I'm really worried about my laptop because it seems like I've been hacked. I've lost access to multiple accounts like Steam, Origin, LinkedIn, and Telegram, and I suspect it might be due to some malware from a cracked game I downloaded recently. I want to know how to do a clean install of Windows to get rid of anything malicious. Can a clean install clear this out completely? Also, should I back up my files first, or could that just bring the malware back? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
To perform a clean install, start by creating a bootable USB drive on another computer using tools like Rufus or the Windows Media Creation Tool. Plug that into your laptop, restart, and press the key for "boot from device" (usually shown on the screen). If you're unsure, just access the BIOS and set the USB as the first boot option. During setup, make sure to delete all existing partitions. After the installation, you'll need to reinstall your drivers from the manufacturers' websites. Oh, and enable two-factor authentication on your accounts ASAP for extra security!
Yeah, definitely reinstall Windows using the USB drive. Just make sure to delete all partitions during the process. After reinstalling, change your passwords and immediately set up 2FA on everything. You can back up your files, but scan them with Windows Defender first to ensure they’re safe before moving them to the new installation.
You can back up important files, but it’s smart to scan them with Windows Defender before moving anything over to the new system. Cloning your old OS isn’t a good idea since that might also backtrack the malware. As for the scanning, it’s best to do it on your files as a whole, or you can scan them individually if you want to be extra cautious. Good luck!
Related Questions
Can't Load PhpMyadmin On After Server Update
Redirect www to non-www in Apache Conf
How To Check If Your SSL Cert Is SHA 1
Windows TrackPad Gestures