Fix Windows Update Error 0x8024500C

Are you trying to update your Windows 11 OS and are receiving a 0x800f0905 error? Do not sweat and do not worry we have a couple of solutions that you can try in order to fix this issue. How this error is tied to various things like misconfigured settings, corrupt system files, and more there is no way to present one simple solution that will solve everything in one click.

Therefore we are presenting a couple of solutions that will fix your issue, it is advisable to follow them as presented since they will go from the most common to the more complex one.

Run the troubleshooter

The most common fix and one that will actually repair things most of the time is simply running the Windows Update troubleshooter.

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open the Settings app
2. Click on System on the left
3. Click on Troubleshoot in the right part
4. Click on Other Troubleshooters
5. Find the Windows Update section and click on Run
6. Let troubleshooter finish

Reset Windows update components

If the previous solution did not work we will need to do things manually. Follow the steps as presented in order to reset Windows update components.

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open search
2. Type in Terminal
3. Select Run as administrator
4. Click on Yes on the User account control (UAC) pop up
5. Press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to open Command prompt
6. Inside command prompt type each line of a command followed by ENTER after each line:
   net stop bits
   net stop wuauserv
   Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%Application DataMicrosoftNetworkDownloaderqmgr*.dat”
   Ren %Systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore DataStore.bak
   Ren %Systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\Download Download.bak
   Ren %Systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
   exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
   sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
   cd /d %windir%\system32
   regsvr32.exe atl.dll
   regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll
   regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll
   regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll
   regsvr32.exe browseui.dll
   regsvr32.exe jscript.dll
   regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll
   regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll
   regsvr32.exe msxml.dll
   regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll
   regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll
   regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll
   regsvr32.exe softpub.dll
   regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll
   regsvr32.exe dssenh.dll
   regsvr32.exe rsaenh.dll
   regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll
   regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll
   regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll
   regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll
   regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll
   regsvr32.exe ole32.dll
   regsvr32.exe shell32.dll
   regsvr32.exe initpki.dll
   regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll
   regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
   regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll
   regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll
   regsvr32.exe wups.dll
   regsvr32.exe wups2.dll
   regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll
   regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll
   regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll
   regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll
   regsvr32.exe muweb.dll
   regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll
   netsh winsock reset
   net start bits
   net start wuauserv

Well, that was a lot of typing or copy and pasting line by line followed by ENTER after each one but hopefully, your issue is solved. These provided solutions fixed most users' issues with this error but if for some reason this is not the case for you, move to the next step.

Run the SFC scan

If you are still having 0x800f0905 error after previous attempts do the following:

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open search
2. Type in Terminal
3. Select Run as administrator
4. Click on Yes on the User account control (UAC) pop up
5. Press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to open Command prompt
6. Type in sfc /scannow and press ENTER
7. Wait for the scan to finish
8. Reboot the computer

Perform a system restore

If for any reason previous solutions have not provided you with the solution we will try to fix the issue by performing system restore.

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open search
2. In the text box type in Create a restore point
3. Click on the closest match in search results, should be Create a restore point
4. Click on System Restore or on Next if there are no points created
5. Choose to restore a point from the list and click on next
6. Review settings and click on Finish
7. Wait for the process to finish and for the computer to restart

Manually install update

If for any reason Windows still cannot install the update, try installing it manually.

1. Go to Windows 11 update history and find the Knowledge base (KB) number for the latest version
2. Go to the official Microsoft Update Catalog
3. Paste the KB number in the search box and press ENTER
4. Click on DOWNLOAD
5. Double click on the downloaded file to launch the installer
6. Follow on-screen instructions and install the update

Perform Windows 11 reset

If nothing worked, reset your Windows 11 to its factory settings to fully repair and reset the whole operating system.

