I recently reinstalled Windows 10 on my computer because I suspected malware was present. This morning, I received a notification that someone had requested an archive of my Google Data at 9:57 AM, and it was downloaded at 10:00 AM. I've been having issues with Chrome for weeks, and now I'm worried about the downloaded information. I had saved passwords and other sensitive data. Since I've changed my main Google password, what else do I need to do? Also, does reinstalling Windows 10 affect the availability of my archived Google Data?
1 Answer
First off, make sure you enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. It's best to use an authenticator app instead of SMS since it's more secure. If possible, consider using a security token like Google Titan or Yubikey because they require physical access to log in. Also, it’s really important to secure your accounts immediately using a trusted device. If your current devices might be compromised, try to use a friend's or another safe computer to do this. Once that's sorted, you should wipe your systems and install fresh copies of Windows.
Quick question: Does a Google data archive request and download happen during a Windows 10 reinstall?