How to Create Windows Security Scan Desktop Shortcuts in Windows 11

Windows 11 comes with a built-in antivirus protection through Windows Security, but accessing manual scan options typically requires navigating through the Settings menu. Creating a desktop shortcut for Windows Security scan streamlines this process, giving you direct access to scanning tool without multiple clicks. 

This guide shows you how to set up shortcuts for both Quick Scan and Virus and Threat Protection options on your Windows 11 desktop. Having dedicated shortcuts for Windows Security scans on desktop eliminates the need to dig through Settings menus each time you want to run a manual system scan. 

By following these steps, you can place both scanning shortcuts directly on your desktop, making it faster and more convenient to maintain your system's security whenever you need to.

How to Create a Quick Scan Desktop Shortcut on Windows 11

Creating a Quick Scan shortcut allows you to run rapid security checks with a single double-click.

1. Right-click your desktop and choose New > Shortcut.

2. Paste this path into the location field:   "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe" -Scan -ScanType 1

 
3. Click Next and name your shortcut (for example, "Quick Security Scan" or "Windows Defender Quick Scan").

4. Click Finish to create the shortcut on your desktop.

5. Double-click the shortcut anytime you want to run a quick security scan.

Optional: Customize the Icon

If you want to change the shortcut's icon to make it more visually distinctive:

• Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
• Click "Change Icon" and paste this path in the search field:    %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\EppManifest.dll
• Pick an icon you like and click Apply.
• Click OK to save your changes.

How to Create a Virus and Threat Protection Shortcut

This shortcut opens Windows Defender's full scanning options page, giving you access to all available threat protection settings.

 1. Right-click on your desktop and choose New > Shortcut.

2.  Paste this path into the location field: %windir%\explorer.exe windowsdefender://threat

 
3. Click Next and give your shortcut a name (such as "Scan Options", "Virus and Threat Protection", or "Windows Security Scans").

4. Click Finish to create the shortcut.

5. Double-click the shortcut you just created to open Windows Defender's threat scanning options page.

Troubleshooting Tips

If your shortcuts don't work as expected, consider the following:

Administrator Rights: Ensure you're running Windows as an administrator. Right-click the shortcut and select Run as administrator if needed.

Windows Defender Disabled: If Windows Security shows as inactive, you may need to re-enable Windows Defender through your antivirus settings or Group Policy.

Path Verification: Double-check that the file paths are entered exactly as shown, including quotation marks and spacing.

Conclusion

With these two simple shortcuts on your desktop, managing your system's security becomes faster and more convenient. Whether you prefer running a Quick Scan for routine checks or accessing Virus and Threat Protection for comprehensive scanning options, you now have direct access to Windows Security's most essential tools without navigating through Settings menus. Set up these shortcuts today and make virus and threat protection part of your regular maintenance routine—taking just seconds instead of minutes each time.

How to Fix Firefox Awaiting Location Permission Popup in Windows

Firefox version 150 introduced several improvements and bug fixes, but some users are experiencing a persistent issue: an "Awaiting Location Permission" popup that appears repeatedly on screen, even when location permissions are disabled. If you're encountering this problem, this guide lets you know how to resolve it.

The reason for the 'Awaiting Location Permission, Grant Firefox location permission in system settings' issue is that Firefox now requires Windows location settings to be enabled before websites can access your location. Fortunately, I have found a secret flag in the Firefox browser that disables this. It works on both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

How to Disable  'Awaiting Location Permission’ Popup in Firefox

In Firefox browser (after updating to v150), users getting a popup that appears something like this:

“Awaiting Location Permission
Grant Firefox location permission in system settings.
Cancel”

If you are getting this popup error after updating Firefox browser to 150+, then you can use the below two methods to disable it in Windows 11/10. You can either use a secret Firefox experimental flag or uBlock Origin add-on to fix this issue.

Steps to Fix Firefox "Awaiting Location Permission" Popup in Windows

You can disable Firefox's Windows location tracking on Windows 10/11 using secret flags, despite the latest update enabling it by default.

1. Open the Firefox browser and type about:config in the address bar, then press Enter.

2. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue" to bypass the warning.

 3. Search for geo.prompt.open_system_prefs and set its value to False.

4. Search for geo.provider.ms-windows-location and set its value to False.

 5. Restart your browser. The "Awaiting Location Permission" issue will be resolved immediately.

If Mozilla removes these flags in future updates, there's an alternative method to disable geolocation tracking. This approach requires the uBlock Origin add-on for Firefox.