There are times when we delete a system files without meaning to on your Windows 10 computer. This happens a lot for users sometimes mistake a system file for a malware-laden file or junk file when it’s actually a system file from the System32 or SysWOW64 folder. In such cases, it could affect your computer. For instance, you might not be able to reboot your PC or open Settings. If you have removed system files from any of these folders by accident and you desperately want to restore them, read on, as this post will guide you in resolving the problem. Restoring them isn’t actually hard, just make sure that you have system admin access. The good thing is that there exists Windows Resource Protection which protects registry keys and folders and even critical system files. So if there are any detected changes to a protected system file, the modified file is restored from a cached copy located in the Windows folder. However, if the Windows Resource Protection program fails to restore these files, you need to check out the given fixes below.

Option 1 – Run System File Checker scan

To restore the system files you deleted, you can try running System File Checker or SFC scan. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
• Hit the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few while before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

• Reboot your computer.

Option 2 – Try to run the DISM tool

Aside from System File Checker, you can also run the DISM or Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management Tool as it could help in restoring the system files on your Windows 10 computer. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth” which could help you resolve the problem.

• Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 3 – Try performing a System Restore

Running System Restore can also help you bring back the system files. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 4 – Try to run Automatic or Startup Repair

Startup Repair, previously known as Automatic Repair, is an advanced tool in Windows that can help you diagnose various system issues, including this one. This tool will scan system files, configuration settings, registry settings, and so on in order to fix the problem on its own. To run Startup Repair, all you have to do is boot into the Advanced Startup Options and then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced option > Startup Repair and then run it. This will resolve the problem if you have deleted any system file that’s essential to your Windows 10 PC.

Option 5 – Reset your computer

• Tap the Win key or click on the Start button located in the Taskbar.
• Then click on the Power button at the bottom right portion of the screen.
• Next, press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard and then click on Restart. This will restart your Pc into the Advanced Startup options.

Note: Once you have access to the Advanced Startup options, you have to go to the setting which allows you to Reset your Windows 10 PC. All you have to do is select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC to reach the following screen Afterward, select either the “Keep my files” option and then proceed to the next on-screen instructions that follow to reset your Windows 10 computer without losing your files.

Intel announced that Pat Gelsinger (CEO) and Dr. Ann Kelleher  (technology Department head) will discuss Intel’s process and packaging innovations on an upcoming webcast that will happen on July 26^th. The spokesman will talk and provide a deeper look at the process and packaging roadmaps for Intel. As we know Intel is planning to expand its production capabilities, outsource some of its technologies and offer foundry services to other chip design companies. The strategy will also include a shift to a 7nm process and Intel’s effort to set itself again as leader of CPU performance by 2024. There is also a chance that we will hear exact plans for Intel in the next three or four years. Intel didn't reveal much else about what Gelsinger and Kelleher plan to discuss during the webcast. The event will be streamed on July 26 at 2 pm PT via the Intel Newsroom; it will also be available to watch on-demand after the stream ends.

After so many years World of Warcraft is still among the most played MMORPG games in the world. It is still constantly updated with new content and tweak graphically in order to be relevant and fresh. But even the best or most popular ones can still have some minor issues and bugs from time to time. CAS System Was Unable to Initialize is the error that was reported lately by WOW players all around the globe and it happens in multiple Windows systems. In this guide, we will take with this issue and provide you with solutions on how to fix it so you can get back to enjoying the game itself.

1. 1. Repair WOW

      In battle.NET launcher select WOW and click on Options Click on Scan and Repair Let the process finish and then launch the game again

   2. Clean Windows registry

      Windows cleaning registry operation is a complex task and we will not cover each possible scenario here, instead of trying manually to find issues and clean registry download and install third party registry cleaner software.

