Hey everyone! I think my Windows system is in serious trouble. About a month ago, I noticed something strange with Microsoft Edge, which I use a lot, but I didn't get any alerts from Windows Defender. On January 25, I started seeing a command prompt that pops up briefly when I boot up the computer. I ran a full system scan and was shocked to find a bunch of severe threats, including several such as a password stealer and banking Trojan. I'm currently learning ethical hacking and have various tools downloaded, which were also flagged by the scan. Now that this has been lurking on my system for a month, I'm worried about potential data loss. I've deleted all my files and disconnected from the internet. Are my files on Google Drive and OneDrive safe? How can I find out how my system got compromised, and what immediate steps should I take to secure my information?
5 Answers
Change all your passwords, enable two-factor authentication wherever possible, and wipe your drive entirely. You might want to consider switching to a Linux distribution to avoid future issues.
I can safely change my Gmail and iCloud, but how do I manage my other linked services?
There's a good chance all your data might be compromised. It's best to completely stop using that computer until you wipe the drive clean and reset everything. Then, change all your passwords and set up two-factor authentication for added security.
It sounds like you've got some serious malware issues, likely stemming from the 'free' software you downloaded. It's essential to take immediate action to protect your data.
If you’re venturing into hacking, you should be cautious. It's about learning step by step. Use haveibeenpwned to check if you've been compromised, then use a clean device to update your passwords and log out of all sessions. Doing a fresh install of Windows is also wise.
Hacking tools often get flagged, but you need to determine whether the threats detected are from those tools or if your system was infected independently. Either way, I recommend wiping your system completely. Change all your critical passwords on a clean device, and also check for any activity on your accounts that you didn't initiate.
Absolutely! Make sure to use a separate, safe device to change your passwords.
What if I have linked accounts? How do I change all those passwords?
And remember, don't change your passwords on the infected system! That could put you at risk.