' familiarity with the legitimate VLC Media Player. In fact, it is fake and has nothing to do with the original program. Upon successful installation into a browser, the rogue extension triggers excessive generation of intrusive and suspicious ads across various pages. Since VLC Addon has access to essential browser features, it may also be able to surveil personal data (e.g. passwords, IP-addresses, geolocations, etc.) and collect it for monetary incentives. Having such an unwanted add-on installed might bear potential privacy and security risks causing malware proliferations, for instance. It is thus important to make everything sure no such activity continues its functioning inside the system. Follow our guide below to perform complete removal and leave no traces behind it.

How to remove Trusted-captcha.top

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Trusted-captcha.top is a malicious website, that hosts phishing and fraudulent pages and subdomains, that trick user into subscribing to unwanted notifications in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Edge, Internet Explorer browsers, running on Windows, Mac or Android. Users land on websites like Trusted-captcha.top after multiple misleading redirects after visiting questionable online resources. After this, users start getting ads, pop-ups, tech support scam messages on their desktops. This text offers users to subscribe to notifications from this site, to be able to watch the content. At the same time, browsers show a default dialog box with options to allow or block notifications from the site you are visiting. If a person clicks on the "Allow" button, users will start receiving unwanted pop-up ads from Trusted-captcha.top directly on the desktop even when the browser is closed. This tutorial describes ways to remove Trusted-captcha.top and stop ads, pop-ups, and notifications from such sites.

How to remove Freecaptcha.top

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Freecaptcha.top is another domain, used for social engineering attack. The main purpose of its developers is to create push-notifications in Google Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Mozilla Firefox, and display ads and pop-ups in those browsers. The website shows the page stating that you need to "Click "Allow" to confirm that you are not a robot". Malware can also perform redirects to advertising pages. Freecaptcha.top is one of the thousands of temporarily websites, used by large advertising network. Users grant access to show push notifications for Freecaptcha.top occasionally. Website, encourages people to click Allow button, using vague wording and false information. Once the site is allowed to do it, it becomes harder to eliminate it, as it may install adware on the PC and the consequences can be more severe. Use these simple instructions to remove Freecaptcha.top adware and get rid of push notifications.

How to remove Rozbeh Ransomware and decrypt your files

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Also known as R.Ransomware, Rozbeh is a ransomware infection that encrypts system-stored data to blackmail victims into paying money for its recovery. During encryption, it highlights blocked data by assigning random characters consisting of four symbols. For instance, a file like 1.pdf may change to 1.pdf.1ytu, 1.png to 1.png.7ufr, and so forth. Depending on what version of Rozbeh Ransomware made an attack on your system, instructions explaining how data can be recovered may be presented within text notes read_it.txt, readme.txt, or even in a separate pop-up window. It is also worth noting that the most recent ransom infection developed by Rozbeh swindlers is called Quax0r. Unlike other versions, it does not rename encrypted data and also displays its decryption guidelines in Command Prompt. In general, all the ransom notes mentioned above contain identical patterns of guiding victims to pay the ransom - contact malware creators through Discord or, in some cases, by e-mail and send 1 Bitcoin (about $29,000 now) to the crypto address of cybercriminals. After the payment is done, extortionists promise to send a file decryptor along with the necessary key to unlock encrypted data. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases, encryption methods used by cybercriminals to render files inaccessible are complex, making manual decryption near-impossible. You can give it a try using some third-party instruments in our tutorial below, however, we are unable to guarantee they will actually work.

