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How To Factory Reset a Chromebook
Google Chromebooks are user-friendly laptops that are designed for going online. Chromebooks are suitable for light use and encourage users to save documents to the Cloud rather than the device itself. Instead of including a bunch of fancy features, Chromebooks offer a slimmed-down set of functions and capabilities. Google Chromebooks use the Chrome OS, a Linux-based operating system previously used by computer enthusiasts. Chromebooks are optimized for streamlined web-based usage, allowing users to browse the web, work on Google Docs, watch videos, and send emails without being bogged down with unnecessary files and apps.
What is a factory reset?
Occasionally, users may wish to return a Chromebook to its default factory state. This is known as a factory reset, or Powerwash in Google terms, and erases all data, settings, and installed applications.
Why would you want to Powerwash a Chromebook?
There are two main reasons why users may wish to Powerwash a Chromebook. Although the Chromebook OS is not as complex as other operating systems, stubborn issues that are only resolved by a factory reset may still creep up. Moreover, it is also advisable to Powerwash a Chromebook to remove all personal data when selling it to a new user.
Some friendly reminders before Powerwashing a Chromebook
Files saved to the Chromebook local storage are usually stored in the Downloads folder, which should be backed up before initiating a Powerwash. Although most user-specific documents are saved on the Cloud, Powerwashing a Chromebook removes local files and settings that cannot be recovered once this action is complete. Moreover, all previously used Google accounts and associated settings will be removed during a Powerwash, so usernames and passwords should be safely noted down elsewhere.
How to factory reset a Chromebook
There are two ways you can return a Chromebook to its default state. The first is through the Chrome Browser.
* Open the Chrome browser.
* Click the three vertical dots in the upper right-hand corner of the browser window.
* Select Settings.
* Click Advanced.
* Scroll to find the Reset settings and select Powerwash.
* A pop-up dialog will appear. Click Restart.
* The Chromebook will restart and begin the Powerwash process.
* When prompted, sign in with your Google Account credentials if required.
Another way to factory reset a Chromebook is via the login screen.
* When the Chrome OS login screen is showing, and before authenticating, press Shift+Ctrl+Alt+R.
* A pop-up dialog will appear. Click Restart.
* The Chromebook will restart and return to the login page.
* Another pop-up dialog will appear. Click Powerwash, then click Confirm Powerwash.
* The Powerwash process will begin.
* When prompted, sign in with your Google Account credentials if required.
It may not be possible to Powerwash a publicly used Chromebook used for workplace or school purposes.
Back to basics: factory resetting a Chromebook
It may occasionally be necessary to factory reset, or Powerwash, a Chromebook due to ongoing issues or before selling the device to a new user. It is crucial to remember that this action will permanently delete all files, applications, and settings that were not there when the device was new. Users can Powerwash a Chromebook either through the Chrome browser or the login screen, signing into their Google Account after the process is complete.
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Why 32GB of RAM Should Be the New Standard for Gaming PCs
PC gaming has changed a lot in the last few years. Modern games demand more from your system than ever before. Developers now build larger, more detailed worlds. Ray tracing, massive open worlds, and high-resolution textures are common even in mid-tier games. Because of these changes, 32GB of RAM should now be considered the standard for any serious gaming PC.
What is RAM?
RAM, short for Random Access Memory, is a part of your computer that stores data your system needs to access quickly. Unlike a hard drive or SSD, RAM only holds data while your computer is turned on. Once you shut down, it clears out and resets.
There are several types of RAM, with DDR (Double Data Rate) being the most common. Today, most systems use either DDR4 or the newer DDR5 memory. Here’s a basic breakdown:
* DDR4: Reliable and still widely used, but slower compared to newer options.
* DDR5: Faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and better efficiency. Ideal for gaming PCs being built or upgraded today.
Upgrading to DDR5 provides better loading times, smoother gameplay, and better performance when multitasking or running heavy applications.
Why is RAM important for your pc and gaming?
RAM plays a key role in how well your PC handles games and programs. It works by keeping important data ready for your CPU and GPU. When you are gaming, RAM loads textures, models, sounds, and other assets that the system needs fast.
Not having enough RAM can cause several problems:
* Slower load times: Games may take longer to load levels or menus.
* Performance drops: Frame rates may dip during busy scenes.
* Stuttering: Games can freeze for short periods while the system tries to grab needed files.
* System slowdowns: Background programs, like Discord and browsers, can start to drag your whole system down if RAM runs out.
RAM is the bridge that keeps your processor and graphics card working at full speed without having to pull data from slower storage drives.
