I've made a mistake while browsing the internet and downloaded something called Win Riser to update my drivers, which turned out to be malware that Windows didn't catch. I accidentally installed a few things from it before I figured out the issue and ran a scan with Malwarebytes. It found a lot of malware from Win Riser, including one file named Avanquest. I removed everything and thought I was in the clear, but today, Malwarebytes detected a random download that was labeled as a PUP while I was just playing a game with only Steam and Spotify running. I'm really worried and considering doing a hard reset on my computer, but I've heard that some malware can stick around even after that. What are my best options here?
2 Answers
A clean reinstall is the way to go! Just make sure you're not reformatting the drive if you can help it. Also, make sure to change passwords on all your accounts afterwards, even if it's just a small change.
You should definitely consider a clean installation of Windows. Make sure to use a USB stick and have a backup plan for any files you want to keep. Just remember, you should avoid reformatting if you can; it’s best to do a clean install without it.
That’s what I’m leaning toward! It’s frustrating though since I’d have to wipe everything out, but my paranoia is getting the better of me.
Why shouldn't I just reformat? I don’t have much important data, but I’d like to follow the best advice. Any tutorial links would also be super helpful!