How to Protect Yourself From Joker Malware Threat

Joker malware is yet another threat to your privacy and sensitive information. It recently attacked mobile Android devices across the globe, which lead to the removal of several apps from the Google Play Store.

That said, Joker malware is anything but a joke. If you want to keep your device secure, you’ll need to know what Joker malware is, and how it works.

What Is JokerThis means that when the app gets placed on the Play Store, there’s no sign of malware. It’s only when users actually download the app that the malware bares its teeth.

How to Protect Yourself From Joker Malware

Google recently removed 11 apps from the Play Store that contain Joker malware. If you have any of the following apps, uninstall them immediately:

• Compress Image (com.imagecompress.android)
• Contact Message (com.contact.withme.texts)
• Friend SMS (com.hmvoice.friendsms)
• Relaxation Message (com.relax.relaxation.androidsms)
• Cheery Message – listed two times (com.cheery.message.sendsms)
• Loving Message (com.peason.lovinglovemessage)
• File Recovery (com.file.recovefiles)
• App Locker (com.LPlocker.lockapps)
• Remind Alarm (com.remindme.alram)
• Memory Game (com.training.memorygame)

While most of these malicious apps function as alternative messaging apps, others include an image compressor, reminder alarm, a wallpaper app, and more. If any of these apps sound familiar to you, check your mobile and credit card bills. Any sketchy-looking transactions or subscriptions could be a sign of Joker malware. Malware?

This deceptive malware is called “Joker” for a reason—the malware hides behind the mask of a seemingly authentic app and preys on unknowing users. You might also see Joker malware called Bread, which are both the same thing.

Google first encountered this threat in 2017, and it’s still an ongoing issue. The persistent hackers behind Joker malware constantly find ways to manipulate the Google Play Store’s security flaws, allowing the camouflaged malware to go undetected.

Joker’s authors have several methods to get their infected app past the security protocols in the Play Store. In fact, they even make a malware-free version of the app, upload it to the Google Play Store, and then later install the malware on your device by cloaking it as an “app update.”

When you install an app infected with Joker malware, it signs you up for a paid subscription without your permission. To make matters worse, Joker malware can also get hold of your contacts, SMS messages, and your device information. It’s difficult to get your money back after falling victim to this scam, so it’s important to prevent infection before it even happens.

How Does Joker Malware Work?

Apps infected with Joker malware don’t blatantly ask for your private information. The malware is much sneakier than that, making it even harder to realise when you’ve become a victim.

The first type of Joker malware mainly relied on SMS fraud. By sending an SMS message to a premium number from your phone, Joker malware would sign you up for subscriptions or make payments without your knowledge. Since these premium services and subscription plans are often partnered with mobile carriers, you’d typically see these unwanted charges on your cellphone bill.

In early 2019, Google tightened restrictions on apps that asked to access your Call Log or SMS. Thanks to this policy change, many Joker-infected apps were caught, and later removed from the Play Store. The implementation of Google Play Protect has also helped keep Android devices safe.

Despite Google’s efforts, Joker malware persists. Research by Check Point has found a new kind of Joker malware that’s just as deceitful as the last. Instead of engaging in SMS fraud, it now uses an old trick that’s typically found in Windows malware.

After landing on your device, Joker malware downloads a an executable DEX file from a command-and-control server. This code is used to secretly sign you up to premium subscriptions. It then proceeds to prevent subscription confirmation notifications from popping up on your phone.

To do this, Joker malware takes advantage of Notification Listener, an Android feature that gives apps access to your device’s notifications. The malware hijacks the Notification Listener, allowing it to interfere with your push notifications.

The most recent version of Joker malware manages to get past Google’s security using a clever technique. According to Check Point, “the new variant now hides the malicious DEX file inside the application as Base64 encoded strings, ready to be decoded and loaded.”

Since Joker-infected apps look legitimate from the outside, you’ll need to take some extra precautions when downloading apps. The above photo is an example of an app infected by Joker malware—looks pretty legit, right? That’s just how much these infected apps can blend in with all the rest.

You should also keep in mind that many Joker-infected apps have fake user reviews on the Play Store. These positive reviews build trust, and also entice you to download the app.

Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to spot fake reviews once you know what to look for. If you see any duplicate reviews under an app, the reviews are likely fake. The same goes for generic reviews that make no mention of the app’s name.

