I recently downloaded an EXE file from a questionable website and ran it without providing admin access. When the program requested permissions, I denied them all. I then uploaded the file to a virus scanner, which alerted me to some issues, but I also ran scans with Windows Defender and Malwarebytes, both of which reported no threats. Is there anything else I can do to check for potential infections or to eliminate any possible threats?
2 Answers
It seems like the program might be adware rather than malware. You should consider using a specific tool like AdwCleaner to help clean up any potential adware on your system.
Even if you denied admin access, malware can still infect your machine. The antivirus flags on VirusTotal may not mean much; sometimes legitimate software gets flagged accidentally. Malwarebytes is known for its high false positive rates, so you might be in the clear. The file has been around for two months without being flagged by big-name antiviruses, which is promising.
Thanks for the reassurance! I used Hitman Pro like someone suggested, and it found and removed some threats. I should be okay now, right?
But isn't adware considered a type of malware? It’s a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) that can cause trouble.