Hey folks, I recently ran into a bit of trouble while using a VMware VM to download some sketchy apps, resulting in over a thousand malware detections when I scanned the VM with Malwarebytes. To fix this, I deleted VMware from my PC, scanned my host with Malwarebytes, and found no issues. I then did a full reset of my main computer with the local reinstall option. Now I've signed into the new Windows 11 with a fresh Microsoft account and ran multiple scans with Malwarebytes and HitmanPro, all coming up clean. I'm probably just being overly cautious since I need my PC for work, but I want to ensure everything's truly clear before I dive back in. I don't want to go as far as resetting my BIOS or wiping my disk, just looking for some reassurance or additional steps to make sure my setup is safe. Thanks for any tips!
3 Answers
It's good to hear you've taken steps to clean up your system! Using Windows Sandbox next time can help contain any potential threats. Although it seems unlikely that the malware escaped the VM, it's always smart to be cautious. A full format and reinstall are the best ways to ensure a clean slate, but your scans showing zero threats are definitely a good sign! Just keep your software updated and run those scans regularly.
If you're worried about the safety of your PC, the simplest route is to scan with your preferred antivirus once more just to ensure you're clean. Besides that, if formatting the drives isn't on the table for you, just continually running scans and using reliable security software is the way to go. Trust your scans—if they say everything’s fine, it’s likely true!
Definitely keep your antivirus up to date! Regular scans can help catch any lingering issues.
Resetting can help but it's not foolproof. The best way to ensure safety is to wipe the entire disk and do a fresh install if you’re really paranoid, but if you've done thorough scans and found nothing, you should be okay for now. Just stay vigilant!
I wouldn't suggest running anything suspicious in a sandbox, though. Some malware can easily detect that it's in a safe environment and act differently to avoid detection.