Besides knowing how to identify an unsafe app on the Play Store, you can also protect yourself by installing a reliable security app on your device. You might not think you need an antivirus app on your Android, but it can definitely come in handy when trying to combat Joker malware.

Lastly, you should only install apps that you really trust. Do some extra research on any apps that you want to download. If you see any sign of a scam, avoid it at all costs.

What’s the Future of Joker Malware?

Although Google managed to take down over 1,700 Joker-infected apps in January 2020, and later removed the 11 apps listed above, that doesn’t mean we’re completely safe. Joker malware is still out there, and will likely stay there for a while. It’s constantly adapting to the Play Store’s security policies, which means it’ll continue to evolve as time goes on.

Does this mean that some apps on the Play Store are currently hiding Joker malware? Unfortunately, some apps have probably made it past security protocols. This only means you need to exercise some extra caution when downloading apps.

Just because there are dangerous apps out there doesn’t mean you have to stop installing APKs from third-party sites. Stay secure, and download from one of these best sites for safe Android APKs.

If you really want a smaller phone, try the tiny Jelly 2

Can you get by with a three-inch screen?

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The Jelly 2, is a truly tiny phone — the world’s smallest 4G phone with Android 10, apparently. Jelly 2 is the successor to Unihertz’s first phone, the original Jelly from 2017. Which is obviously very small, but the 20 percent-ish increase in size makes a big difference. You can now see five whole tweets on screen at once, for example, as long as they only contain a few words each. The keyboard is just about workable for quick searches, chat replies, and so on.

The Jelly 2 doesn’t exactly have tiny bezels, but the screen makes much more efficient use of the phone’s physical real estate, so the device is only slightly larger overall than the original. While the panel isn’t the most vibrant I’ve ever seen, it’s sharp enough — and let’s face it, you’re not buying this thing to edit photos or watch movies on. Unihertz’s four-inch Atom XL does feel a lot better suited for general smartphone use, if you’re not willing to go quite this small. 

Performance from the MediaTek Helio P60 processor is not what I would call blazing, but more than adequate for the kind of actions I’ve been expecting the Jelly 2 to perform. With a screen this small, it’s not even really worth trying to execute hardcore multitasking. And most games wouldn’t really be playable on a screen like this even with unlimited horsepower.

As for the battery life, it’s seemed reasonable in my testing. There’s a 2,000mAh battery inside, which is small by Android phone standards — but then most Android phones don’t have to power three-inch screens, and this is more than double the capacity of the original Jelly. For the expected use case of “keep it mostly in your pocket and use it only when you really need to” rather than the typical phone scenario of endless doomscrolling and 4K video recording, I think the Jelly 2 will be fine.

Speaking of the camera, there’s a 16-megapixel sensor on the back and an 8-megapixel sensor for selfies. The primary camera isn’t great, unsurprisingly, but it does the job as long as you’re only going to be viewing the photos on the tiny screen. Most actual cameras have bigger screens than the Jelly 2, though, so you should probably take one of those along too if you’re planning on visiting somewhere dark or pretty.

Some other notes on the hardware. This phone is 16.5mm thick, which sounds excessive but given the small footprint actually makes it feel reassuringly chunky, like a pebble. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is by far the worst I’ve ever used and might as well not exist. You get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There’s a headphone jack, so you could just use this as a compact MP3 player if you wanted.

If the idea of an Android phone roughly the size of a small potato is at all appealing to you, the Jelly 2 is about as good an example as I can imagine anyone actually making. With Kickstarter pricing starting at $129, it wouldn’t have to be your only phone, either. I can’t say I have much need for the Jelly 2 myself, but I continue to appreciate Unihertz’s devotion to making ultra-niche devices. I’m sure the Jelly 2 is exactly what a very small number of people have been waiting for.

Microsoft acknowledges Windows 10 bug that causes internet connectivity problems

The May 2020 update is still causing issues for some users

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• Commenthat are certain in life: death, taxes, and Windows 10 updates that cause bugs. Once again, Microsoft has acknowledged a problem in the May 2020 update. The error affects the Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI) icon in the taskbar, showing a user to be offline even when there is a connection—and that can confuse some apps.

Things that are certain in life: death, taxes and Windows 10 May 2020 update was found on 7 percent of all PC's found at the start of the month. While it’s landing on computers at a faster rate than previous updates, it’s not without its problem. As reported by Windows latest, cumulative updates in June and July have helped, but some users still see a yellow triangle in the NCSI and the “no internet access” message. 