To use this method, open uBlock Origin's filter settings and add the following filter rule:
google.com##+js(aopr, navigator.geolocation)

Once you've added this filter, the setting will take effect immediately, preventing Google from accessing your browser's geolocation data.

Found this helpful? Great! Now you can finally silence Firefox's location permission popup. Hit a snag or have other Firefox troubles? Let us know in the comments—we're here to help. Think your friends could benefit from this? Share away!

How to Enable Brave Adblock in Firefox Browser

 Mozilla is experimenting with Brave's ad-blocking engine in the Firefox browser. The latest version (Firefox 150), includes an experimental flag that enables users to test "adblock-rust," an open-source Rust-based ad and tracker blocking engine developed by Brave. This guide will explain how to add this feature to your Firefox browser.

For your information, adblock-rust is a high-performance content-blocking engine that powers Brave's native ad blocker. Built with Rust for efficiency and speed, it operates under the MPL-2.0 license. 

The engine handles multiple filtering tasks, including blocking network requests, applying cosmetic filters to remove unwanted visual elements, and supporting filter list syntax compatible with uBlock Origin, making it widely compatible with existing filtering rules.

Steps to Enable Brave Adblock in Firefox Browser

Brave Adblock is an experimental feature available in Firefox 149 and newer that uses the adblock-rust engine to enhance Firefox's built-in tracking protection. This guide walks you through the manual setup process.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you're running Firefox 149 or later. This feature requires manual configuration and doesn't include default filter lists during this test phase.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Access Firefox Configuration Settings

Open Firefox and navigate to about:config in the address bar, then press Enter. A risk warning will appear—accept it to proceed to the advanced settings page.

2. Enable Content Protection

In the search box, type privacy.trackingprotection.content.protection.enabled. Double-click the entry to toggle its value to true. This activates the adblock-rust filtering engine.

3. Add Filter Lists

Search for privacy.trackingprotection.content.protection.test_list_urls in the same settings page. Click the edit button and paste this URL:

https://easylist.to/easylist/easylist.txt|https://easylist.to/easyprivacy.txt

This adds EasyList and EasyPrivacy filter lists, which block ads and tracking elements.

4. Save Your Changes

Click the save button to apply the configuration.

5. Disable Firefox's Built-in Protection (for testing)

Click the shield icon in the address bar and disable Enhanced Tracking Protection. This ensures that adblock-rust handles all filtering instead of Firefox's native feature, preventing conflicts.

6. Test the Feature

Visit websites with ads and trackers to verify that the adblock-rust engine is functioning correctly.

Important Considerations

Experimental Status: This feature is still in testing and requires manual setup; default filter lists are not automatically included.

Complementary, Not Replacement: Brave Adblock is designed to enhance Firefox's existing protections, not to replace dedicated adblocker extensions like uBlock Origin or Adblock Plus.

Manual Maintenance: You may need to manually update filter lists or add custom lists as needed during the experimental phase.

Conclusion

Enabling Brave Adblock in Firefox offers users an additional layer of ad and tracker blocking through Mozilla's integration of the adblock-rust engine. While the setup process requires manual configuration, the feature provides a powerful way to improve your browsing experience without relying solely on third-party extensions. (Source)

How to Disable Microsoft Edge Startup Boost on Windows 11 (Free Up RAM)

Microsoft Edge's Startup Boost feature is designed to make the browser launch faster by keeping background processes running even after you close it. While this creates a snappier user experience, it comes with a hidden cost: continuous memory and CPU consumption in the background. It will be around 300MB to 1GB depending on system resources.

For users with limited RAM, older devices, or anyone seeking maximum system performance, Startup Boost can be counterproductive. It quietly drains hundreds of megabytes of RAM, slows down other applications, and reduces battery life on laptops. If you've noticed your Windows 11 PC feeling sluggish or your battery draining faster than usual, disabling this feature could make a noticeable difference.

How Startup Boost Affects Your System Performance

In Microsoft Edge, Startup Boost works by maintaining background processes that prepare Edge for quick launches. However, this convenience comes with trade-offs:

• Memory Drain: Hundreds of megabytes of RAM consumed continuously
• Background Extension Loading: Extensions and apps run even when the browser is closed
• Battery Drain: Particularly noticeable on laptops and portable devices
• System Slowdowns: Reduced performance for other applications competing for resources

Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Startup Boost

Follow these simple steps to turn off Startup Boost and reclaim your system resources:

1. Open Microsoft Edge on your Windows 11 device.

2. Access the Settings menu by clicking the three-dot icon (⋯) in the top-right corner.

3. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.