What happens during a game if you don't have enough RAM?
If you are playing a demanding game and do not have enough RAM, your system struggles. Windows will try to offload data to the page file, which is part of your SSD or hard drive. But no matter how fast your storage is, it is still much slower than RAM.
Here is what you might experience:
* Frame stutter and spikes: The game struggles to load textures and assets quickly enough, leading to uneven frame pacing and sudden dips in performance.
* Longer load times: Levels and textures load more slowly, sometimes mid-game, breaking immersion.
* System slowdown: Windows moves less critical tasks into the much slower page file (stored on your SSD), causing massive performance drops when you alt-tab or try multitasking.
In heavy games like Hogwarts Legacy or The Last of Us Part I, running with just 16GB of RAM often leads to traversal stutter, asset pop-ins, and an overall less polished gaming experience.
What drove the increase in RAM use for games?
Games today use more RAM than they used to for several reasons. Game engines like Unreal Engine 5 introduce new technology that loads more detailed models and lighting. Developers are designing bigger, richer game worlds, and they expect players to have stronger systems.
Some of the key drivers include:
* Unreal Engine 5 features: Games built with Unreal Engine 5, such as Marvel Rivals, now use complex technologies like Nanite and Lumen, both of which are extremely RAM-intensive.
* Ray tracing: Advanced lighting and reflection techniques load heavy assets into memory, requiring more system resources even on medium settings.
* Higher resolution textures: 4K textures and large open-world assets need extra space.
* Background multitasking: Gamers today often stream, run Discord, and watch videos while gaming, all of which eat into available RAM.
* Less optimization: Modern games often assume players have ample resources, leading developers to set higher minimum requirements without as much optimization.
Games like Hogwarts Legacy, Marvel Rivals, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are clear examples where 16GB of RAM is no longer enough for a smooth experience at high settings.
Why 32gb should be the new standard
Based on testing across many modern titles, 32GB of RAM offers a big advantage without being wasteful. It prepares you for current AAA games and the next few years of new releases without breaking the bank.
Here are the reasons why 32GB makes sense:
* Headroom for today and tomorrow: While 16GB can still "technically" run many games today, it’s often barely enough, especially as titles like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Hogwarts Legacy eat 20GB+ when background tasks are included.
Performance gains: Testing shows that upgrading from 16GB to 32GB can yield tangible benefits. In Marvel Rivals, framerate improved by around 40% just by moving to 32GB RAM. Even older engines like Helldivers 2 showed gains.
* Affordable pricing: DDR5 memory prices have fallen sharply. A good 32GB DDR5-6000 kit can be found for just $75–90 USD, barely 25% more than 16GB kits but offering double the capacity.
* Better multitasking: If you’re running Discord, Chrome, OBS, or background apps while gaming, 32GB prevents slowdowns caused by page file swapping.
* Future-proofing: With developers pushing tech boundaries and Unreal Engine 5 becoming more common, having 32GB ensures your system won't choke on future releases.
Right now, a 16GB setup will still run many games fine, but headroom is tight. New releases will only push memory needs higher. Upgrading to 32GB ensures that your gaming experience stays smooth today and tomorrow.
Final thoughts
For anyone building or upgrading a gaming PC in 2025 and beyond, 32GB of DDR5 RAM should be seen as the standard, not an optional luxury. With modern games demanding more, and memory prices so reasonable, it’s a smart move that will keep your rig performing smoothly for years to come.
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Must use Add-ons and Extensions for Firefox Users
Welcome, web browser to our voyage into the world of add-ons and extensions for Firefox. While there are many web browsers out there, most of us tend to stick to the big dogs: Chrome, Safari, Edge, and of course, Firefox. Launched by Mozilla in 2004, Firefox is a browser that’s famous for putting you, the user first.
Equipped with solid protection features, including easy to manage cookie settings, built-in pop-up blockers, and enhanced tracking protection, Firefox is also highly customizable. From a Firefox translator extension to Bitwarden Firefox extension, the sheer volume of extensions available for this browser are a major pull for many users: small add-ons to boost browser functionality, and build a browser that is truly yours.
If you’re a Firefox user, then you’re likely reading this article through said browser, if not, give it a try, and see how the add-ons and extensions for Firefox can revolutionize your web browsing experience. Let’s jump straight in and check out 10 of the best Firefox extensions.
