I clicked a link sent through a friend's messaging account. They said it would let us watch anime together, but it installed something on my gaming PC. A person then appeared over my game, claimed to have access to my accounts, and threatened me for money. They also contacted me through another account and tried to pressure my friends into clicking the same thing. I disconnected the PC from the internet, started it in Safe Mode, removed the suspicious app, and shut it down.
Since then, I created a new email account and have been moving important accounts over to it, changing passwords, and adding authenticator-based two-factor authentication. I'm exhausted and frightened, and I'm unsure whether I need to replace the computer entirely. I believe I should perform a clean Windows installation, but I don't know how to do that or whether I need a product key. I have an older Windows 10 installation USB and would appreciate simple, step-by-step guidance. Should the computer remain offline, and how do I get it out of Safe Mode safely?
4 Answers
This sounds like a compromised friend’s account being used to spread a common scam. Keep the PC disconnected for now, block and report the person, and don’t pay or continue arguing with them. From a separate trusted device, change passwords for important accounts, sign out other sessions, check recovery email and phone settings, and enable two-factor authentication. Save the backup codes somewhere secure. A password manager can make the account cleanup easier.
The USB needs to be a bootable Windows installer, not merely a drive containing Windows files. It can be created using another trusted computer, and a friend or reputable repair shop can help if the process feels overwhelming. Start the affected PC with the installer inserted, choose the USB as the startup device, delete the old Windows partitions during setup, and install Windows again. Keep the machine offline until the reinstall is complete; afterward, run updates and security scans before restoring files or signing back into accounts.
If you aren’t comfortable identifying partitions or changing boot settings, getting help from a trusted technician is safer than guessing. Don’t restore unknown programs or files from the old installation.
Contact the support teams for the email, gaming, and messaging accounts, especially if you notice changed recovery details or lost access. Ask them to secure or suspend compromised accounts. For the computer, restarting normally should usually exit Safe Mode; if it keeps returning there, open System Configuration and clear the Safe boot setting, or let the person helping you handle it. You can remain disconnected until the Windows reinstall is ready.
You probably don’t need to throw the computer away. The safest approach is a clean Windows installation that deletes the existing system and recreates the partitions. A genuine Windows license is often stored in the computer’s firmware, so the installer may activate automatically after you connect to the internet. If it asks for a key, choose the option to skip it and install the same edition—Home or Pro—that was previously installed.
I have an older Windows 10 USB, but I don’t understand how to boot from it. I’m also nervous because the computer is currently in Safe Mode and offline.
I’ve already started moving accounts to a new email and adding authenticator protection. I also saved screenshots because the same person appears to be targeting my friends.