I recently took my laptop to an authorized repair shop because it had stopped working. They informed me that the SSD was dead and replaced it. However, I've discovered some pretty unsettling things since getting it back: there's a random photo of an unknown girl in my OneDrive, weird photos and videos popping up in my recent activity (they mentioned testing another customer's drive in mine), and I found strange browsing activity in my Chrome history from when the laptop was with them. To top it off, I noticed 'Reader_uk_install.exe' was downloaded and deleted, which I learned could be a malicious app. I'm anxious because these types of spyware can be persistent. Here are my concerns:
1. Could they have accessed my personal accounts or data?
2. Is a clean reinstall of Windows enough to get rid of it, or do I need to take additional steps?
3. Should I report this shop to the police?
I've changed all my passwords from a different device and set up 2FA, but I'm still worried about hidden spyware on my laptop. Any urgent advice would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
They really should not have tested someone else's drive in your laptop. That's a huge red flag and very unprofessional!
Are you certain about the file being a virus? When I looked it up, it seemed linked to Adobe Acrobat and didn't show any signs of being malware. Maybe check it again or post more details?
First off, definitely go to the police! Don’t use the laptop anymore since it could serve as evidence if something illegal happened. Don't forget to change your passwords too and keep using two-factor authentication wherever you can.
They definitely could have accessed your data if you didn’t change your passwords. A clean reinstall is a good step, but I would recommend zeroing out the drive to be on the safe side. Also, definitely report the shop to the authorities—best to do it before you make any changes. Even just showing them the laptop might help.
Honestly, you might be overreacting. The 'Reader_uk_install.exe' file is often associated with Adobe Reader, which technicians sometimes install by default. Unless you provided them with your credentials, they shouldn’t have been able to access your OneDrive. That said, if you're feeling uneasy, a clean reinstall of Windows should be fine, but consider wiping the drive first for peace of mind. Reporting to the police would definitely be a good idea.
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