1. uBlock Origin
If you’re peeved with popups, aggravated by ads, and tired of trackers, then you may need a dose of uBlock Origin. This wide-spectrum content blocker by Raymond Hill puts memory efficiency and CPU first. In addition to blocking ads, trackers, popups, coin miners and more, uBlock Origin, or uBO (as it's called by those in the know) can be customized by simple point-and-click to block JavaScript locally or globally. Free, open source with a public license, uBlock Origin is also surprisingly a potentially effective tech for energy conservation, as blocking ads saves electricity!
2. YouTube SponsorBlock
Another open-source, crowdsourced extension for Firefox, https://sponsor.ajay.app/ can give you the power to automatically skip annoying, time wasting sponsor messages on YouTube. You’ll never have to sit through an annoying toothpaste ad before watching your favorite YouTube content ever again, as SponsorBlock automatically checks its database for reported sponsors, then skips them. Get involved and join over 13 million users, and submit your very own sponsors that deserve to be skipped.
3. Bitwarden Password Manager
Don’t get bit by forgetting or mislaying your passwords, get Bitwarden and ensure that all of your passwords are safe and sound. The Bitwarden extension for Firefox is a simple, trustworthy password manager with a free plan available for unlimited devices. Even if you’re already using another password manager, you can easily migrate your data, including passwords, credit cards, and even secrets to Bitwarden with a few simple clicks. Finally, zero-knowledge encryption ensures that you, and only you can access your information.
4. Proton VPN Firefox extension
Switzerland may not immediately conjure up images of VPN farms, but Proton VPN Firefox extension bills itself as a Swiss VPN that you can trust. Lightning fast, reliable, and secure as the vaults of a Swiss bank, Proton VPN keeps a strict no logs policy in accordance with Swiss law. Proton VPN enables you to bypass censorship and access “the truth”, or simply unblock and watch popular streaming services. Open-source, and transparent, you can easily check the code for yourself, while independent audits will let you decide if Proton VPN cuts the mustard.
5. Bypass Paywall Clean
If you’re looking to get into the festival without a ticket, then Bypass Paywall Clean can get you in for free. This open-source browser extension circumvents paywalls, allowing users to access paid-content without handing over a penny. Do beware though, that this type of extension may violate the T&Cs of the website you visit. In plainspeak it could be illegal, so if you don’t want to take your chances with the long arm of the law, then try 12ft, and see if it works for you.
6. Unhook
As we navigate the wild pastures of YouTube, at times it can feel like we’re a fish, dodging hooks baited with all kinds of distractions. Unhook cuts the line, or severs the net, depending on how you use it. Simple and effective, Unhook can be used to hide related videos, suggestion walls, shorts, comments and pretty much every other potential distraction that might be lurking on the ‘Tube. Simply toggle through the many options to make your YouTube experience less distracting.
7. Viewhance
Customize the built-in media viewer in Firefox to your heart’s content with Viewhance. Unlimited possibilities and functionality are only a few clicks away with Viewhance, without even needing to leave your browser! Featuring super-easy navigation, as well as custom playback and display, if you’re a regular user of the built-on media viewer in Firefox, Viewhance will massively enhance your media experience, from work to play.
8. Dark Reader
If you didn’t realize that the white background of this website was straining your eyes, try Dark Reader and you’ll discover that with inverted colors, you can read for hours without strain! Particularly suited to night readers, Dark Reader can be enabled for all websites or particular domains, with the choice of dark or light mode, as well as customizable brightness, contrast, and sepia options. Over 8 million users can’t be wrong, and for individuals, a one-time payment of $9.99 delivers Dark Reader for life.
9. Auto Tab Discard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ityhxUPp3y8
As the name suggests, Auto Tab Discard automatically (or manually if you choose) discards inactive, idle, and forgotten tabs. This browser extension can seriously assist your battery life by disabling JavaScript code as well as DOM events on discarded tabs. Memory usage is reduced by discarding idle tabs, while a convenient list of hostnames and regular expressions can be inputted to exclude them from auto-discarding.
10. TWP
Short for Translate Web Pages, the last of our extensions today has the ability to traverse linguistic and cultural barriers. TWP allows users to choose the translation service of their choice, and translate full pages, selected text, and even PDF documents. Forget the wait, TWP translates pages in real time: this add-on can increase productivity, translating desired content in a single click, without the hassle of opening new tabs.
Add-on, add-off
We hope that you’ve enjoyed discovering ten of our favorite add-ons and extensions for Firefox. As you may have noticed, there are add-ons and extensions galore available to maximize every aspect of your Firefox browsing experience. Take the plunge and try one today, see where it takes you!
