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Best Premium Antivirus Solutions in 2019

A reliable antivirus solution is a necessity in our days. As nefarious entities continue to develop and release harmful malware, a good antivirus can make the difference between a secure system and a disaster.

Several free antivirus solutions are available, but in some cases, you may want to pay a little extra for the best service possible. This article will explore some of the most efficient and popular premium antivirus solutions which can be used today.

Best Premium Antivirus Solutions in 2019

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019

The king of the antivirus market retains its crown for yet another year. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus may ask for an annual fee, but the price is quite small in comparison to the features of the software.

The robust solution can detect viruses at a blazing speed, it can filter web content to keep dangerous files away, and a built-in browser will add an extra layer of security to your online banking activity.

The latest version comes with innovative and complex ransomware protection, which can scan and deflect threats before the system is compromised.

Norton Antivirus Plus

It is likely that many internet users head about Norton at least once in their lives. The reputable antivirus software is used and recommended by a large number of companies, and the consumer-level version comes with lots of interesting features.

Norton Antivirus Plus can fight against a large selection of threats as suspicious downloads will be quarantined almost immediately. Users will also enjoy 2GB of cloud storage space for important files and a great password manager.

McAfee Total Protection

It may not be entirely bulletproof, but McAfee Total Protection offers an excellent bang for its buck. Besides the classic antivirus features, users will enjoy access to a PC boosting feature, a solid file encryption function, and advanced firewall options.

A large advantage comes from the fact that you can opt for a special package which covers ten individual devices for less than the price of two individual licenses offered by the competitors.

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Games News Tech

Fix: Clash of Clans Connection Error – Unable to Connect with the Server 2018

Getting the “unable to connect with server” error while playing Clash of Clans on your smartphone? This tutorial will show you a way out.

Clash of Clans is a multiple player game, which is accessed/played over the internet. However, due to a host of factors, ranging from unstable internet connection to issues with the game’s cache, gamers often get a connection error while playing the game.

Hence, if you encounter this connection error, you can try some of the fixes in this tutorial.

Fix: Clash of Clash Connection Error

Basically, the “unable to connect with server” error (in CoC) indicates issues with your phone’s internet connection. Hence, to fix this error, you can try the following fixes:

Note: Ensure the game is properly synced with your Google account and the time settings are properly configured.

  1. Troubleshoot Mobile Internet

First off, troubleshoot your phone’s internet connection by doing the following:

  • Close the game.
  • Disable internet connection
  • Enable Airplane mode and leave it there for a minute or two.
  • Disable Airplane mode.
  • Relaunch Clash of Clans.

This short procedure would refresh your connection, and the connection error should now be fixed. If the issue persists, try the next fix.

  1. Change Internet Source

In most cases, this error is caused by internet problem, either due to slow loading speed or low coverage. Hence, you can change your internet source (by connecting to a new Wi-Fi network or a different mobile network) and see if the issue is resolved.

If the connection error lingers, the problem is probably not from your internet network or ISP. Hence, you can try the next fix.

  1. Clear Clash of Clans’ Cache

You can navigate to your smartphone’s application manager and clear the cache of the game to free up space. This could fix the error, provided the connection error was not originally caused by your internet network. Also try and restart your phone after clearing the cache.

If the connection error persists, you can try the next fix.

  1. Update/Reinstall CoC

Ultimately, you may have to update/reinstall the game, as there could be bugs in the current version you are using, which may be the cause of the connection error.

If the error remains unfixed, you can reach out to CoC’s developers here, for assistance.

Categories
Tech

iPhone Overheating Problem? Solutions and Tips to eliminate the problem

Basically, the Apple brand is parallel to premium quality with over 1.3 billion users worldwide. However, there are several reports emanating from iPhone users around the world about the iPhone overheating problem.

When intensive activities such as 3-D gaming, video streaming, etc. are performed on iPhone, it stresses the battery, GPU, and CPU which can result in overheating in the long run. Nevertheless, the impact of overheating varies in its severity across all iPhone models. Some iPhone users reported getting the overheating warning message while in some cases iPhone explosion.

