I'm really stressed out over some potential malware issues on my PC. It all started when I downloaded some photo booth software and accidentally ran an .exe file without checking it first. I didn't notice anything right away, but after installing Bitdefender (since Malwarebytes didn't seem to help), I started getting strange notifications like 'regsrvr32' and something about a Win32 issue. This kept happening every time I booted up my PC.
Then things got worse: my Discord account got compromised and spammed messages, plus I got a Steam guard alert that someone accessed my account from India. I performed a full reset on my PC and changed my passwords, applied two-factor authentication, and went through all sorts of scans with malware tools.
This morning, I set everything up again, trying to feel secure, but I'm still anxious. I noticed some .exe files in my system and researched them; some seemed suspicious, though others were signed by Microsoft. When I tried booting in safe mode as suggested by a chatGPT conversation, my PIN wouldn't work, and there was no internet connection. Eventually, I had to do another full reset.
I'm just exhausted – can someone please give me advice on what to do next? I'm worried about whether my PC is completely done for and how to explain everything to my parents. I really need help here!
1 Answer
I feel for you, it sounds like a tough situation. First off, resetting your PC might not be enough. I recommend completely reinstalling Windows using a USB stick. This way, you'll ensure any lingering malware is removed. Remember to change all your passwords, and definitely enable two-factor authentication on every account. Honestly, third-party antivirus programs can sometimes cause more trouble than they’re worth. Windows Defender combined with Malwarebytes should be sufficient for general protection.
But isn't a clean wipe risky? I've heard you can lose all your files.