4. Navigate to System and performance in the left sidebar.

5. Click "System settings" to expand additional options.

 6. Disable the Startup boost toggle by clicking the switch to turn it off.

 7. Turn off "Continue running background extensions and apps when Edge is closed" — this secondary toggle prevents Edge extensions from running in the background after you close the browser.

8. Restart your computer to apply the changes and ensure all background processes are fully terminated.

What to Expect After Disabling Startup Boost

Once you've completed these steps, you'll notice:

• Immediate RAM Savings: Depending on your system configuration, you'll free up 100–800+ MB of memory
• Improved System Responsiveness: Other applications will have more resources available
• Better Battery Life: Particularly noticeable on Windows 11 laptops
• Slightly Longer Edge Launch Times: The first launch after disabling Startup Boost will be marginally slower, but subsequent launches will remain normal

The performance gains scale with your total installed RAM — users with 8 GB or less will see the most significant improvements.

Is Disabling Startup Boost Right for You?

Disable Startup Boost if you have:

• A system with 8 GB of RAM or less
• An older or budget laptop
• Heavy multitasking workflows
• Concerns about battery efficiency

Keep Startup Boost enabled if you:

• Have 16 GB+ of RAM with plenty to spare
• Rarely close Microsoft Edge
• Prioritize launch speed over background resource usage

Conclusion

Disabling Microsoft Edge Startup Boost on Windows 11 is a quick, reversible tweak that can significantly improve system performance and battery life. If your device feels sluggish or you want to optimize every bit of available RAM, follow the steps above to turn off this feature. You'll notice the difference immediately, and the modest increase in Edge's initial launch time is a worthwhile trade-off for a faster, more responsive computer overall.

How to Enable VPN in Firefox in Any Countries

Firefox browser now includes a free, built-in VPN, which helps you hide your real location and IP address while browsing the internet. This is an ideal feature for protecting your privacy on public Wi-Fi networks, hiding your browsing from your ISP, and preventing websites from tracking your location. Currently, the free VPN is available in a few regions, but you can enable it in any country, including India.

If you're a Firefox fan in a supported region for its VPN - such as India - you can enable it without any hassle. Mozilla will probably enable the free VPN via an update soon to all users, but if you can't wait for the rollout, follow this guide to turn on the built-in VPN right now.

Currently, Firefox version 149 comes with a browser-level VPN and is officially available in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. The service offers 50 GB of free data per month, making it an excellent option for casual internet users seeking privacy protection.

How to Enable VPN in Firefox in Any Countries

Even if you're located outside the officially supported regions, you can unlock Firefox VPN using the browser's advanced configuration settings. This method bypasses geographic restrictions by manually enabling the feature.

1. Open Firefox on your computer, click the address bar, type about:config and press Enter

2. Accept the warning by clicking "Accept the Risk and Continue"

3. Search for the preference by typing browser.ipProtection.enabled in the search box at the top

4. Enable the VPN by double-clicking browser.ipProtection.enabled or clicking the toggle icon to change its value to True

Enable Firefox VPN in any Country

 5. The VPN icon should now appear in the top-right corner of your Firefox toolbar

Now, let us know how to use the VPN in Firefox. Note that technically this is a proxy, because it only protects your connection in the browser, not across your PC.

How to Use Firefox VPN

Once you've enabled the VPN through the configuration settings, activating it is straightforward.

1. Click the VPN icon in the top-right corner of Firefox
2. Select "Get Started" from the menu
3. Sign in or create a Mozilla account using your email address
4. Click "Turn on VPN" to activate protection

Once activated, your real IP address is hidden from websites, and your location appears to be from one of the supported regions. You'll notice no significant speed difference whether the VPN is enabled or disabled—Firefox VPN is notably faster than many competitors.

Excluding Websites from Firefox VPN Protection

You may want certain websites to bypass the VPN (for example, banking sites that block VPN traffic, or local services requiring your actual location). Firefox allows you to create a blacklist of sites that won't use VPN protection.

1. Open Firefox and type about:preferences#privacy in the address bar
2. Press Enter and navigate to the Privacy settings page
3. Scroll down to find the VPN section
4. Click "Manage Website Settings"
5. Enter the URL of the website you want to exclude
6. Click "Add" to add it to the blacklist
7. To remove a site, select it from the list, click "Remove Website," and save changes

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will enabling Firefox VPN in an unsupported country cause problems?