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Best Underwater Video Games to Dive Into in 2025
If you’ve ever wanted to explore the mysteries of the deep without leaving dry land, 2025 is shaping up to be a great year for underwater games. From immersive diving games and scenic scuba diving game experiences to pulse-pounding underwater survival games and even the occasional underwater horror game, there’s something for every kind of ocean explorer. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing game about diving or a tense descent into the abyss, these titles let you plunge into a world where the unknown waits beneath the surface.
1. Dave the Diver
Dave the Diver is one of those rare games that constantly surprises you, blending underwater exploration, restaurant management, RPG mechanics, and an endless stream of quirky minigames into a deeply satisfying loop. You play as Dave, a slightly out-of-shape diver tasked with hunting fish during the day and running a bustling sushi restaurant at night. The deeper you go into the Blue Hole, the more secrets, dangers, and bizarre sea creatures you uncover.
The game balances lighthearted storytelling with genuinely strategic gameplay. Diving involves careful oxygen and inventory management, and combat can range from harpooning fish to tranquilizing massive sharks. Between dives, you’ll upgrade your gear, customize your staff, and expand your culinary empire. The pacing is tight, the humor lands, and the variety of content never stops.
In 2024, Mintrocket doubled down on the fun with a Dredge crossover DLC, bringing cosmic horror into Dave’s colorful world. This update introduces night dives filled with twisted sea monsters, dark visual themes, and potential nods to Dredge’s sanity mechanics. It adds a creepy layer of risk to Dave’s otherwise upbeat routine, creating an unexpected but welcome contrast that expands the game’s underwater universe.
Packed with charm, chaos, and now a little Lovecraft, Dave the Diver continues to be one of the most creative indie hits in recent years.
2. Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss
Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss is a narrative-rich underwater mystery developed by Subjective Realities and published in 2023. Set in the early 20th century, you play as Cam, a diver investigating the wreck of the S.S. Thalassa after a salvage mission goes disastrously wrong. What begins as a sunken treasure hunt turns into a deeply emotional investigation into the fate of the crew.
The game isn’t focused on realism but instead crafts a moody, immersive world where oxygen tanks never run out and lamps never die. The highlight is its interactive deduction board, which you’ll use to connect documents, letters, and clues scattered across six decks of the submerged vessel.
While animations can feel slow and the voice volume occasionally dips, the game’s richly atmospheric setting and personal, human storytelling pull you in. Thalassa is less about survival and more about discovery, offering a meditative, slow-burn dive into grief, memory, and mystery.
3. Barotrauma
Released in 2023 by Finnish developer FakeFish and Undertow Games, Barotrauma is a tense, often chaotic 2D co-op survival game set deep beneath the frozen surface of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Earth is uninhabitable, and what’s left of humanity now survives in submarines prowling a pitch-black ocean filled with things far worse than crushing pressure.
The game combines management sim mechanics with moments of pure horror. Players take on different crew roles (Captain, Engineer, Medic, Security Officer) and must work together to keep their vessel operational while fending off alien sea creatures, electrical failures, fires, and each other’s mistakes.
What makes Barotrauma truly shine is its balance between routine and panic. One minute you're calmly navigating icy waters or fixing a reactor, and the next you’re plugging hull breaches with monsters clawing their way inside. It’s at its best with friends, especially when teamwork quickly breaks down into chaos.
The game’s chunky pixel art might not impress visually, but it adds charm to the dread. While complex systems and lackluster AI bots might overwhelm solo players, Barotrauma thrives on unpredictability, making it one of the most memorable co-op underwater horror games out there.
4. Subnautica
Developed by Unknown Worlds and released in 2018, Subnautica is a masterclass in open-world survival and one of the most immersive underwater games ever made. The game begins with your crash landing on an alien ocean planet, and from there, it becomes a gripping blend of exploration, crafting, and existential terror.
What sets Subnautica apart is its atmosphere. Its biomes range from serene coral reefs to abyssal trenches teeming with predatory leviathans. There’s no hand-holding as you dive deeper and unlock new tools, submarines, and habitats to survive the crushing depths. Its sound design and ambient music intensify the feeling of isolation, and the positional audio often signals when something massive is stalking you just out of sight.
Unlike many survival games, Subnautica also tells a compelling story through logs, radio transmissions, and environmental storytelling. It’s a rare example of a survival game where the plot feels meaningful and well-paced.
The DLC, Subnautica: Below Zero, offers a more personal narrative and a smaller map, but introduces new tech, modular vehicles, and arctic biomes. Playing as xenobiologist Robin Ayou, you’ll unravel a corporate cover-up while navigating icy waters, using gadgets like the Sea Truck and Snowfox hoverbike. Though more compact, it’s packed with detail and variety, delivering a fresh, frosty take on the original's formula.
