Hey everyone! I just booted up my computer, and out of nowhere, three command prompt windows popped up on my screen. This really freaked me out because I had a bad experience with hackers about two months ago when an info stealer hitched a ride into my system through Discord. I've already run scans with Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, and Windows Defender – all came back clean so far. Just in case, I'm planning to try a few more scanners. To add to my worry, I had my PC wiped and Windows reinstalled at Best Buy shortly after the hack. I recently downloaded some mods for Minecraft from a legitimate source, which used CMD for their functions. I'm just really anxious right now. Any advice on how to ensure my PC is completely safe would mean a lot!
1 Answer
First things first, disconnect your computer from the Internet right now. Seriously, just do it. After that, check what's booting up with your system. Open Task Manager, and hit that speedometer icon on the left to see what's set to run at startup. You might want to use a tool called Autostarts, but it does require an Internet connection. It’ll give you a deeper look at what's starting up, including registry entries. Also, take a closer look at any programs you've installed recently. And remember, steer clear of sketchy websites unless you’ve got solid protection in place. Ads are a huge vector for malware infections, so consider using ad blockers to keep those pesky threats at bay.
Thanks for the tips! I'm on it. I double-checked the site I visited and ran the downloaded files through VirusTotal; everything seemed fine. Do you think this could be linked to that info stealer from a couple of months ago?
Sounds like a smart move! I feel you on the stress part. Is there anything in particular you think I should be looking for as signs of trouble?