How to remove ZareuS Ransomware and decrypt .ZareuS files

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ZareuS is the name of a ransomware infection that encrypts files and extorts an amount in crypto from victims. During encryption, the virus alters file appearance using the .ZareuS extension. In other words, if a file like 1.pdf ends up affected by the infection, it will be changed to 1.pdf.ZareuS and reset its original icon as well. Thereafter, to guide victims through the decryption process, cybercriminals create a text file called HELP_DECRYPT_YOUR_FILES.txt to each folder with no longer accessible data. It says the encryption occurred with the use of strong RSA algorithms. Victims are therefore instructed to buy a special decryption key, which costs 980$ and the amount has to be sent to the cybercriminals' crypto address. After doing so, victims have to notify about the completed payment by writing to lock-ransom@protonmail.com (e-mail address provided by the attackers). As an additional measure to incentivize victims into paying the ransom, extortionists propose to decrypt 1 file for free. Victims can do it and receive one file fully unlocked to confirm that decryption actually works. It is unfortunate to say this, but files encrypted by ZareuS Ransomware are almost impossible to decrypt without the help of cybercriminals. It may be only if ransomware is bugged, contains flaws, or other drawbacks alleviating third-party decryption. A better and guaranteed method to get back your data is to recover it using backup copies. If such are available on some non-infected external storage, you can easily substitute your encrypted files with them.

How to remove Custom Search Bar (customsearchbar.me)

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Custom Search Bar is most often a browser extension that promotes unwanted features without the consent of users. It changes the default homepage URL-address to customsearchbar.me and redirects users through one of the most popular search engines, such as Yahoo.com. Software with this post-installation behavior falls under the category of browser hijackers. It brings no real value to users, at least due to the lack of authentic features. As said, instead of generating its own results, customsearchbar.me will redirect users to Yahoo.com or other legitimate search engines. Browser hijackers tend to exploit the usage of popular search platforms to generate fake traffic and earn additional revenues. Due to the fact that Custom Search Bar is given reading permissions, it may also be able to capture what users enter while visiting various websites (e.g. passwords, IP-addresses, geolocations, log-in credentials, etc.). In addition to this, it is worth mentioning that some browser hijackers have adware features as well. This means the generation of unwanted and suspicious ads that appear in random places across different websites. Note that Custom Search Bar is quite a generic name that can be used by other browser hijackers as well. If you became a victim of Custom Search Bar or anything similar, we recommend you follow our guide below to stop it from working. Many users struggle to do it on their own, as such extensions are often backed by additional changes in system settings disallowing their traditional removal.

How to fix Windows Update error 0x800f020b in Windows 11

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Error code 0x800f020b can be encountered in Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating systems. It occurs when trying to update your system via Windows Update Center. It is usually owners of printers such as HP (Hewlett Packard) or Xerox that are likely to receive the error while installing updates. The reason for that is most likely a disconnected printer, which prevents the installation of necessary components for printing devices. Try to reconnect your printer and see if it helps install the update successfully. If there are some other external devices connected, do the same with them as well. Should the issue remain unsolved, follow the rest of the instructions in our article below. There are 7 more methods that may be able to help. Although it is considered ineffective by many, in-built Windows Troubleshooter abilities can sometimes address issues like the 0x80073712 error. Troubleshooter is a native Windows utility designed to find and remove existing problems in various segments. You can use it to detect update issues and try to fix them eventually.

How to remove LokiLok Ransomware and decrypt .LokiLok files

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LokiLok is the name of a ransom infection. Upon successful installation onto a targeted system, it encrypts important files and blackmails victims into paying money for their decryption. We also discovered that LokiLok was developed on the basis of another ransomware virus called Chaos. Once encryption occurs, victims can see their data change with the .LokiLok extension. To illustrate, a file named 1.pdf will most change to 1.pdf.LokiLok and reset its original icon. After this, victims will no longer be able to access their data and ought to seek decryption instructions in the read_me.txt file. The virus also replaces default wallpapers with a new picture. Cybercriminals want victims to buy a special decryption tool. To do this, victims should contact extortionists using the attached e-mail address (tutanota101214@tutanota.com). Prior to buying the necessary software, it is also offered to send 2 small files - cybercriminals promise to decrypt and send them back to prove decryption abilities. In addition, the message also instructs against trying to use external recovery methods since it may lead to irreversible destruction of data. Whatever guarantees are given by ransomware developers, it is always not recommended to trust them. Many fool their victims and do not send the decryption software even after sending them money.