Both the base game and Below Zero maintain an incredible sense of immersion and awe. Whether you’re uncovering alien secrets or barely surviving an encounter with a leviathan, Subnautica remains a masterclass in environmental design and open-world pacing. It’s one of the finest aquatic survival experiences ever made.
5. Dredge
Dredge is a slow-burning, atmospheric fishing game wrapped in cosmic horror and quiet dread. You pilot a lone trawler across a fog-covered archipelago, dredging up twisted sea life and long-buried secrets. Its core loop, catch fish by day, avoid madness by night, is simple yet hypnotic, blending checklist progression with creeping tension.
The world is brought to life through a minimalist art style and haunting audio design. Each region has its own lore, puzzles, and fish to discover, keeping the game interesting across its tight 12-hour runtime. While the upgrade system is fairly linear, the pacing and mood make up for it.
Beyond the base game, two DLCs expand its haunting world. The Pale Reach introduces a glacial new region filled with icy waters and hidden relics, while The Iron Rig brings an environmental twist. This larger expansion sends you back through each biome to uncover the effects of corporate pollution and unnatural drilling. While the plot leans into metaphor, it never forgets its gameplay roots, new materials, powerful upgrades, and quality-of-life tools like portable repair kits and teleport anchors deepen the experience without losing its tight focus.
While some players may critique the lack of player agency in narrative decisions, the gameplay remains immersive and rewarding. Balancing inventory space, managing sanity, and choosing when to risk a night sail keeps the tension sharp across the 15–20 hour journey.
Dredge, developed by Black Salt Games and published in 2023, has earned widespread acclaim for its originality and execution. It won “Best Indie Game” at the Golden Joystick Awards and received nominations at The Game Awards 2023 and BAFTA Game Awards 2024.
It’s a standout experience that combines eerie exploration, tight resource management, and deeply unsettling storytelling into one unforgettable voyage.
6. Nauticrawl
Nauticrawl is a genre-blending roguelike from developer Andrea Interguglielmi, released in 2019, that drops you into the cockpit of a mysterious machine, and refuses to explain how anything works. There’s no tutorial, no guidance, just a mess of levers, dials, and switches to decipher through trial and error.
The game is essentially one giant puzzle. You must learn how to power up the machine, navigate hostile terrain, manage resources, and avoid enemies, all while gradually unraveling the system’s logic. Its turn-based mechanics and permanent consequences create a tense atmosphere, especially during your early, mistake-filled runs.
Though its difficulty eases as you gain experience, the sense of discovery remains strong. The game’s cockpit-only perspective and detailed interface make every button press feel impactful, and the ambient sound design enhances immersion. While the narrative is minimal and mostly fixed, Nauticrawl thrives on its unique concept and the thrill of experimentation, making it a memorable dive into the unknown.
7. Maneater
Maneater flips the open-world action formula on its head by putting you in control of a vengeful shark, not a human. Developed and published by Tripwire Interactive in 2020, the game begins with a brutal shark-hunter killing your mother, only for you, her pup, to escape and grow stronger with one goal in mind: revenge.
Set in the sun-soaked yet blood-soaked waters of Port Clovis, the game lets you level up your shark by hunting sea life and humans, unlocking wild evolutionary upgrades like electric fins and bone armor. Combat is chaotic and satisfying, and swimming through its detailed underwater environments is a constant visual treat.
Presented in the style of a nature documentary parody, narrated by Chris Parnell, Maneater adds some humor to its otherwise violent romp. While mission design gets repetitive, kill X number of enemies, rinse and repeat, the act of playing as a superpowered shark rarely loses its appeal.
Exploration, power progression, and sheer novelty carry the experience. It’s not deep in gameplay or story, but it knows what it is and runs with it: a shameless, fun, blood-soaked “shARkPG.”
8. Crab God
Crab God is a charming colony management game developed by Chaos Theory Games and published by Firesquid in 2024. It plays like a lighter, crab-themed take on the Kingdom series, with shorter gameplay loops and a focus on strategic team-building and survival.
You control a group of five crabs, each assigned to roles like Gardener, Scavenger, Worshipper, Builder, or Hunter. Balancing their abilities is key to gathering food, defending your colony at night, and unlocking permanent bonuses. Staying longer in each level gives you more rewards but also ramps up difficulty, pushing you to carefully manage risk and sacrifice.
Each run feeds into the next, with mechanics that let you resurrect powerful crabs if you fail, encouraging experimentation rather than punishing mistakes. Ritual stones and randomized bonuses add variation, while achievements nudge players to try different strategies with each run.
