So, here's the situation: back in June, I lent my PC to a friend who ended up downloading malware and setting up some sketchy email accounts. I think he might have sent my details to someone because I noticed deleted messages on my Telegram account from an unknown contact. He even mentioned paying someone for help with something related to cryptocurrency. Since then, it feels like every device in my home is compromised. I've tried everything I can to clean them, but it seems like the malware is really embedded in the systems. I've factory reset phones and even bought new ones, but they keep getting hacked again. My WiFi might be compromised too since this has been going on for so long. I'm feeling watched and like my data is being misused, and it's stressing me out completely. I want real advice on how to get rid of this, but the cybersecurity experts I've contacted seem unreliable. I just want to live normally without fearing that I have to lose everything. Any steps I can take to eliminate this mess?
1 Answer
If you suspect malware, a full reset of your devices is usually the best starting point. For your PC, completely wipe the drives and reinstall Windows. This method clears out about 99.9% of malware. But I do want to mention that sometimes these situations can lead to feeling paranoid. If you're really feeling overwhelmed, it might be a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional to sort through everything.
Just to add, if you go for a reset, ensure to change all your passwords immediately after and set up two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Yeah, resetting devices sounds like a solid plan. Just be sure to back up important files before wiping everything. And it's totally normal to feel anxious in situations like this.