   3. Run WOW with command line argument

      One of the solutions for this particular error is to run WOW with a specific command line switch: Run battle.NET client as administrator by right-clicking on it and choosing run as administrator If you are not signed in, sign in now Click on World of Warcraft to select it Click on options Click on Game settings Check the box associated with Additional command-line arguments When the box is selected you should've able to add inline argument or switch, add -uid wow_engb and confirm Run World of Warcraft

   4. Enable Secondary logon service inside Windows

      It was reported that enabling this service can fix the issue. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog Inside run dialog type in services.msc to open services windows Locate the Secondary Logon service Right-click on Properties from the context menu Inside the properties, screen click on the general tab Change the Startup type to Automatic and hit Apply to save the changes Run World of Warcraft

   5. Delete the cache folder

      Both indices and cache folder needs to be deleted in order to reset corrupted data. Make sure that both World of Warcraft and battle.NET are fully closed For this step to work, you will need to go into the folder where you have installed the World of Warcraft game. By default this is in C:/Program Files/World of Warcraft/ but if you have used another folder go there via file explorer. Once you are inside the folder locate the indices folder and delete it After that locate and delete the cache folder as well Restart your computer and start battle.NET

   6. Remove read-only attribute from WoW folder

      Another reason for CAS System Was Unable to Initialize error is because the World of Warcraft folder has been set to read-only and since the client does not have write privileges it will throw this error. To remove the read-only attribute from the folder go to your World of Warcraft installation folder but do not enter it Right-click on it instead and choose properties Under properties uncheck the read-only box and confirm. Run World of Warcraft

Windows 10 has a lot of several useful features and one of them is the Nearby Sharing feature. You can access this feature by going to Start > Settings > System > Shared experiences. From there, switch on the Nearby Sharing option and select the folder where you want to download the files to. This feature is really useful as it allows you to share files. However, there were reports from a number of users recently stating that Nearby Sharing is not working on their Windows 10 computers. If you are one of the users facing this problem, you might want to try checking if the Windows 10 v1803 Update is installed on your computer or not. You could also try to check if Bluetooth supports low energy mode or you could also try bringing the device closer or check if the adapter has Bluetooth version 4.0 or later. For more information, refer to each one of the given options below.

Option 1 – Try checking if Windows 10 v1803 Update is installed

To check if the Windows 10 v1803 Update is installed on your computer, go to Start > Settings > System > About. From there, scroll down to the Windows specifications and check the Version. If it is 1803 or above, then the Nearby Sharing feature should be active on your computer. However, if you find that Windows 10 v1803 Update is not installed yet, then you need to update your computer to its latest version and then see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 2 – Verify if Bluetooth supports low energy mode

Although low energy mode is not really necessary in using Nearby Sharing, there are some Bluetooth terminals that support low energy mode which makes a lot of difference. Thus, you need to check if Bluetooth in your computer supports low energy mode by following these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Device Manager.
• After that, expand the list of Bluetooth adapters, and then right-click on your adapter and select Properties.
• Go to the Details tab and select Bluetooth radio supports Low Energy Central Role from the drop-down menu and if its value says “<true>”, it means that your Bluetooth supports low energy mode, otherwise, it doesn’t.
• If your Bluetooth does not support low energy mode, then you might want to consider purchasing an external one.

Option 3 – Try bringing the devices closer

Nearby Sharing might not work if your devices are not close enough. Thus, you need to bring your devices closer together and see if it fixes the problem. And when you do, make sure that Network Sharing is switched on for all the concerned devices.

Option 4 – Make sure that you’re using Bluetooth version 4.0 or later

For you to use the Nearby Sharing feature, you have to make sure that the adapter for all the concerned devices is using Bluetooth version 4.0 or later. So if one of the devices or if all the devices are not using this version or later versions, then you must buy an external Bluetooth adapter for you to enjoy the Nearby Sharing feature.

We have talked about gaming on old computers and have covered new and upcoming Steam deck handheld console. Today we are combining old gaming with a handheld console and our target of talk is Retroid pocket 2. This product is packed with really high-quality plastic and with some great features in it. So let's dive into this cool handheld in more detail and find out why we like it so much.

Good manufacturing quality

Plastic and overall manufacturing quality are really, really good. The battery is great, packing 4000mAh that can hold over 3 hours of nonstop gaming, and all buttons and joysticks are great. The screen is a 640 x 480 60Hz 3.5″ IPS screen (4:3 aspect ratio) that performs really great for its purpose, retro gaming. There is a Digital D-Pad and dual analog joysticks. The right joystick is the lower profile to avoid being accidentally moved when pressing the four gaming buttons. There are three buttons at the bottom which are Home, Start, and Select. On either side are good-quality stereo speakers. On the bottom of the device are a Micro SD Card slot and a 3.5mm headphone port. On the top of the device are Left and Right shoulder and trigger buttons. There are the power button and volume adjustments. There are a USB Type-C OTG port and a Micro HDMI output for connection to a TV.

