I think I might have been hacked, and I'm really lost on what to do. I was trying to install a program (it seemed safe), and it even said to disable Windows Defender because my downloads kept getting deleted. I turned off all my virus protection settings for a little while, but I turned them back on before going to bed two nights ago. Now, I've noticed I can't log into several accounts, including my Steam account, and I've received strange emails about purchases and logins I didn't make. I managed to recover my accounts and reset the passwords, but I'm still getting login attempts on other accounts. I'm worried about what access the hacker might have. I've run security scans and found nothing, but I really want to make sure my computer is safe. What steps can I take to secure my accounts and my PC?
3 Answers
It sounds like you handled the initial situation pretty well under stress. However, to be completely sure you're clean, I recommend wiping your entire system and reinstalling Windows. This is the safest way to ensure that any lurking malware is gone. Once that’s done, change all your passwords again, especially for any sensitive accounts.
One huge red flag is when a program asks you to disable your antivirus. That’s a major warning sign that something could be off with the download. Always be very cautious about what you install and where it comes from. A dedicated device for risky experiments is a smart idea if you feel like testing things out.
Glad to hear you managed to recover your accounts! Keep a close eye on any suspicious activities. Regularly update your passwords and consider enabling two-factor authentication on your accounts if you haven’t already. Also, make sure to back up important files before wiping your system, but be careful with transferring anything over that could be infected.
I agree. I just did a clean install after a scare, and it feels good knowing everything is fresh again.