Despite what Windows might say, those affected by the problem aren’t actually offline. It’s still possible to load up a browser and surf the web as normal, but apps that rely on Windows 10’s internet status to make a connection are unlikely to work. These include Cortana, Microsoft 365, OneDrive, the Microsoft Store, and Spotify.

Something nobody likes to see

It’s speculated that the problem could be related to VPN or proxy use. Microsoft acknowledges the issue in a TechNet forum post, confirming that the issue is being investigated but hasn’t yet been resolved. The NCSI error reportedly dates back to before the Windows 10 May 2020 update launched, affecting some testers in the Release Preview Ring.

The “No internet connection” bug can (possibly) be fixed by editing the Registry, which can have disastrous consequences if not done correctly. To correct the issue:

1. Type Registry Editor in the search box

2. Click on the app when it appears in the panel and allow it to run

3. Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet”

4. Highlight ‘EnableActiveProbing’ and change the value from 0 to 1

5. Click on “Okay”

6. Close the Registry

7. Restart the PC

Note that this solution hasn't worked for everyone, but it’s worth a shot until Microsoft release a fix, which will doubtlessly add new bugs.

The 8 Most Common Reasons Why Windows Gets Unresponsive

It’s no fun when your computer becomes unresponsive. Even if you don’t lose work because of it, hanging programs or a total system freeze can slow your productivity to a crawl.

PC problems that don’t manifest through a blue screen or other random shutdowns usually result in an unresponsive Windows 10 system. Let’s examine the common culprits for Windows freezing up and how you can fix it.

1. Insufficient Resources

One of the most common reasons that Windows becomes unresponsive is that it doesn’t have enough resources to run smoothly. The two components that most often bottleneck performance are your RAM (memory) and CPU.

Your computer stores all running programs in RAM. If those processes take up all your physical memory, your computer has to use the page file—a section of your storage disk that essentially acts as backup RAM.

Even if you have an SSD, using the page file is much slower than actual RAM meant for this purpose. As a result, you’ll feel the slowdown when your computer is relying on the page file.

Open the Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, switch to the Processes tab, and sort by the Memory header to see what’s using the most. Close programs at the top of the list if you don’t need them, and your system should recover.

It’s a similar story with high CPU usage. Taxing operations, such as encoding HD video, take a lot of CPU power. Your system may thus become unresponsive while your CPU is hard at work. 

2. Hardware Incompatibility

If a piece of hardware isn’t fully compatible with your version of Windows, it could cause stability issues. Typically, hardware problems result in Windows crashing because the OS has no other option. However, these issues can also cause system freezes.

When this happens, think about whether you’ve recently connected some new hardware to your PC. Any printer, mouse, keyboard, USB drive, or another external device could be the source of the problem. If you use an outdated piece of hardware, replace it with a modern device and see if that helps.

With the aid of compatibility modes and some tweaks, it’s possible to get retired hardware working with newer versions of Windows. However, in many cases, this is a dead end. It’s usually easier to run old software on a modern PC than it is to use ancient hardware.

3. Driver Issues

Even if a specific piece of hardware doesn’t cause an unresponsive computer, its driver could. In case you didn’t know, a driver is a small piece of software that lets Windows interface with hardware correctly.

For basic devices like a mouse or keyboard, a generic Microsoft driver works just fine. Using all the features of a device requires its own driver, though. Problems can arise if your installed drivers are outdated, incompatible with your version of Windows, or are for the wrong device.

The general rule with drivers is that you shouldn’t touch them if everything is working properly. Third-party driver update utilities are usually shady and could screw up more than they fix.

4. Windows Registry Problems

The Registry is a database where Windows holds all sorts of detailed information about your system and its configuration. When you install or remove software, edit a setting, or make changes to the Registry yourself, Windows records it there.

Most of the time, the Registry works just fine without your intervention. We strongly recommend that you avoid using Registry cleaners, as they are useless at best and dangerous at worst. Even if there are old entries in the Registry, “cleaning” thousands of errors won’t provide any tangible performance benefits.

If your Registry is so messed up that it causes your system to become unresponsive, you’ll probably need to reinstall Windows. It shouldn’t ever get to that point unless you make a mistake while editing it, use a Registry cleaner, or get infected by malware.

5. A Malware of Any Kind

Malware, the catch-all term for viruses, spyware, worms, and other forms of infection, can wreak havoc on your system. Whether it’s adware injecting ads into your browser that cause it to freeze or rootkits that steal system resources, malware can take over your computer and degrade performance.