Good technical statistics

Good, not great but then again since this is retro handheld you cannot really expect some crazy stuff like alder lake inside. So the console is punching ARM Cortex A7 CPU with 2 cores and a clock of 1.5GHz paired with ARM Mali 400-MP2 500MHz GPU. The console has 1GB LPDDR3 RAM memory and 8GB eMMC Storage where 5GB is freely available, the rest is taken for OS. As mentioned before the display is 640x480 resolution with a size of 3.5″. The battery is Lithium-Ion with a power of 4000mAh and on the handheld, there is a USB Type-C connector, 3.5mm headphone jack, and Micro-HDMI. It also has Wifi/Bluetooth 4.0

Retroid Pocket 2 OS and support

Pocket 2 comes with Android 6 but you can update its firmware to the 8.1 version on the official site that I would highly recommend. New versions of the handheld will come with 8.1 on it from the box. Having Android as OS opens many possibilities like you can download Android apps such as Steam Link, allowing you to play actual PC games on your Retroid Pocket 2. Not just that, if it does get a newer version of Android it could even have the ability to use xCloud, Xbox’s cloud gaming service. Of course, hardware will not be able to handle modern games but the option is still there and for some old PC titles available on steam like Commander Keen, for example, this is a great option. The console can emulate basically everything up to Dreamcast, including N64, PSP, and Playstation 1. It can emulate Nintendo DS also, but it can only do so with one screen. The only problem with this console is you will need to install and update Apps. You’ll need to learn about RetroArch, an app that lets you download emulators or cores to play games.

Retroid price

The last thing on the list is the price of the console itself. Going just under the 100$ mark this really makes it an affordable option for plenty of people that would like to experience retro handheld gaming or for ones like me, nostalgic gamers wanting to relive some era of playing games on the road.

Conclusion

Among Chinese handheld devices for retro gaming, Retroid Pocket 2 is really on top of what the market can offer. If you are looking for a great handheld retro console and are not afraid of little dive-ins into the OS and various configurations, Pocket 2 will reward you with plenty and wide emulation support.

One of the popular tools that allow a user to offer or obtain remote assistance on a computer is the TeamViewer. It is available on all the major computer and mobile platforms which makes it a lot useful to every kind of user, even on the go. If you are one of the users who frequently use TeamViewer, then you must be familiar with this one sentence that states, “Initializing display parameters”. In common cases, this sentence will appear for a second and load the other user’s screen. However, some users reported that TeamViewer gets stuck on that stage and did not move ahead even a bit. If you experience the same problem, read on as this post will guide you in fixing this issue with TeamViewer on your Windows 10 computer. At the time of writing, the cause of this issue is still unclear. It could be due to the quality of internet connection, conflicts in process, misconfiguration of Remote Access, and many more. To fix this issue, you can try to update TeamViewer for both the users or have it reinstalled with Unattended Remote Access, or reconfigure the Remote Access. You can also try to kill any conflicting processes or optimize your internet connection. For more details, refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Reboot your router

The first thing you can try to do to fix the error is to simply restart your router. All you need to do is reboot the router from its Admin panel or you can also turn it off manually and turn it back on after a couple of seconds so that it can completely reboot. Once you’re done, try accessing your server again and see if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to update TeamViewer on both users’ end

You might have to update the TeamViewer on both ends and to do that, you need to start the TeamViewer installer again. Once it is installed, run the program and click on the Help option in the Menu ribbon and then select the “Check for updates…” option. If an update is found, you will be notified within a couple of seconds through a pop-up mini window. From there, click on Update and then follow the next onscreen instructions that appear and choose your TeamViewer version to update.

