What should I do if I got malware and lost access to my Gmail account?

Make sure to set up 2FA on all of your accounts moving forward, and consider using a password manager to keep track of your passwords. Given that you might have malware lingering, it could be worth formatting your drive and reinstalling your operating system to eliminate it entirely. Running scans with programs like Windows Defender or Malwarebytes is good, but sometimes they can miss things, hence the reinstall.

You should also disable any bank cards that are linked to the Gmail account. For your future browsing, consider using a different browser and make sure to clear all your history, cookies, and caches regularly to keep your device safer from potential trackers or backdoors.

It's crucial! If you've linked any banks or credit cards to your Gmail, contact them immediately to lock down those accounts. Don’t wait on this! If they’re connected to a compromised account, they could be at risk.

If you think you have malware, the first thing you should do is run a malware scan. As tough as it may seem, if you didn’t have two-factor authentication (2FA) set up for your Gmail, your account could be lost for good. But since you mentioned you do have 2FA enabled, you might still have a chance to recover it. If you're unsure, starting the password recovery process is definitely a safe bet! Also, make sure to change passwords for any other accounts just to be safe.