My computer was recently compromised, and ever since then it has been crashing almost every day. The monitors sometimes glitch, and the system does not always shut down normally. I'm worried that malware might be consuming memory or damaging something, but I'm not sure where to check logs or diagnose the cause. I also can't sign back into my Microsoft account because the attacker changed the username and password. What should I do first, and is there a way to recover my files and account?
1 Answer
If you believe the system was compromised, treat it as untrusted. Disconnect it from the internet, use a separate clean device to secure your email and Microsoft account, and change passwords after checking recovery options and enabling two-factor authentication. Back up only personal documents and photos—not programs or suspicious files—then perform a clean operating-system reinstall. A full reset usually removes persistent malware, but it can erase applications and possibly files, so back up carefully first.
I’m concerned about losing my files, and I’m also locked out because the account name and password were changed. I’ll try the account recovery process from another device before resetting the computer.