Run a scan with the free version of Malwarebytes to see if you have any malicious programs on your system. And in the future, make sure you know how to avoid getting a virus so it doesn’t happen again.

6. Running Multiple Antivirus Tools

Thankfully, Windows 10 comes with Windows Defender, which is a good enough antivirus solution for most people. However, if you choose to use something else, you should make sure that it doesn’t end up causing a performance problem.

Running multiple antivirus programs will often cause them to conflict with each other and cause slowdowns. If you want a second opinion, use an on-demand scanner like the aforementioned Malwarebytes every once in a while.

Alternatively, try using a free online virus scanner like VirusTotal. These let you scan a file with dozens of different antivirus apps at once, making sure that yours doesn’t miss anything.

Aside from this, make sure you use one of the best Windows antivirus suites. Avoid no-name apps, as they may not be well-optimized and thus cause slowdowns.

7. Application Bugs

Unfortunately, poorly written software is out of your control. Whether it’s an old app that hasn’t seen updates in years or a bad Chrome extension, you might notice that your unresponsive problem only occurs when using a certain program.

If you can pin down which app is an issue, make sure you have the latest updates installed for it. Sometimes new versions can solve these kinds of problems. If that’s not an option, check AlternativeTo for a replacement.

Should the problem occur in your browser, try disabling extensions one by one to see if that solves the problem.

8. User Tweaks

Once you eliminate all the above scenarios, it’s possible that your stability problem comes from some sort of tweak you’ve made to Windows.

Changes in the Control Panel or Settings app shouldn’t interfere with your system, but using third-party tools to customize Windows might break something unintentionally.

Think about the tools you’ve used for Windows 10 privacy, tweaking the Taskbar, or similar deep changes. Consider reversing those if you can’t find any other source of instability.

When Windows Is Unresponsive, You Know Why

Chances are that when your PC becomes unresponsive, the root lies in one of these causes. Most of them are in your control, so all it takes is a bit of troubleshooting to find out where the problem lies. Once you fix it, you can get back to using your computer without interruption.

If you don’t want to spend time on these fixes, it’s easy to reset Windows 10 to put the operating system back to its default state.

AMD vs Intel CPUs: Final thoughts

In terms of value, it's easy to make the case for AMD's Ryzen CPUs. You can get an 8-core/16-thread Ryzen 7 CPU starting at just $160, and that includes a cooler that works well with the CPU. Step down to 6-core/12-thread Ryzen 5 and they start as low as $120. AMD also makes budget-friendly APUs—a 4-core CPU combined with a modest integrated graphics solution that's typically twice as fast as Intel's current integrated graphics. Or you can go whole hog with the Ryzen 9 3900X and get a 12-core/24-thread CPU for $499. For each category, Intel's equivalent CPUs cost more, and the desired K-series parts don't even include a cooler

Intel CPUs are typically the favorite choice for performance and overclocking enthusiasts. While the overclocking range for the latest 8-core parts is limited (4.9-5.1GHz being the typical maximum without exotic cooling solutions), the 8th Gen parts hit similar overclocks but start at lower base clocks. Intel's top CPUs cost more than their AMD counterparts, especially once you add in a decent cooler, but they're often a bit faster in games. AMD meanwhile is able to trounce Intel when it comes to multithreaded applications. Intel has no real 'mainstream' answer to the 3900X, never mind the 3950X. You'll have to move to Intel's HEDT platform, but then AMD has up to 32-core solutions with Threadripper 3000 CPUs.

How much are you willing to pay for the minor boost in gaming performance that Intel offers? And are you willing to give up AMD's superior multithreaded performance to have it? AMD's Ryzen 3000 CPUs are very competitive, and I'd also be remiss if I didn't point out how long Intel sat at 4-core/8-thread mainstream desktop CPUs. It's mostly thanks to AMD and it's Ryzen processors that Intel has started shipping 6-core and 8-core CPUs at far more reasonable prices.

Right now, the competition for CPU dominance between AMD and Intel is closer than we've seen since the first Athlon 64 parts in 2003. AMD hasn't held the outright performance crown since 2006—not in every meaningful category at least. The Ryzen 9 3900X and 3950X are unequivocally the fastest mainstream CPUs for non-gaming work, but Intel still squeaks by with a win in the gaming category. Competition in the CPU has been lovely to see.