While the game currently suffers from a few bugged achievements, the core gameplay loop is satisfying, accessible, and surprisingly tactical. The colorful art and gentle pacing make it appealing even for those new to the genre.
Crab God may not have a deep story, but its playful design and achievement-focused structure offer plenty of replay value for fans of bite-sized, strategic management sims.
9. Loddlenaut
Loddlenaut is a chill, cleanup-focused adventure where you restore a polluted alien ocean one trash pile at a time. Playing as a lone diver on the planet GUP-14, you’ll vacuum microplastics, scrub toxic gunk, and recycle debris to upgrade your tools, all while helping cute, axolotl-like creatures called loddles reclaim their home.
The gameplay is simple but satisfying. As you unlock new zones, you’ll upgrade your gear and use gadgets to manage oxygen and access new areas. Loddles follow you around, chirp back in response to your lights, and evolve depending on how you care for them, adding charm without complexity.
While its cozy vibes and tactile feedback shine, the game doesn’t shy away from subtle environmental commentary. Despite your efforts, trash gradually returns, hinting at the limits of individual action. Developed by Moon Lagoon and published by Secret Mode, Loddlenaut is soothing, adorable, and quietly sobering beneath its cheerful surface.
10. IronWolf VR
IronWolf VR is an immersive World War II submarine simulation built specifically for PC VR. Developed by Ionized Studios and released in 2022, it puts players directly inside a fully interactive U-boat, where every switch, dial, and hatch must be manually operated as you track convoys, launch torpedoes, and evade enemy destroyers. From the creak of your hull under pressure to the thunder of nearby depth charges, the sound design and tactile controls elevate the tension to impressive levels.
Each compartment of your submarine is richly detailed, offering roles like navigation, weapons management, and engineering. You can play solo with automation support or command a crew in multiplayer, where coordination becomes essential. While combat can be exhilarating, especially manning the deck gun, IronWolf VR also requires patience. Positioning, escaping, and repairing damage take time, particularly when playing alone.
An open-world mode adds strategic depth, requiring fuel and ammo management across longer campaigns. Predefined missions are also available for quick sessions and a solid challenge.
Though it suffers from occasional downtime and repetitive repair mechanics, IronWolf VR delivers one of the most authentic and atmospheric submarine experiences in VR to date. For fans of tactical simulation and WWII naval warfare, this is a standout title.
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The 2025 4chan Hack: How a Simple PDF Upload Took Down the Web’s Most Infamous Anonymous Imageboard
What is 4chan?
4chan is an anonymous English-language imageboard website launched on October 1, 2003, by then-15-year-old Christopher Poole, known online as "moot." Inspired by the Japanese imageboard Futaba Channel (2chan), 4chan was initially created as a space for Western anime and manga enthusiasts. Over time, it evolved into a vast and unfiltered forum encompassing a wide array of topics, including video games, politics, technology, and more.
The platform is structured into various boards, each dedicated to specific subjects. Users typically post anonymously, fostering a culture where content is judged on its merit rather than the identity of the poster. This anonymity has been both a defining feature and a source of controversy, as it allows for free expression but also enables the spread of offensive content. 4chan has also been instrumental in the creation and dissemination of numerous internet memes and trends.
A brief history of 4chan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
The Early Years
Christopher Poole founded 4chan in 2003, drawing inspiration from Japanese imageboards and the online community of Something Awful. The site began with a focus on anime and manga but quickly expanded to include a multitude of boards covering diverse topics. One of the most notorious boards, /b/ (Random), became known for its anything-goes policy, leading to a mix of creativity and chaos.
Notable Incidents
Over the years, 4chan has been at the center of several high-profile incidents:
* Rickrolling (2007): 4chan users initiated the "Rickroll" meme by tricking others into clicking links that led to Rick Astley's 1987 hit "Never Gonna Give You Up." This bait-and-switch prank became a widespread internet phenomenon.
* Steve Jobs Death Hoax (2008): A false rumor about Apple's CEO Steve Jobs suffering a heart attack originated on 4chan, leading to a significant drop in Apple's stock price before the rumor was debunked.
* Pitbull to Alaska (2012): In response to a Walmart promotion to bring rapper Pitbull to the store with the most votes, 4chan users orchestrated a campaign to send him to the most remote location possible, Kodiak, Alaska. The campaign succeeded, and Pitbull honored the results by performing there.
Ownership Changes
In January 2015, Poole stepped down as the site's administrator, citing the stress of managing the platform. Later that year, he sold 4chan to Hiroyuki Nishimura, the founder of 2channel, the Japanese message board that had originally inspired 4chan. Nishimura's acquisition aimed to bring experienced leadership to the site, given his background in managing large online communities.
