What should I do after clicking a suspicious link and seeing unusual login behavior?
Asked by
QuirkyBird27
I accidentally clicked on a suspicious link from an article that was linked in a Vietnamese post. The link didn't take me anywhere, but there was a weird flashing thing. After that, I turned off my internet for a bit because I remembered someone recommending that. When I turned it back on and tried logging into Instagram using my Google account, I was logged out unexpectedly—even though I was still logged into YouTube. I also had to re-enter my login info on another site. It's unclear whether my Mac decided to act up right after I clicked the link or if that was a phishing attempt. I restarted my Mac and downloaded AVG antivirus through Safari and am running a deep check now. Is there any way I can find out if my laptop has malware and how to remove it?
Answers
Definitely scan your system with Malwarebytes and make sure to enable rootkit scanning if it's an option. Fingers crossed it was flaky Windows malware and didn't affect your Mac, so the weird logouts may be a coincidence.
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Make sure to run deep scans and keep your machine offline while you’re doing it. If you experience more strange logins, make it a priority to update your passwords and review your security settings. It's better to be safe!
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If you think there's malware on your computer, it's crucial to stay offline for a bit and run a thorough virus scan. I recommend downloading the free version of Malwarebytes and doing a deep scan with that too. Also, when you access your Gmail, check for any active sessions you need to close, verify that your recovery options haven't been altered, and change your password just to be safe.
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I wouldn’t worry too much until your scans come back. But stay alert! If something feels off about your accounts, take action sooner rather than later.
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