Some Awesome Windows 10 Desktop Tips and Tricks

The Windows 10 desktop is more than just a glorified folder—it’s a reflection of your personality. You can decorate it with wallpaper, cover it with your favorite shortcuts, or even play games on it. Here are some tips and tricks that will make your desktop experience more useful and fun.

Turn Your Desktop into a Meadow

If you’d like a fun desktop app to bring a slice of tranquility to your Windows 10 experience, try Desktop Meadow by Sam Chiet. It makes flowers grow on your app windows and taskbar, as friendly birds flutter around. You’ll even receive letters in a tiny desktop mailbox. It’s yours to download for free at itch.io.

Temporarily Hide or Unhide All Desktop Icons

If you like a clean Desktop uncluttered with icons, it’s easy to temporarily hide all of them without actually removing them. Simply right-click anywhere on your desktop, and in the pop-up menu, navigate to View > Show desktop icons. Once toggled off, your icons will be hidden, but you can just as easily bring them back by toggling this again in the right-click menu.

Create an Invisible Folder on Your Desktop

It’s a silly trick, but you can create an invisible folder on your desktop that hides in plain sight. It involves changing the icon of a folder into a “blank” (completely transparent) icon and renaming it to a non-displaying space character. It’s not technically private or secure, but it’s fun.

Quickly Change the Size of Your Desktop Icons

If you’d like to quickly adjust the size of your desktop icons, press Ctrl while scrolling the mouse wheel. If you scroll in one direction, the icons grow larger (probably larger than you’d expect!), but scroll in the other, and they’ll be tiny. Once you find the size you want, release Ctrl and the icons will remain that size.

Organize Your Desktop with Stardock Fences

If you like to organize files, folders, and shortcuts on your desktop, try Stardock Fences. This utility allows you to arrange icons in groups that you define. You can even let Fences automatically sort your Desktop files into stacks if you prefer.

Use Bing’s Daily Photos as Your Desktop Wallpaper

Bing features beautiful photos every day, and Microsoft makes it easy to automatically use them as your desktop wallpaper. Simply download and install the official Bing Wallpaper app, and you’re all set! You’ll have fresh, professional-quality wallpaper every day of the week.

Use Virtual Desktops

This doesn’t strictly pertain to the Desktop file space, but you can also use virtual desktops on Windows 10. These are alternate workspaces for your app windows you can switch between quickly.

Sadly, you can’t configure multiple pages of Desktop icons.

Fight off a Desktop Goose

Sam Chiet, the creator of Desktop Meadow (see above), also created an unofficial tribute to 2019’s hit, Untitled Goose Game, in the form of a small app called Desktop Goose. It puts a tiny, angry goose on your desktop that will chase your cursor and try to drag it. It also rearranges your windows and even writes you notes.

Use the Default Windows 10 Wallpapers

If you prefer Windows 10’s older, darker default desktop wallpaper, you can either copy it from an older PC or download it from Imgur.

 You can find the Windows default wallpapers in the C:\Windows\Web folder.

Sync a Windows and Mac Desktop

Using symbolic links and a local area network, you can synchronize the files on your Mac and Windows desktops. Once you set it up, if you place a file on either desktop, it will automatically show up on the other.

It takes a bit of work to get it configured, but once you do, it works like magic!

Create a Show Desktop Icon on the Quick Launch Bar

In Windows 10, you can quickly see your desktop at any time if you click the tiny line at the far right of the taskbar. If you’re an old-school Windows fan, though, you can create and drag a Show Desktop icon to the Quick Launch area instead.


Then, next time you want to see your Desktop, just click the shortcut and voilà!

As a wise man once said, no two Desktops are exactly alike—and that’s a good thing!

Difference between 32 Bit & 64 Bit

What’s the Difference Between 32-Bit and 64-Bit?

If you’ve looked at buying a computer recently, you might have noticed that there are 32-bit computers and 64-bit computers. Or maybe you’ve tried to install software on your computer, and you see that a 64-bit application won’t run on your 32-bit system. But what do these terms mean, and what is the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit?

What Are 32-Bit and 64-Bit?

When it comes to computers, the difference between 32-bit and a 64-bit is all about processing power. Computers with 32-bit processors are older, slower, and less secure, while a 64-bit processor is newer, faster, and more secure.

But what do the numbers 32 and 64 even mean?

Your computer’s central processing unit (CPU) functions like the brain of your computer. It controls all the communication and the flow of data to and from the other parts of your computer. Some computers use two or more processors. However, there are only two main categories of processors now: 32-bit processors and 64-bit processors. The type of processor that your computer uses affects its overall performance and what kind of software it can utilize.