Cool tips to cool down your overheated iPhone

When you observe that your iPhone is steadily overheating, be sure to try out any of the tips below:

  • Keep your iPhone away from sunlight.
  • Turn on the Airplane mode.
  • If you are already charging your iPhone, stop charging and wait for it to cool down.
  • Stop using Wi-Fi/Hotspot/ Bluetooth.
  • Ensure you are using original Apple cable to charge your iPhone.
  • Switch off your iPhone for 4 hours.

If these tips do not reduce the temperature of your iPhone, you can try any of the workarounds we listed below.

How to resolve iPhone Overheating Problem

Method 1: Limit intensive activities on your iPhone

Several intensive activities which might cause the iPhone overheating problem include video streaming, GPS navigation, gaming, chatting, and more. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you limit the time spent on these activities which might damage your device battery and CPU in the long run.

Method 2: Toggle off Background Refresh

Background Refresh is a background process which refreshes all installed apps in the background. On the other hand, Background Refresh can get your iPhone overheated when utilized automatically. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you utilize Background Refresh for selective apps.

Here’s how to do that:

  • Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Background App Refresh

Method 3: Reset All Settings

Resetting all settings on your iPhone can potentially fix the overheating problem. This process removes all personal settings for General, Sounds, Wallpaper, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Privacy, Notifications, and Brightness.

Follow these steps to reset all settings:

  • Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Reset” > “Reset All Settings”. Now, enter your Apple passcode and wait for the iPhone to reboot.

Note: This solution does not delete your iPhone data such as videos, music, photos, emails, etc.

Method 4: Update iOS

Some iOS users recounted that they were able to resolve the iPhone overheating problem by updating their iOS device to the latest version.

Follow these steps to update your iOS device:

  • Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Software Updates” > “Download and install the update available”.
  • Wait for the update to be completed.

Do you find this post helpful? Drop a comment below.

Categories
Tech

[Fix] iOS Apps crashing frequently

Does your favourite iOS app crash frequently on your iPhone or iPad device? We will show you how to resolve this issue.

Several iOS users reported that their favourite apps such as Skype, Safari, Kindle, Facebook, Viber, or any other app crashes unexpectedly after launch or freezes their devices.

In order to resolve this issue, we will share with you the best troubleshooting methods to fix iOS apps crashing.

How to resolve iOS Apps crashing frequently

Method 1: Reboot the Device

The easiest way to resolve the iOS app crashing problem is to reboot the device whenever the problem occur. You can easily force-reboot your iOS device by holding down the Power and Home button until the Apple logo displays. Afterwards, you should be able to relaunch the problematic app without issues.

Method 2: Update the App

Outdated iOS apps can result in the crashing problem thereby causing your device to freeze. Moreover, app developers frequently identify bugs on their apps and then release an update to the app to resolve the glitches. Therefore, you should update the problematic app on your App Store.

Here’s how to do this:

  • Launch the App Store and navigate to the “Updates” menu
  • Install the updates for the problematic app
  • Afterwards, launch the updated app

Method 3: Re-Install the problematic app

Reinstalling the problematic app can resolve the iOS app crashing problem. This process requires uninstalling/deleting the particular app and then re-install the app afterwards.

Follow these steps to re-install the problematic app:

  • On the iOS Home Screen, tap and hold on the app icon
  • Now, Tap the (X) icon when it appears, and then confirm to delete the app
  • After deleting the app, launch the App Store, and then search for the particular app to re-download

Method 4: Update your iOS device

Frequent iOS updates by Apple Inc. ensure that your devices are stable and devoid of bugs. Moreover, some if the latest patches can fix any app-related issues most especially the iOS apps crashing problem. Hence, it is highly recommended that you update your iOS device to the latest version.

Here is how to update your iOS device:

  • Back up your iPhone (or iPad) data to either iTunes or iCloud or iTunes
  • Launch “Settings” > “General” > and then go to “Software Update
  • Select “Download & Install” and then wait for the iOS updating process to be complete

After the iOS update process, you can then advance to relaunch the app in question.

Note: Please ensure that you backup your iPhone data before you proceed.

Hope you were able to resolve the iOS apps crashing problem on your device? Feel free to share your experience with us by commenting below.

