Windows 8.1 no desktop internet access

Speedbit Video Accelerator and windows 8.1 no desktop network

The ISSUE

Following applying the Windows 8.1 upgrade to a Dell PC running windows 8.0 Home premium all desktop applications were unable to connect to the internet! (not network printing, emails, etc.,)

Other applications running on the tiles were still able to connect fine (away from the desktop).

The Resolution

After some investigation, I noticed that when the tiled internet explorer sent a request to the internet it appeared to include speedbit in the initial url.

Checked the list of installed programs and found Speedbit was installed.

Removed Speedbit, restarted desktop applications all working correctly.

Conclusion

Speedbit may work fine, but it would be worth checking compatibility, in this case a reinstall of speedbit may resolve the issue following the upgrade to 8.1.

.UK domains pre ordering, don’t be taken in by cold calls and txt’s

I have had an unsolicited txt from a company trying to get me to pre order my corresponding .uk Domain names for £99 and then a phone call with a reduced price of £50.

I agree I need to get the .uk name to help protect my business interests but not get ripped off in the process.

I refused to be taken in and went to my current domain name registrar 123- Reg. Logged into my control panel and matched up the UK with my .co.uk name and paid £9.99 ex vat, job done. So check with you current registrars and hosting providers.

.UK domains should be live in June 2014 at some point.

Malware issue on windows 7 64bit Home

Malware issue on windows 7 64bit Home

Recent malware issue on a client Laptop, have seen the same issue before but ended up by rebuilding the PC.

Issue

When browsing the internet advertisements would appear on the browsing screen.

A proxy server had been set to point to the local client.

Removal

The laptop had Microsoft Security essentials installed, when a full scan was run no issues were found (not surprised, may have been taken over by the underlying issue).

Installed Spybot Search and Destroy from Safer Networking, updated and ran a full scan, numerous issues were found and resolved.

The advertisements were still appearing, some major issues had been removed by spybot but the system was still infected.

Installed AVG free from Grisoft, AVG Free found some Trojans and removed them.

Still the advertisements were appearing,

Now installed the free version of Malwarebytes from Malwarebytes.org, updated and scanned the system. Even more issues found, these issues were connected with the Advertisements (Dnscon

). Malwarbytes removed the issues, no more advertisements and proxy redirects.

In Conclusion

If your first security tool doesn’t find an issue some additional tools, make sure you use reputable providers and you down load from their websites. There are some good tools, but always think why is something free,

Issues

Proxy being set to point to local ip address

Advertising pop up on web page (ebay adverts)

PC Slow

Windows 7

Microsoft security essentials not identifying mal ware

References

https://www.malwarebytes.org/

http://www.safer-networking.org/

http://free.avg.com