For the past few weeks, my computer has been acting strangely, and I was considering a full Windows reset due to potential corrupted files. I take virus protection seriously, so this situation is unnerving. Just now, while browsing, I heard someone speaking in what seemed to be Russian—it sounded like they said 'yooo', accompanied by some breathing and fan noises. This was really creepy! I couldn't find any open tabs to explain it and it felt like someone was testing whether I could hear them. After that, the sounds stopped but returned shortly after. I immediately locked my Bitwarden vault and canceled my backup with Backblaze. I need to back up my files safely before resetting my computer. Can anyone advise me on what steps I should take?
4 Answers
Try booting into safe mode to back up your important docs. Once that's done, I recommend reinstalling Windows using a USB drive for a clean install. Make sure you have antivirus software—consider Bitdefender or something strong—this situation could mean your system was compromised. Change all your passwords from a different device as well!
First off, unplug your internet connection immediately and consider reinstalling Windows. It's really important to isolate your machine from any potential threats. After that, you can think about backing up your files—just make sure you do it in a secure way.
What’s the best way to back up files while dealing with a potential virus? I’d hate to lose everything! Any tips on that?
Have you checked if you might have some browser ad playing in a background tab? Sometimes those weird voice ads can pop up unexpectedly!
I use adblockers and this didn't sound like any ad I've heard before. It was too strange to be an ad.
Make sure to check for any other tabs you might have open. Also, consider this seriously—if you’re hearing things that aren’t there, it could be a sign of carbon monoxide in your environment. It’s sneaky and dangerous, so get a detector if you don’t have one. If your machine is compromised, disconnect, power it off, and change passwords from a secure computer. Then do a full format and reinstall Windows.
Hallucinations? That sounds alarming! Thankfully, I have 2FA on all my accounts, which should add an extra layer of security. Do viruses only stay on the OS, or could they also affect other drives? I want to protect my project files.
I've used some sketchy software from trusted sources, so it might be time to tighten my security. I've just updated my master password for Bitwarden. Once I change my other passwords, can I safely turn my PC back on for backing up?