I've been dealing with some serious malware problems lately. It started when I was looking for photobooth software and accidentally ran an .exe file that I downloaded. After that, I installed Bitdefender because Malwarebytes wasn't cutting it. Bitdefender started giving me weird notifications, like 'regsrvr32' and something about windows processes, which kept popping up every time I booted up. Then things got worse—my Discord got blocked, and someone accessed my Steam from India! I did a full reset of my PC, changed all my passwords, and set up two-factor authentication for some accounts. This morning, I set everything back up but I'm still feeling anxious. I installed Malwarebytes and even activated a 30-day McAfee trial. While scanning files, I found some suspicious .exe files but they seemed legit. ChatGPT suggested I try safe mode, but I couldn't even log in! Eventually, I had to reset my PC again. Is my computer completely out of order? I'm exhausted both physically and mentally, and I have a college internship coming up soon. I don't know how to explain this to my parents. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Look, if you really suspect malware, sometimes a full wipe is the best way to go. Resetting doesn't get rid of everything. I recommend reinstalling Windows from a USB. Be sure to change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all your accounts afterward. Third-party antivirus might not be worth it; Windows Defender plus an adblocker could suffice. Also, Malwarebytes is good for an extra layer occasionally, but don’t rely solely on it!
If you're in doubt, wiping your machine could save you a lot of hassle. You can reset it if you want, but reinstalling via a Windows ISO is generally cleaner. Just remember, it will delete all your data, so make backups if possible! Also, run32dll is normal for executing DLL files, but definitely change your passwords and enable multi-factor authentication. It's better to be safe than sorry!
Honestly, it sounds like a tough spot, but you've taken some great steps so far. If you continue to have issues, a clean install is often the best call. Just be cautious about what you download in the future. I recommend sticking with trusted sources and keeping your security programs up to date. Hang in there!
But isn't wiping the drive extreme? I thought there were other ways to clean up the system without going that far.