The recent 4chan hack: A breakdown
On April 14, 2025, the notoriously anonymous platform 4chan was hacked through a critical vulnerability involving PDF file uploads. Attackers exploited outdated and insecure software handling PDF files, allowing them to gain remote code execution and ultimately escalate privileges to obtain full administrative access to 4chan’s servers. This breach led to significant data exposure, including sensitive user and administrative information.
1. Who Did It?
Reports of a possible breach surfaced when users noticed unusual activity on 4chan, including the brief reappearance of a previously banned board. Shortly after, the site was defaced with the mocking message: “U GOT HACKED XD.” Further evidence of a breach emerged when a rival forum, Soyjak.party, began posting screenshots allegedly showing 4chan’s internal administrative systems and databases.
Soyjak.party, a splinter community formed from the remnants of 4chan’s defunct /qa/ board, later confirmed their involvement. The group, which had longstanding grievances against 4chan’s moderation team, appeared motivated by a desire to expose and embarrass site administrators.
Screenshots from the alleged hack indicated substantial access to sensitive internal information, including administrator usernames, email addresses, user IP addresses, deleted posts, and even internal documentation. The situation escalated further as Soyjak.party members shared personal details, or "doxes," of purported 4chan administrators and moderators.
2. How the Breach Occurred
Certain 4chan boards—such as /gd/, /po/, /qst/, /sci/, and /tg/—allowed users to upload PDF files. However, the platform failed to verify that uploaded files were genuine PDFs. This oversight permitted attackers to upload malicious PostScript files disguised with a .pdf extension.
These files were processed by Ghostscript, a tool used to generate thumbnails for uploaded documents. Unfortunately, 4chan was utilizing a version of Ghostscript from 2012, which contained known vulnerabilities. By exploiting these vulnerabilities, the attacker achieved remote code execution on the server.
Subsequently, the attacker leveraged a misconfigured SUID (Set User ID upon execution) binary to escalate privileges, gaining root access to the server. This level of access allowed the attacker to exfiltrate sensitive data, including 4chan's source code, internal logs, and administrative information.
3. Aftermath
The severity of the breach prompted an immediate and comprehensive response from 4chan administrators. The site was temporarily taken offline to mitigate further damage and thoroughly investigate the vulnerabilities. During this downtime, administrators patched identified weaknesses, removed PDF upload capabilities, updated internal systems, and reinforced security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
4. Is 4chan Back Up?
As of April 27, 2025, 4chan has returned online with limited functionality and enhanced security measures. PDF uploads remain disabled permanently, and certain vulnerable or controversial boards have been removed. While the technical recovery has been successful, the breach has profoundly impacted user trust and raised ongoing concerns about the platform's security and future sustainability. Administrators continue to monitor the site closely to ensure its stability and security moving forward.
Conclusion
The recent hack on 4chan serves as a stark reminder of how even longstanding internet platforms can fall victim to neglected infrastructure and outdated security practices. By exploiting a vulnerability in the site’s PDF upload system, attackers were able to access sensitive internal data and expose many of the administrators behind the platform’s veil of anonymity.
Although 4chan has since restored basic functionality and implemented new security measures, the breach has deeply shaken its user base and highlighted systemic weaknesses. It also reinforces a broader lesson: users should never place personal or sensitive information on anonymous platforms like 4chan or Reddit, where even a small lapse in security can have massive consequences.
Moving forward, 4chan faces the difficult task of rebuilding trust and proving that it can still operate as a platform for anonymous free expression without compromising the safety of its users and staff.
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What is a Monitor Burn and How to Fix it?
As temperatures start to warm up in the northern hemisphere, you may be thinking about ways to avoid sunburn. From sunscreen to seeking shade, It’s good to be sun safe, but don’t neglect the ever-present threat of monitor burn! Yes, monitor burn (also commonly called screen burn and image burn, with or without an “in”) is a pesky phenomenon where an image remains on your display for longer than you want it to.
Like a ghost stuck in the display, monitor burn affects different screen technologies in different ways. Sometimes screen burn makes a brief appearance, while at other times (OLED monitor burn in) it may remain as a permanent reminder of a previous image.
Sounds annoying? Well it is, but even if you’re reading this article through the dismal fog of monitor burn in, don’t give up yet. Read on to discover the science behind monitor burn, why it happens, as well as how to fix it and avoid future burns!
So, what is monitor burn (aka screen burn)?