Option 3 – Try reinstalling TeamViewer via the Unattended Remote Access

If the first two given options didn’t work, you might have to reinstall TeamViewer from the Windows 10 Settings app or Control Panel.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Here, navigate to this registry key: Computer HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Wow6432Node TeamViewer
• Next, look for the TeamViewer key and right-click on it, and select Delete.
• After that, restart your PC to apply the changes made and then start TeamViewer again, and then click on Connection > Open Management Console.
• Then sign in or sign up to get registered and select the Add new device radio button under Add > Add computer located on the top-right corner and then select the Download now option.
• Now follow the next onscreen instructions that appear to complete the installation and then check if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 4 – Try reconfiguring the Remote Access

You can also try to reconfigure Remote Access in case there is some misconfiguration that might have caused the problem with TeamViewer.

• On your Desktop, right-click on This PC and click on Properties.
• Next, go to the left side of the navigation panel and click on Remote Settings.
• From there, make sure that the “Allow Remote Assistance Connections to this computer” checkbox is checked under the Remote Assistance section.
• Once done, click on the Advanced button. This will open a new mini window where you’ll have to check the “Allow this computer to be controlled remotely” option under the Remote Control section.
• Then click on OK and see if it fixed the problem.

Option 5 – Try to kill any conflicting processes

• Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combination to open the Task Manager.
• Then navigate to the Processes tab and right-click on the BGInfo process.
• Now select the End Task option to kill its process and then start TeamViewer again and check if the problem is resolved.

Option 6 – Try to optimize the quality of connection

You need to take care of two things under this option – first, you have to disable the loading of the Wallpaper of the computer which is the one that you’re trying to access remotely. To do that, you have to select the Extras menu from the menu ribbon and then select Options. And under the Remote Control section, check the “Remove remote wallpaper” option. The next thing you have to do is to optimize the quality for the speed by selecting the “Optimize Speed” for the menu of Quality still under the Remote Control section.

D3dx9_32.dll Error - What is it?

D3dx9_32.dll is basically a type of dynamic link library used to load and run different programs on the PC. The D3dx9_32.dll error message pops on the screen when this file is unable to load successfully. The error message is displayed in either of the following formats on the computer screen:

"The file d3dx9_32.dll is missing" "D3DX9_32.DLL is missing. Replace D3DX9_32.DLL and try again." "File d3dx9_32.dll not found" "D3dx9_32.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this." "Missing component d3dx9_32.dll"

This error usually pops while using gaming software. The D3dx9_32.dll error is displayed after a game is loaded or before the game-play begins. However, it may also appear in software that uses advanced graphic features.

Solution

Error Causes

D3dx9_32.dll error may occur due to multiple causes. These include:

• The problem is related to Microsoft DirectX software. This software includes the D3dx9_32.dll file in its software collection.
• Incompatible Video Card Drivers
• Improper game installation
• DLL File Corruption
• Registry issues
• Viral infection

Further Information and Manual Repair

To avoid inconvenience, it is advisable to fix the error right away. To resolve it you don’t need to be a technical whiz or hire a technician. Luckily, the D3dx9_32.dll file error is quite easy to fix. Here are some of the best and effective DIY methods that you can try to remove the error:

Method 1 - Install the Latest Version of DirectX

Since D3dx9_32.dll error is related to DirectX software, it is advisable to make sure that you have the latest version of this software installed on your PC. To install the updated version, simply go to Microsoft’s official website, download the software from there and install it on your PC. To activate changes, restart your computer.

Method 2 - Uninstall and then Re-install Gaming Application

If the error still persists, then the reason for it could be the gaming application. Sometimes D3dx9_32.dll error may also occur due to poor program installation. Therefore, in this case it is recommended that you first uninstall the program by going to the Add/Remove program option. And once the program is uninstalled, try re-installing it on your PC. Hopefully, it will remove the error.