A: No. Enabling the feature through about:config is safe and simply activates functionality that exists in your browser version.

Q: Can I use Firefox VPN on mobile?

A: Currently, the built-in VPN is available on desktop Firefox only. Mobile support may come in future updates.

Q: What happens when I exceed 50 GB?

A: IP protection pauses automatically. You'll need to wait until the next billing cycle (typically the first of the month) for protection to resume.

Q: Is Firefox VPN better than paid VPN services?

A: Firefox VPN is excellent for casual users seeking basic privacy. However, paid services typically offer more features, faster speeds, and wider server selection for power users.

AppControl - A Windows Task Manager Alternative for Finding PC Performance Problems

 Windows Task Manager is one of those essential tools I always have in my back pocket when something goes wrong with my computer. It let me know what is hogging my system resources, and shut down anything that's misbehaving. But honestly, it's not a perfect tool. For example, when my computer freezes or slows down, I rush to open Task Manager, but the issue often disappears by the time it loads. 

Task Manager only offers 60-second performance snapshots, making it difficult to pinpoint past system slowdowns caused by background processes. To tackle this issue, a new tool called AppControl is available for Windows 11. It is a free alternative for Task Manager that silently tracks your PC’s activities for up to 72 hours. 

AppControl is a historical, Windows performance monitoring tool that records system activity for up to three days, enabling you to diagnose performance issues through historical data rather than waiting for problems to occur in real time.

Historical data analysis, behavioral tracking (beyond real-time monitoring), and Task Manager like traditional real-time monitoring are the main highlights of AppControl.

Download, Install and Use AppControl

You can download AppControl from official website. After downloading, install the app on your computer and start monitoring your PC’s performance and identify problem causing issues and fix it. Below are the main features of the application.

Main Features:

• Review processor spikes retroactively by examining graphs instead of waiting for them to recur
• Track memory leaks by monitoring when an application's memory consumption began increasing
• Identify overnight slowdowns caused by background processes or scheduled tasks
• Correlate events by seeing exactly which app launched when resource usage changed
• Interactive graph analysis: Hover over the Activity tab graph to see which apps consumed resources at any moment, or click to pause and analyze a specific period
• App Launch Logging: Records when applications start, helping you identify unauthorized background launches and confirm program initiation timing
• System Alerts: Notifies you when apps access your camera/microphone, modify system services, or trigger other system-level events
• Event Log: Complete record of system activity including app startups, hardware access attempts, and monitored changes
• Live processor usage tracking
• Real-time memory consumption monitoring
• Disk activity and network performance tracking
• App search and detailed hardware usage information

Is AppControl a Complete Replacement?

AppControl lacks the following features that Task Manager has.

• Service management for Windows services    
• Subprocess hierarchy inspection    
• Low-level system management    
• Process termination    
• Startup impact management    

Note: Task Manager remains essential for terminating frozen applications, managing startup programs, and working with system services.

Conclusion

AppControl uses slightly more memory than Task Manager, but the trade-off is worth it for the 72-hour history and detailed insights. Task Manager still excels at managing startup apps and handling complex process trees, but for everyday troubleshooting and understanding what's happening on your PC, AppControl is superior.

It's completely free, ad-free, and privacy-focused. If you're serious about maintaining a healthy, fast PC and understanding what's really happening behind the scenes, AppControl is a must-have tool.

[Source - Infointech]

How to Speed up Google Chrome Load time on computer in 2019

Google Chrome is the most popular browser for desktop, laptop and smartphones. Desktop and laptop users might have noticed that their Google Chrome browser took too long time to load when opened it. If your Google Chrome browser opens slowly on your computer, follow these simple steps to load it fast.

Hardware acceleration and more memory (RAM) consumption are the main reasons for slow loading of Google Chrome browser. Background running apps feature and use of hardware acceleration is turned on by default. By disabling these two settings your Chrome browser will load faster.

Here is how to speed up Google Chrome load time on your computer. Jut follow these simple steps:

1. Open your Chrome browser and click menu (3 vertical dots)

2. Click on Settings and on the left pane, click on Advance settings

3. In Advanced settings, click on System.

4. Turn off the two options “Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed” and “Use hardware acceleration when available”.

5. Finally, click on “Relaunch” button to restart your browser.

Your Chrome browser should load faster than before. Does this tutorial help you? Leave your views in the comment below.