As much as you may enjoy the aesthetic charm of your monitor logo, or UI bar, you don’t want them to linger after you navigate elsewhere. Monitor burn is essentially a permanent discoloration on LCD, LED, and OLED screens. It strikes when static images such as logos or navigation buttons stay on your screen for extended periods, leading to uneven pixel wear, and eventually burning these images into your display like an unwanted tattoo or brand. Understanding pixel wear helps with understanding burn-in: pixels displaying bright, static images for extended periods degrade faster than others, losing brightness. This leads to discoloration, ghosting, and eventually burn-in.
Different screen tech and burn-in, what’s the score?
LED, LCD monitor burn in, and OLED burn in are slightly different creatures. The severity of burn-in potential hinges on how the pixels in the display generate light to create images.
* LED displays (LCDs with LED backlighting) generally only suffer from temporary burn-in, known as image persistence, a condition which usually clears up with time.
* LCD displays are equipped with a permanent backlight, and use liquid crystals that don’t degrade in the same way as pixels do, meaning that burn in is rare.
* While OLED and even QD-OLED represent the pinnacle of image clarity and display technology, their single pixel nature leaves them very vulnerable to monitor burn. OLED stands for organic light emitting diode, meaning that each pixel emits its own light. Each pixel has the potential to degrade unevenly with static content, resulting in the dreaded screen burn.
How to prevent monitor burn
Prevention is better than cure, and thankfully there are a few simple steps that screen users can take to lower the risk of monitor burn-in. While some of these may seem obvious, when we’re busy gaming, working, or streaming, at times we may overlook basic self-care, let alone preventative steps to keep our displays healthy.
* Brightness. Tone it down! If you’ve been around since the dawn of the computing age, there’s no denying that the brightness of modern displays is a marvel. That said, high brightness levels actually accelerate pixel wear, especially on OLED displays. To lower the stress on your display (and in turn your stress), keep brightness settings in the mid-range, or use adaptive brightness settings to ensure years of comfortable, burn-in free computing.
* Stop static content. If you’re a gamer and you pause your game on your beloved OLED display then fall asleep, there’s a high risk of monitor burn. If you play games or use software with persistent UI, make sure to switch tasks, or hide overlays when convenient to guard against monitor burn.
* Screensavers. Who’d have thought that screensavers could actually save your screen from damage? Well they can: animated, moving screensavers that are programmed to kick-in during periods of inactivity will stop static images like logos and navigation buttons from being permanently etched onto your display. Your display may also have pixel shift or logo dimming: minuscule automatic adjustments to even-out pixel use and prevent burn in. Check your settings to enable these saints of the screen.
* Take a break. Sounds obvious, but taking regular breaks from your screen can positively impact your health as well as your screen health. Studies have found that breaks increase your productivity, and they also reduce the chance of permanent image retention on your screen. So turn off the display, take a short walk, and you’ll both benefit! Alternatively, use screen timeout or sleep mode for periods of inactivity, so even if you forget to turn your monitor off, it will automatically dim, reducing the risk of burn in.
How to fix a monitor burn
If you’ve been burned, there are several steps that are worth trying in order to rid your display of the barbarous burn in.
* Pixel refresher. Don’t worry, the makers of OLED displays are painfully aware of monitor burn. So much so, that the majority of modern OLED monitors and TVs feature inbuilt technology to correct uneven pixel wear. Pixel refreshers, or compensation cycles recalibrate voltage levels across the screen to reduce burnt-in images and ghosting. Check in your display’s settings: some screens run this fix automatically, while others may require settings changes.
* White screen. If you’ve got a mild case of image retention, then displaying a full white screen, or playing a specialized burn-in repair video featuring a range of migraine-inducing shifting colors and noise patterns can help to neutralize mildly degraded pixels, bringing your screen back to its former glory.
* Brightness. We mentioned this above, but it really is the most important step you can take if you’ve already got some burn in going on and you want to prevent further damage to your display. Overuse and high brightness settings stress the pixels and can lead to monitor burn. So, take a deep breath and set screen brightness to 50% or below. Ideally, turn your screen off completely during times of inactivity, or overnight.
Burn the burn
We hope this guide to monitor burn in and how to fix it has been helpful. If you’re suffering from screen burn, be sure to try some of these steps to fix your display issues. While monitors come in many shapes, sizes and display technologies, getting the settings right can be the most important first step to preventing monitor burn. If you use an Acer monitor, be sure to make use of our extended service plans, for added peace of mind. As a final thought, remember that reducing brightness and letting your screen rest can go a long way in helping your screen to regenerate.
