Security software may mistakenly flag Steam's web helper or the client itself as a threat, blocking its outbound traffic.

If none work, the problem may be on Steam’s side (server outage) — check Steam Status or Downdetector.

If present, delete those lines or add # at the start to comment them out. Save and restart Steam.

Security software can be overprotective. If you have recently installed new antivirus software, it might be blocking Steam's "Client Bootstrapper."

Antivirus programs or VPNs can misroute or obstruct Steam's traffic. Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Error -118 1. Restart Steam and Your Network Hardware