I recently bought a brand new computer from a reputable store, but I suspect my relative might have tampered with it after he took it home for two weeks. I checked my security camera footage and saw him take my computer box without my permission. When I visited him, he was using my computer for most of the time and insisted that I should throw away my old laptop and start using the new one immediately. I'm worried he may have installed spyware or other harmful software since he doesn't believe women should use technology without supervision and has stolen my phone in the past. I need help figuring out what steps to take next because I can't afford the risk of my job finding malware on my computer. The antivirus software I ran didn't find anything, and I'm not sure what to ask a technician for if I decide to seek professional help.
4 Answers
Honestly, you've got to treat this like it could be a serious breach of your privacy. If you don't feel confident doing the reinstall yourself, find a tech you trust and ask them to handle it. And yeah, you might want to cut ties with that relative if this is how they treat your property.
You really should consider doing a complete reinstall of Windows. If your relative had access for that long, there's a chance he installed spyware or other malicious software. Just wipe the entire hard drive and install Windows again from scratch. You can find plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to do this. Make sure you format all partitions! You might also want to look into encrypting your hard drive with BitLocker for added security.
Totally agree! A fresh install is the safest way to start over. Don't forget to also change your passwords on important accounts.
You’re not being paranoid. This situation sounds very sketchy. As others mentioned, reset it to factory settings or do a full clean install. Format your drives too. And ensure there aren’t any unknown devices inside the tower—he could’ve hidden something there. It's important to secure your digital life, especially considering the type of relative you've described.
Absolutely! Also, make sure to monitor all your accounts for any suspicious activity after getting everything set up again.
Definitely don't use that computer the way it is right now. I recommend you take it to a technician and explain everything. Just tell them you believe it's compromised and you want them to wipe it clean and install a fresh copy of Windows. Most techs will understand and help you get back on track quickly.
Great advice! Also, it might help to tell someone in your family about what happened just to keep a record of the situation.
Exactly. It's not just about the computer, it’s about your safety too. Stay vigilant!