I recently received a message from what I thought was a friend asking for help on a student project. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a hacker who tricked me and gained access to my Google account along with my passwords. They threatened to sell my information and hold my accounts hostage unless I paid them. I did pay, and they deleted some data, but then they demanded more money, claiming they could hack my computer again if I didn't pay them for guidance on removing the malware. I've done multiple scans and used the recommended Windows malware removal but I'm unsure if I'm completely safe. The malware was named TumiyaV41. Has anyone dealt with this before? How can I be sure it's gone?
3 Answers
First of all, never pay these scammers; they’re just criminals trying to make a quick buck. You need to secure your Google account right away. Check if they have remote access or merely your email credentials. Make sure you set up MFA (multi-factor authentication) ASAP. Use a different device to log into your Google account and reset your password and recovery methods. If you're really worried about malware, the safest bet is to do a fresh install of Windows.
Also, how did you make the payment? Please tell me you didn’t log into your bank account while they had access!
Yeah, definitely reinstall Windows from a USB stick, change all your passwords, and let your bank know about the situation. If you can, do this on a different computer to ensure your current one is free from malware. Download the Windows 11 ISO and use something like Rufus to create your USB installer.
Just stay cautious; it’s better to be safe!
I already have a USB on the way to reinstall, but I'm concerned they might've compromised my WiFi network.
Reinstalling Windows is a solid move. Make sure you change all your passwords after that, and enable 2FA for everything. Also, remove any unknown devices from your accounts and consider using a password manager to enhance your security. And seriously, paying them won’t stop them; they’ll just keep coming back for more.
I get it now. I just wasn't thinking clearly! I was using Google’s password manager, which is how they accessed my passwords to begin with.
Yeah, I panicked and wasn't thinking straight at the time. I did set up 2FA on my email, but they still managed to get in. They seemed to be monitoring me when I tried to change my password. I didn’t make the payment through my bank account, so at least there's that.