Method 3 - Restore the Damaged/Corrupt D3dx9_32.dll File

The error may also pop due to the damaged or corrupt D3dx9_32.dll file. This indicated registry issues. When the registry becomes overloaded with unnecessary and obsolete files, there is not enough space for other files to store. Due to the poor registry maintenance, the system and dll files are often damaged. To restore the damaged D3dx9_32.dll file, you need to clean the registry first. You can do this manually, but that will be quite time-consuming and slightly technical. Therefore, download a registry cleaner. A registry cleaner scans all registry-related errors and removes them right away. It cleans the registry and restores the damaged dll files.

Method 4 - Scan for Viruses

If the D3dx9_32.dll error is triggered by viruses, then it is advisable to scan your PC with an antivirus. It will scan and removes all viruses from your system. Whether D3dx9_32.dll error is related to registry issues or viral infection, download Restoro. It is a cutting-edge, advanced, and multi-functional PC Fixer. A one-stop solution for all PC-related issues. It is deployed with a powerful registry cleaner, an antivirus, a system optimizer and several other scanners. The registry cleaner detects and removes all registry errors and repairs damaged Dll files including D3dx9_32.dll file and simultaneously the antivirus utility scans your entire PC for all types of malicious software infecting your system including spyware, Trojans, adware and malware. The system optimizer feature ensures your PC works at its optimal level. Restoro PC Fixer is safe and efficient. It has a user-friendly interface which makes it quite easy for all levels of users to operate. In just a few simple clicks, errors are resolved. In addition to this, you can download it on all Windows PC. It is compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve D3dx9_32.dll error code on your PC today.

What is Mastodon? Mastodon is an open-source microblogging network very similar to Twitter. You can make 500 characters post messages called toot (tweet), share videos or images, and follow other people. But unlike Twitter, Mastodon is decentralized, meaning the entire Mastodon is not run by a single company pulling all strings.

Mastodon can be used directly in your web browser or through a mobile client on a smartphone or tablet. It includes features that seem copied from Twitter-like replies, boosts (retweets), favorites (loves), a timeline view, blocking, and voluntary content warnings that hide sensitive content.

Mastodon also has some great features that Twitter does not have like automated post deletion for the older post of a certain age, requiring approval for follows without restricting your account, and opting out of search engine indexing.

Currently, there are also no ads on Mastodon meaning no ad tracking or ad network surveillance.

How Does Mastodon Work?

Mastodon is a social media network made of nodes called servers or instances each running special software meaning anyone can run their own Mastodon instance (if they have a proper dedicated server). When you have your own instance it can be linked in the federation or remain private, so individuals or companies can have control over individual Mastodon servers.

The software itself is open source based on the social networking protocol ActivityPub which was developed by WWW Consortium.

While using Mastodon, people sign up for accounts with specific instances. Once logged in, you can view a local timeline (of posts from that instance only) or, if the instance is federated with others, see a federated timeline comprised of toots from people in other instances. Mastodon users can send messages to each other using their Mastodon account names that are similar to email addresses in that they feature the server address as well as the user name.

PrivateSearchPlus is a browser extension that redirects all your searches through yonto. This way the extension claims you are browsing privately.

From the author: Search the web without tracking your search history or any personally identifiable information Access quickly to popular websites with icons sliding from this homepage is easy speedy and accessed ..Google Search, Yahoo, Aol, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, and more from all world without login However, PrivateSearchPlus monitors your browsing activity, the websites you visit, the links you click, and stores personal information that is later sent to server ads. This extension changes your default search engine to Yonto, it displays additional unwanted ads, may display pop-up ads, and hijacks your home page. Several anti-virus scanners have classified this extension as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a type of unwanted program, commonly a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in web browser’s settings. There are several reasons why you might have a browser hijack; but commercial, marketing, and advertising are the main purposes for their creation. In general, hijackers are made for the benefit of internet hackers often through income generation from forced ad clicks and site visits. Nonetheless, it’s not that innocent. Your web safety is compromised and it is also very irritating. Browser hijackers could also allow other vicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your computer.

How to know if your browser has been hijacked

When your web browser is hijacked, the following might happen: your browser’s homepage is suddenly different; you see new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, usually directed to advertisement-filled or pornography websites; the default browser settings have been changed, and/or your default search engine is altered; you see unsolicited new toolbars added; you notice numerous ads show up on your web browsers or display screen; webpages load slowly and at times incomplete; Inability to navigate to particular sites, especially antivirus and also other security software websites.

