I Opened a Suspicious RTF Attachment—What Should I Do Now?
I was checking my school email in Chrome when I clicked what looked like a job opportunity. It turned out to be an RTF attachment rather than a…
laptop security
Clicked a suspicious RTF attachment—what should I do now?
I accidentally opened an RTF attachment from a suspicious job-related email while checking my school account in Chrome. A window appeared briefly and then closed. I disconnected the…
How can I check whether my Windows 11 laptop has malware?
For the past 20 minutes, my laptop's fans have been ramping up and down every few seconds even though I'm only browsing the web. Interestingly, the fans became…
Could Malware Have Compromised My Windows or Microsoft Account?
I'm using Windows 11 and recently detected one or more trojans on my laptop. Windows Security quarantined them, and I've restarted and run several scans. Afterward, Windows prompted…
How can I completely remove an unwanted program that keeps coming back?
I found an unwanted program on my personal laptop after installing a Nintendo emulator. My antivirus does not detect it, and uninstalling it only removes it temporarily—the program…
What should I do after my father opened a suspicious ZIP file?
Someone my father works with sent him a ZIP file and asked him to open it. After opening it, the laptop became slow and started behaving strangely. Windows…
My laptop mouse moved on its own in public—should I be worried about hacking?
I'm not very tech-savvy and was using my laptop at a library when the mouse suddenly started behaving strangely. After I stopped touching it, the pointer moved by…
What should I do before using a decommissioned company laptop?
A friend who works in IT gave me an older laptop after his company upgraded its equipment. He said the machines had been wiped and decommissioned, and that…
I Fell for a Phishing Email—What Else Should I Do to Protect Myself?
I recently opened an email that appeared to come from my dentist's office. It asked me to click a link and install a program to view a document.…
Could my power bank or Bluetooth accessories carry malware to my new devices?
I recently escaped a frightening situation involving someone with software-engineering experience who allegedly sent malware to my phone and computer, accessed my home, and may have tampered with…
How can I safely remove suspected rootkit malware from my laptop?
I recently started using an older Windows laptop again after lending it to a friend several years ago. Windows Defender keeps reporting and supposedly removing a rootkit whenever…
What’s the safest way to remove persistent malware from my laptop?
I recently started using an older Windows laptop again after lending it to a friend a few years ago. Windows Defender keeps detecting what it identifies as a…
How Do I Stop Fake Antivirus Alerts Coming Through Microsoft Edge?
My father's Windows PC keeps showing alarming antivirus-style pop-ups in the corner of the screen. They look like security warnings urging someone to click them, but they appear…
Is reinstalling Windows enough after an elderly family member fell for a scam?
My elderly father gave personal details to obvious phone scammers before I realized what was happening and took over the call. The laptop's sign-in screen appeared to say…
Is reinstalling Windows enough after an elderly family member nearly fell for a scam?
My elderly father gave personal details to obvious phone scammers before I intervened. The laptop's sign-in screen appeared to say that something was blocked, although I'm not sure…
Should I install Linux on my existing laptop or buy another used computer?
I'm new to Linux and computer security, and I'm considering switching away from Windows because I'm increasingly uncomfortable with its direction and data-collection practices. I have a secondary…
Why Was UltraViewer Installed on My New Laptop Without My Permission?
I bought a new laptop about two weeks ago and only noticed today that UltraViewer was installed. I'm certain I didn't download it myself. How could it have…
What’s the safest way to check a used laptop for malware?
I'm buying a gaming laptop from eBay for personal use and want to make sure it's safe before I use it. I'm a beginner with computers, so I'm…
Should I Be Worried About Letting a Stranger Charge Her Phone on My Laptop?
While at a café, I let a girl charge her phone using my laptop, and now I'm a bit concerned about malware or potential data theft. I didn't…
My Fingerprint Sign-In Stopped Working - How Can I Recover Access?
I'm having a frustrating issue with my laptop. It suddenly started asking for my PIN to sign in, even though I had previously set up my fingerprint for…