I recently put together a new PC, but I used an open box motherboard from Newegg, and now I'm panicking because it feels like I'm getting hacked. I don't know if it's my imagination, but I'm wondering if there's a way to check for viruses in the BIOS or UEFI. Is it really possible for keyloggers to operate at that level? I've noticed a lot of suspicious activity, like emails being accessed and altered without my permission. I managed to recover some deleted emails that showed notifications about my accounts being compromised. I've been changing passwords as I find issues, but I'm scared that something's lodged deep and could be logging my keystrokes. I haven't downloaded much lately, but the only thing I recently added was some local AI software from GitHub. I'm new to this whole topic and feeling pretty lost—I really need some help!
8 Answers
Most likely, it’s the local AI software that caused the issues. It could have installed some libraries or tools that messed with your system.
It is technically possible to infect the BIOS, but I’m not sure how you would test for that. Reflashing it with the latest version could be a solution. By the way, where did you get that AI software from? Wiping and reinstalling might be your best bet, especially with a new setup like this.
I think you downloaded a virus, which is way more likely than having issues with the BIOS. If you're concerned, you can flash the BIOS, but definitely do a wipe of everything—it’s the safest option!
Nuking everything is definitely the way to go—better safe than sorry!
Honestly, if this is happening, it might be too late for you. Sorry to say it, but it sounds like you’re in a real pickle.
On the bright side, at least the PC can get a fresh start!
The motherboard itself isn't the problem; it's definitely the shady software you executed. A format is the best way forward. Just remember to be careful next time you run random downloads from the internet!
I know! I use 2FA on most of my accounts, but somehow they got past it and drained my bank account early today. Thankfully, I managed to recover that, but I’m definitely sticking to trusted sources from now on.
Totally agree with this! Always research your downloads before executing anything.
Sounds to me like you just got 'newegged.' But really, it’s likely that the downloads are the root cause of your issues, so wiping your system seems like the right choice.
Honestly, you should just wipe everything and start fresh with a clean install of Windows. It's probably the safest route right now, and you'll end up doing lots of account recovery anyway. Better to do it from a clean slate!
Yeah, I’m on the same page. My friend warned me about potential BIOS viruses, but it’s more likely that the AI stuff I downloaded caused this mess. I saw emails getting funky right after that download, so it feels like a coincidence.
I grabbed comfyui from GitHub. Just trying to explore that part of PC stuff, but now I think I’ll stick to gaming for a while until I get everything sorted out. Doing a clean wipe now and keeping it simple for a bit.