So how does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or an e-mail attachment in order to reach a targeted computer. They could also come from add-on applications, also referred to as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions, or toolbars. Other times you may have unintentionally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software program bundle (usually freeware or shareware). Some of the most well-known hijackers are EasySearchPlus, Babylon Toolbar, Conduit Search, OneWebSearch, Sweet Page, and CoolWebSearch. The presence of any browser hijacker malware on your system might drastically diminish the web browsing experience, monitor your internet activities that lead to major privacy concerns, produce system stability problems and ultimately cause your PC to slow down or to a nearly unusable state.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Some browser hijacking could be quite easily stopped by finding and eliminating the corresponding malware program from your control panel. Sadly, many of the software programs used to hijack an internet browser are intentionally created to be hard to detect or remove. Inexperienced PC users shouldn’t ever try for the manual form of removal methods, as it demands thorough computer knowledge to do repairs on the computer registry and HOSTS file.

What to Do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Or Installing Anything?

Malware can cause all sorts of damage once they invade your PC, ranging from stealing your personal details to erasing data files on your computer. Certain malware types alter internet browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS configuration settings. In these instances, you will be unable to visit certain or all websites, and therefore unable to download or install the necessary security software to get rid of the computer virus. So what to do if malware keeps you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? There are some options you can try to get around with this particular problem.

Install in Safe Mode with Networking

If the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in Safe Mode should avoid it. Since only the minimal applications and services start-up in “Safe Mode”, there are rarely any reasons for issues to take place. You will need to do the following to eliminate malware in Safe mode. 1) Press the F8 key repeatedly as soon as your PC boots, however, before the big Windows logo appears. This will conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) Once this mode loads, you should have the internet. Now, make use of your web browser to download and install Safebytes. 4) After installation, run a complete scan and let the software program get rid of the threats it detects.

Obtain the antivirus program using an alternate web browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a specific browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. The best way to overcome this problem is to pick a browser that is well known for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you secure online.

Create a portable USB antivirus for eliminating malware

Another method is to download and transfer an antivirus application from a clean computer to run a scan on the affected computer. Follow these steps to employ a flash drive to fix your corrupted computer. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer. 2) Plug the Thumb drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Choose a thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you wish to install the software. Do as instructed on the screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Now, plug the pen drive into the infected system. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove malware automatically.

A Look at the Best Anti-Malware Program

To help protect your computer from various internet-based threats, it is very important to install an anti-malware program on your computer system. However, with so many anti-malware companies in the market, these days it is tough to decide which one you should obtain for your personal computer. A few are very good ones, some are ok types, while some are just fake anti-malware programs that can ruin your PC themselves! You have to pick a product that has got a good reputation and detects not only computer viruses but other sorts of malware as well. While considering the reliable applications, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the strongly recommended one. SafeBytes is a highly effective, real-time anti-spyware application that is created to assist regular computer users in safeguarding their computers from malicious internet threats. With its cutting-edge technology, this software will allow you to get rid of several types of malware like computer viruses, PUPs, trojans, worms, adware, ransomware, and browser hijackers. SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a totally new level with its advanced features. Some of them are given as below: Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes provides an entirely hands-free live protection that is set to check, prevent and get rid of all computer threats at its very first encounter. It will continuously monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives users advanced firewall protection. Anti-Malware Protection: Safebytes is based on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines can detect and eliminate threats even during the initial phases of a malware outbreak. Web Security: SafeBytes checks the links present on a webpage for possible threats and notifies you whether the website is safe to view or not, through its unique safety rating system. “Fast Scan” Abilities: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its enhanced scanning engine, offers extremely fast scanning which can promptly target any active online threat. Light-weight: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-to-use anti-virus and antimalware solution. As it uses very low computer resources, this tool leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually. 24/7 Live Expert Support: For any technical questions or product support, you may get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and e-mail.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove PrivateSearchPlus without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by PrivateSearchPlus