I downloaded some files and ran an executable that I probably should not have. I later discovered what appeared to be a trojan on my laptop and think I removed it. When I opened Steam, it asked me to log in again even though I had not intentionally signed out. I have also had older social-media accounts compromised in the past, so I'm worried that this malware may have stolen my passwords. I'm 13 and really stressed—what should I do first to protect my accounts and computer?
2 Answers
Treat the laptop as potentially compromised until it has been properly cleaned. Using a different device you trust, change the password for your email first, then your gaming and other important accounts. Use a different password for every service, enable two-factor authentication, and sign out of other sessions where the service allows it. Since you’re 13, get a parent or another trusted adult involved right away. The safest fix for a confirmed trojan is usually backing up only personal files you know are safe and reinstalling Windows from official installation media—not copying programs or unknown executables back afterward.
You can run reputable offline malware scans and get professional help, but a clean reinstall is the most reliable way to remove malware that may hide from normal antivirus tools. Have an adult help you copy documents, photos, and other irreplaceable files to an external drive, scan them, and reinstall only trusted applications afterward.
Steam asking you to log in again does not prove that your account was stolen—updates, cleared cookies, or a changed security state can cause that. Still, because you ran a suspicious executable, secure your accounts from a clean device rather than entering new passwords on the laptop. Check account login history, revoke unfamiliar sessions or API keys, contact support if anything changed, and do not reuse passwords. A password manager can generate and store unique passwords, and 2FA adds important protection.
I really don’t want to reinstall Windows because I have a huge number of files on the laptop. Is there another option?