I recently tried to watch a show that was removed from Netflix on a random site, and suddenly a pop-up appeared that downloaded a file named OperaGX without my consent. I quickly deleted the file and reset my browser. I also ran a McAfee scan which didn't find any virus, but I'm still feeling uneasy and want to make sure everything's okay. I read in a tech support wiki that malware can have hard-to-detect early symptoms. Should I just wait and see if anything happens or is there another way to clear my worries? I typically use ad blockers, so this situation is quite unusual for me.
2 Answers
To really be sure, a complete reinstall of your OS is the safest bet, but if McAfee didn't find anything and you aren't noticing issues, you might be alright. Just a heads-up though—McAfee isn’t the best antivirus out there!
You're probably fine! I had something similar happen recently. When you download an app, Windows usually requires your confirmation through that pop-up that asks if you want to make changes to your computer. That’s a security measure to prevent malicious installations. A website can trigger a download, but it can’t run that file without your approval. I saved the .exe file to check it against the official Opera GX installer later to see if it’s legit or just a scam. Just keep an eye out for any unusual behavior.
Reinstall what part? Yeah, I know McAfee isn't reliable, but it's the only thing I've got for now.