Most computers made in the 1990s to early 2000s have a 32-bit system that can access 2^32 (or 4,294,967,296) bytes (units of digital information) of RAM (random access memory). Meanwhile, a 64-bit processor can handle 2^64 (or 18,446,744,073,709,551,616) bytes of RAM. In other words, a 64-bit processor can process more data than 4 billion 32-bit processors combined.

32-Bit vs. 64-Bit: Which One is Right For You?

While a 64-bit processor has more processing power than a 32-bit processor, it does not always mean that you need a 64-bit computer or software. Whether you should install a 32-bit or 64-bit application on your computer depends on your current setup.

If you want your computer to be fast, you should probably choose a 64-bit processor. You can even use this processor if you’re going to run 32-bit programs since most applications are backward compatible.  This means 64-bit computers will run most 32-bit programs. However, a 32-bit computer will not run any 64-bit applications.

Here are some reasons why you might want to upgrade to a 64-bit processor:

The Benefits of a 64-Bit Processor

Graphics: Aside from being able to handle more data, the 64-bit processor delivers better graphics performance. This means that your computer will be faster when launching apps, editing photos, and playing graphic-intensive games.

Security: A 64-bit computer may still get infected by malware (malicious software), which includes viruses, spyware, Trojans, and ransomware. However, a computer with a 64-bit system has more security features than a 32-bit system.

The 64-bit version of Windows also requires mandatory driver signing, which is Microsoft’s protocol to keep the malware’s unsigned drivers from running on the system. Driver signature is what you call a digital imprint that guarantees that a file has been tested with the operating system, and that it comes from a legitimate source. Malware authors would find it difficult to bypass the 64-bit Windows system’s mandatory signing process.

If you think your computer has been infected with a virus, make sure to check out our guide on how to remove malware from your Windows 10 PC.

A 64-bit operating system also has a compatibility layer that puts certain limitations on 32-bit programs. Without going into very technical detail, what this means is that older malware won’t be able to run on your 64-bit version of Windows.

Is My Computer 32- or 64-Bit? How to Find Out

Now that you know the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit processors, you might want to find out which one you have on your computer. So, how can you tell? The answer to this question depends on what operating system you are running.

How to Find Out if Your Windows 10 PC is 64-Bit

1. Open the File Explorer window by pressing the Windows icon key + E.
2. In the left sidebar of the File Explorer window, right-click on “This PC.” 
3. Choose Properties from the context menu.
4. Find the “System type” information. This is where you will see what type of operating system and processor you have.

How to Find Out if Your Mac Computer is 64-Bit

1. Open the Apple menu. You can do this by clicking the Apple-shaped button in the upper-left corner of your screen.
2. Then select About This Mac. 
3. Click System Report. This is the button in the bottom-left of the window. If you don’t see this button, make sure you are in the Overview tab.
4. Check under Processor Name in the right side of the window. If you do not see Processor Name in the right side of the window, make sure to click Hardware at the top of the left sidebar.
5. Finally, compare your Processor Name with this table from Apple. In this example, the Processor Name was listed as a “Dual-Core Intel i5,” which is just listed as “Core i5 in the table below. So, this computer has a 64-bit processor.

Can I Install 32-Bit Software on a 64-Bit Computer?

A 64-bit operating system with a corresponding chip can run most 32-bit programs. This is good news for those who use apps and software that are only available in 32-bit options.

The reason for this is because of the 32-bit on 64-bit compatibility layer. This compatibility layer acts like a subsystem that allows you to run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit machine without any performance penalties. It’s just like running a 32-bit app on a 32-bit version of Windows.

However, you cannot run a 64-bit program on a 32-bit machine. There are also older 16-bit programs that cannot run on 64-bit Windows.

If it’s possible, you should install and use the 64-bit versions of applications if your computer supports it. You’ll get a speedier performance and better graphics.

Can I Upgrade from 32-Bit to 64-Bit?

If you want to upgrade to a 64-bit system, you first need to find out if you have a 64-bit processor. If you don’t have the proper hardware, you might be better off buying a new computer. Most computers sold since 2011 already have a 64-bit chip, but not every one of them has a 64-bit operating system.

If you are currently shopping for a laptop or desktop computer, chances are you’d get a 64-bit processor under the hood.  All you have to do is to use software that is designed for these systems.