I recently faced a security scare when my little brother managed to download a suspicious game installer on my Windows PC. Afterward, I noticed that my Instagram and Discord accounts were bombarded with spam and scam messages. To address this, I turned off my Wi-Fi, reset all my passwords, set up two-factor authentication wherever possible, and performed a full factory reset on my PC. I kept my SSD (C:) where Windows is installed but removed and destroyed the two HDDs that housed my files.
Now I'm wondering, is my PC safe to use again? I've read some opinions online and got some advice from chatGPT, but I'd like to hear another perspective on this situation.
2 Answers
When you mention a factory reset, did you do it through the Windows settings? In case you did, keep in mind that for maximum safety, a clean installation via a USB stick is crucial. Otherwise, there's a chance that the malware could still be hanging around. Don't forget to change your passwords on all accounts, and make sure they're unique. Using a trusted password manager can boost your security quite a bit, especially compared to the built-in options in browsers.
It's generally advised that a factory reset after an infection may not be enough. To ensure complete security, you should reinstall Windows using a USB stick. This method guarantees that everything is wiped clean, minimizing any risk of lingering malware. And honestly, there was no need to destroy the other drives—just formatting them would have sufficed!
Thanks for the clarification! I had backups and was using old drives, so I didn't mind destroying them.
Yes, I did a full reset from the Windows settings, so sort of like starting fresh.