I'm not very tech-savvy and I'm feeling pretty lost. Recently, while browsing my files, I found a strange folder on my local disk that I don't remember creating. The folder contained a bunch of Word, Text, and Excel documents with odd names like "unsatisfied richard thing." Every time I tried to open any of these files, I got a message saying they were damaged and couldn't be accessed. When I decided to delete the folder, a pop-up appeared—something about ransomware protection from Cybereason. It asked if I wanted to prevent ransomware or if I trusted the file. Out of fear, I clicked yes, but then two new folders popped up in its place with names like Bdate104 and Xorginazed245, featuring file names such as waist_track and freighted-produce-fast-delivery. Now I'm scared to explore what's inside because I suspect most of them are unopenable, just like the previous folder. What should I do?
4 Answers
You might have ransomware or some malware on your PC, especially if those JPEGs are trying to hide something bad under the surface. I had a similar situation after downloading some games. The malware spread throughout my system, and I ended up having to clean out 3TB of storage. It’s a real pain, but better safe than sorry! This could be a warning for you.
Make sure to check if you have any anti-ransomware software installed. Some systems use fake files as traps to see if they’re being tampered with, which could be the case here. When you deleted the original folder, it possibly triggered a response from that software. You might want to look into canary files and see if that’s what’s happening.
Honestly, it sounds like your computer might have been compromised. I’d recommend taking drastic measures right away, like doing a fresh OS install. Don't even risk trying to open those suspicious files—you may be exposing your system to more harm. Just wipe everything clean and start over if you’re really worried about ransomware.
If you think there’s malware on your computer, it’s definitely a good idea to dive into some malware removal guides. I’ve seen similar cases, and they always advocate for a clean slate. Just be careful and follow the advice closely if you decide to go that route.
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