Hey everyone, I really need some help. I foolishly downloaded a cracked version of Adobe Premiere Pro from a sketchy site called adobeportal and now I think I got hacked. I'm really worried the hacker might have access to my emails or even my entire computer. I've reset my PC, but I'm not sure if that was enough to keep me safe. I don't know much about malware or what steps I should take next. I can't afford a new computer or any fancy software, and I'm really stressed about the possibility of losing my Steam account or something. Any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
First off, a reset doesn't always get rid of malware, so it's crucial to take extra steps. Here’s what you should do: 1) Disconnect your PC from the internet right away. 2) Change all your passwords on a different device (make sure to enable 2FA where you can). 3) Download a fresh operating system ISO and create a bootable USB stick. 4) Backup your documents (but avoid copying any apps or games). 5) Boot from the USB stick and completely format your hard drive during installation. 6) After reinstalling the OS, restore your backed-up data only after a thorough check. This way, you should be safer from malware.
Is this guaranteed to clean my PC of malware completely? I’ve heard people mention replacing the SSD, but I can’t afford that. I’ve only got a few games saved; I'm scared about how this could affect my mom too.