I recently messed up by running a fake captcha/info stealer on my mom's laptop while trying to mod GTA: San Andreas. To deal with it, I performed a full Windows Defender scan, a Malwarebytes scan, and an offline Windows Defender scan. Thankfully, I caught the fake captcha early and deleted the trojan it tried to install. After scanning, I found the main file named 'fake captcha.exe' and quarantined it before removing it. Everything seems normal now, but I'm not sure if I'm really safe. Should I still change my passwords? The laptop only has Facebook and Gmail accounts on it, and doesn't store any banking information or sensitive files for school. I'm really worried about the situation and need advice from more experienced users. I'm also really disappointed in myself for getting a virus—this is my first time dealing with one, and I'm just 13! My mom doesn't remember her Facebook or Gmail passwords, and I'm anxious about what to do next. Help!
3 Answers
Definitely change all important passwords ASAP! Back up any important files you need but avoid keeping programs. A clean install of Windows is the safest bet to ensure everything is wiped out. It feels overwhelming right now, but it'll get better. Just be more cautious in the future—lesson learned!
You're not dumb at all! It happens to a lot of people, especially when trying to explore new things. Just make sure to back up important files and then do a fresh install of the OS. Your safety comes first!
It sounds like you handled the situation pretty well by removing the malware early on. However, it's definitely wise to take extra precautions. You should reinstall Windows to make sure everything is completely cleared out. Also, changing all important passwords and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts is critical—especially since you were concerned about your mom's accounts being potentially compromised. Make sure to keep your software up to date and avoid downloading unknown programs in the future.
I appreciate the advice, but there's a problem—she doesn’t remember her passwords, and the phone number for her original Gmail is gone. What can I do to help her change the passwords?