Categories
News Tech

VidMate WARNING: Report Shows The App Drains Battery, Charges Users and Exposes Personal Information

Vidmate has been installed by over 5 million users until now, lured by the promises of offline streaming. With the app, Android users could download any video from YouTube, Vimeo, and other platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and so on. While it was a great service, offering users with a low or unreliable internet connection, users that had an expensive data plan a way to stream videos on mobile phones. The popular video downloading app was developed by a subsidiary of UC Web (which is owned by the Chinese tech giant Alibaba) and got very popular in Asian countries, like India.

Upstream’s Secure-D Reported VidMate as Being a Dangerous App

However, the service came with a high cost that users had no idea they were paying. According to security searchers at a mobile tech firm from London, called Upstream, VidMate had a suspicious activity. At the Upstream Secure-D security lab, researchers unveiled the suspicious activity at VidMate in their report:

“A hidden component within the app delivers invisible ads, generates fake clicks and purchases, installs other suspicious apps without consent and collects personal users’ information. Consequently, it depletes users’ data allowance and brings unwanted charges.”

The app is not available in Google Play Store but can be downloaded as an APK from various sources.

The CEO of Upstream, Guy Krief, said that whoever downloaded and opened VidMate, has surrendered “control of their phone and personal information to a third party,” adding that while users cannot see the ads displayed, the “phone and its connection become part of a botnet and are used to commit ad fraud, at the expense of its owner … and his privacy.”

The app also requests suspicious permissions, such as:

  • allows the app to create windows on top of others
  • allows the app to install and download other unknown apps without asking or notifying the user
  • allows the app to read and write system settings
  • allows the app to access the user’s device log files, which contain sensitive information.

Delete VidMate to Protect Your Privacy, Data, and Money

The Upstream report urges users to delete VidMate to remedy the issues of battery drainage, charges of premium content without the users’ knowledge, data usage and privacy breach, adding that installing apps from outside Google Play Store is dangerous:

“VidMate is a reminder of the serious dangers of installing software from sources other than the official Google Play Store. The financial and privacy risks of letting misleading and abusive apps onto your device are simply not worth it.”

Here’s a short video from Upstream on VidMate’s suspicious activity:

A VidMate spokesperson was interviewed by BuzzFeed and stated that the app has no such knowledge of the suspicious activity, but they will investigate it. The spokesperson used the name Jiatao Chen and didn’t provide basic information of the funders and executives of the app, refusing to confirm his name or title. However, he stated:

“No only do we not program such practices into our core app, we have a zero-tolerance policy because it is in VidMate’s interest to protect our users against such detrimental practices.”

Chen also added that they are investigating the issue and VidMate has terminated the relationship with a partner (Nonolive) that was included in the Upstream report.

VidMate Spokesperson about Mango’s SDK: “Vidmate will terminate relationship with and blacklist this company”

The suspicious activity began with Vidmate installing a software development kit from Mango, which loaded the hidden ads and signed up users to premium services. The activity would take place when users didn’t use their phones. One spokesperson from VidMate stated that if the “SDK really is performing ad fraud, Vidmate will terminate relationship with and blacklist this company.”

UCWeb and VidMate responded to BuzzFeed News, with a UCWeb spokesperson saying that the app and trademark were sold to a start-up called Guangzhou Nemo Fish Technology Co., in 2018 and that they are not involved in Vidmate’s operations, but have maintained a business collaboration.

VidMate’s Suspicious Activity Started Long Before It Was Sold to the Start-up

The issues with VidMate were first revealed by Upstream when the company began providing security services to mobile carriers in some developing countries, and Krief found that VidMate “was number one in terms of block attempts over the past six months” compared to other apps monitored by Upstream. Guy Krief stated that Upstream saw and blocked suspicious transactions from VidMate before UCWeb sold VidMate:

“We saw some first small volumes of suspicious transaction requests in October 2017 and it progressively ramped up until April 2018 when it then started being at a different scale.”

As a response, the UCWeb spokesperson stated in an email that they could not respond to these accusations until they see the data and all the details, adding that Upstream didn’t contact them to give them the information.

Keep your personal information safe and use trustworthy apps that you can find on Google Play Store. Alternatively, use the Lite versions of social media apps to save data.

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