I just left my Windows 11 laptop idling for about 5-10 minutes, and when I came back, it seemed like it was doing things on its own. It opened Chrome, pasted a suspicious code ("4935-91a7b3ec4613a&tag=9939_2025-2-13&=%s"), and searched for it, bringing up some sketchy sites. I managed to force it off before anything too bad happened. I was connected to my school's WiFi, and nothing was connected via Bluetooth. I haven't visited any sketchy sites since I got the laptop six months ago, and I'm really worried about it because it's a $2000 gaming machine. What should I do now?
4 Answers
Running a scan with antivirus software is a must. If you’re really worried, back up your important files and consider reinstalling Windows. Better safe than sorry!
I ran a scan with Windows Defender, and it claims there’s no threat.
It sounds like remote access might have been enabled on your laptop. The safest route would be to perform a clean install of Windows. You can do this using a USB drive and make sure to delete all partitions on the system drive. Check out this standard guide for instructions. Also, don't forget to secure your accounts: change passwords and enable two-factor authentication where possible, especially if there's been any suspicious activity on them.
Absolutely! Just remember to back up any important files beforehand. If you're using OneDrive, most of your files might already be there, but watch out for anything in your downloads folder. It's better to download fresh copies of any software instead of running old installers.
Have you checked in with your school's IT department? Since you were on their WiFi, they might have insights. Sometimes, legitimate IT activities can seem suspicious if you’re not familiar with them.
Yeah, I’ll definitely follow up with them.
Make sure you have backed up your data before making any changes to your system, as modifying BIOS settings or disk partitions can lead to data loss. Always double-check your backups before proceeding. You can find more tips in the FAQ thread in this community.
That’s good to hear, but it’s best to rely on more than one scanner just in case. But be cautious about backups too; if you suspect malware, it’s safer to wipe everything and start fresh.