Hey everyone, I messed up big time. A few days ago, I got a cracked version of Adobe After Effects (I know, dumb move), and during the setup, Windows Defender warned me about a Trojan. I quarantined and deleted it, and did a scan that showed nothing else. But then things got worse. I found someone accessed my Microsoft account from Russia, and I've changed my passwords for my important accounts like banking, Amazon, and PayPal, plus I enabled 2FA. Somehow, my email got signed up for tons of spam newsletters, my Steam account was accessed and funds were transferred out, and even my Spotify account got hacked! I think it might be a credential sniffer or something similar.
I'm really anxious about what to do now. Do I need to completely reinstall Windows from a different PC and wipe all my drives? I need to keep some important data like Word and PDF docs for school, but I'm worried they might have viruses. Is there a way to safely save that data or check if it's infected? I've learned my lesson, and I'm grateful for any advice since I'm really stressed out about this.
5 Answers
It's great that you're taking this seriously. If you saved files, scan them with multiple antivirus tools to check for any threats. After reinstalling Windows, don’t forget to enable security features like virtualized security in the BIOS. This could help you prevent similar issues in the future by making it harder for malware to strike.
I feel for you, Tim! You've been through a lot. But asking for help is the right step. Alongside everything mentioned, remember to wipe your drives securely. A normal format might not be enough if malware is more advanced. Look into using Virtual Machines for testing software in the future; it keeps your main system safer. Finally, try contacting customer support for affected services like Steam or your bank; they might help you recover lost resources after the breach.
First off, get ready for a clean install of Windows. Do it from a USB drive to ensure you're getting a fresh version without any risks. Before you install anything, change all your passwords, preferably from a secure device. Consider creating a new email address since your current one is bombarded with spam. If you didn't back up your files before, try to recover only the essential ones but do this with caution. Use cloud storage for backups, not external drives, and check files with antivirus before restoring them. Just ensure to keep your system secure moving forward.
A serious lesson learned here! They really thrive on cracked software. Make sure you use reputable sources for software in the future. Start by backing up essential files to a cloud service. Then, go for a BIOS wipe and reinstall Windows 11. After that, it's key to have a solid antivirus like Bitdefender to catch anything that may have slipped through. Also, reset your home router to remove any potential backdoor flaws. Don't skip the step of checking for updates on all your accounts and doing a credit monitoring service for extra security.
You really need to consider every angle here. If personal info like banking details is at stake, notify your bank and get a credit monitoring service immediately. As for your browsed or stored passwords, realize that anything saved could be compromised. So, change all online passwords, even for those you don't think were affected. You should also run a thorough scan using multiple tools like Malwarebytes and VirusTotal for extra precaution.
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