I turned on my computer, and after a few minutes, I noticed three command prompts opening up. I had already done a factory reset, so this caught me off guard. When I checked the event log, it showed that Runtime.exe was checking for blank passwords across all account types and reading the credentials. I decided to run a scan with Windows Defender, but immediately after I finished, it said, 'The IT administrator has limited access to the app's features.' I've only installed standard apps like Steam and Epic, so I'm really confused about how this happened. I just did another factory reset, but I'm worried this might not be enough. How did this occur?
3 Answers
A clean install of Windows 11 is the best way to handle malware issues. Make sure to back up your important files first, and then use a new USB that’s been verified to be free from malware to create your installer. It’s important to do this from a non-infected computer as well to prevent any reinfection.
Yeah, resetting your PC doesn’t guarantee that malware is gone. Installing Windows fresh from a USB is a better solution. Check the steps in the provided resources to avoid bringing any malware back on your system when you install.
Factory resets aren't the best way to tackle malware. Instead, you should consider doing a clean installation from a USB drive using the Windows Installation Media. There’s a guide in this sub that walks you through it, and it’s much more effective.
So you’re saying I shouldn’t rely on factory resets if I suspect malware? What do I need to do instead?