My Laptop Won't Turn On After a Security Scare, What Can I Do?
Asked by
CuriousCat42
I've been having a nightmare with my HP Envy laptop running Windows 11. A hacker managed to get into my Microsoft account along with two others I created after that. During my attempts to tighten my security, a bunch of Edge windows suddenly opened, and then my laptop shut down completely. Now, it won't power back on at all. The charging port lights up orange when I try to charge it, but it seems like it's not charging. The battery was around 90% when this all happened. Am I looking at a dead laptop, or is there some way to fix this?
Answers
A hacker can't directly drain your battery, but if you've got sensitive files on there, you might want to check if you've got a BitLocker recovery key saved. You could still access the files using a bootable USB with a Linux distro, just to back things up if needed. If your laptop isn't charging, though, it could point to a hardware issue.
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Lol, why the downvote? I'm just pointing out that real-life hacking isn't like what you see in movies. Security is a huge deal, but this feels a bit dramatic.
TheRealist: Because people are doing things online that aren't like the movies. Just try focusing on securing your info instead.
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Besides worrying about your laptop, you should act fast on your accounts. Contact your bank and change all your important passwords—do it from your phone. It’s crucial to secure those accounts now since they might be in jeopardy. After that, consider doing a fresh Windows install and wiping your drive to be safe. Also, enable 2FA on any accounts you can to protect yourself better.
ShockedButGrateful: Yeah, I’ve done all that. My identity got stolen, and it’s been a nightmare. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
CuriousCat42: Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it.
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Honestly, the idea of a 'hacker' just taking over everything you own seems overblown. It’s not really how it usually works. You should definitely check into your system’s security more casually instead of jumping to conclusions.
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LaptopLover99: Can they not do that with RATs and other malicious software? I thought those could drain the battery quickly by running multiple apps in the background.
CuriousCat42: I know it’s not a battery issue since it was charged recently. I just want to get my laptop running again.