Failed to initiate Widows firewall service.
Failed to initiate Widows firewall service.
I encountered a strange problem with Windows Firewall blocking certain apps like Mail, Calendar, Xbox, and Cortana. This has been happening for a while and seems to be linked to other issues such as NZXT CAM not logging in or failing to install. I've already used Malwarebytes to clean up and removed two tech support scams plus four Bitcoin mining malware. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.
I stopped using Malwarebytes to perform a full system scan. Only six items were detected, and they were all removed. I’m unsure when the last backup was saved, and honestly, I don’t have a reliable method for backing up my system anymore.
Do you have an administrator account available? It seems like you may be dealing with a serious malware issue. You could attempt using Norton Power Eraser for a thorough scan, though it might produce many false alarms. Alternatively, boot your computer from a Kaspersky Rescue Disk stored on a flash drive. If these options don’t work, consider reinstalling Windows. Even with its 97% real-time protection, I’m not confident in Windows Defender alone. Third-party tools are usually more reliable. You can find reviews here and there.