Clean Computer

laubo

I got taken in by an email made to look like one of my financial institutions. I was asked to login to my account, and by the time I was directed to put in personal info, I immediately stopped.

I contacted the instruction's fraud department. They closed down access to my account, and directed me to "clean" the computer using somebody like Best Buy before they take care of resetting my account. Is there any reason why I couldn't use Bitdefender's Manual Malware Removal Guide to do the same thing?

Thanks

Alexandru_BD

Hello,

So, you contacted the respective financial institution using an official channel, correct? I don't understand the relation between the report and cleaning the computer at Best Buy, if you can elaborate.

laubo

I mistakenly gave my user id/password for one of my financial accounts to a phishing email. I reported the fraud to the financial company. They immediately locked the account, and advised me to take my computer to Best Buy to have it "cleaned" to rid it of any infection related to my mistake.

Rather than taking it to Best Buy, I'm wondering if Bitdefender would accomplish the same thing.

Thanks, laubo

Alexandru_BD

I understand, thank you for providing more context. So, given the sensitive nature of this incident involving financial credentials, I think it's crucial to approach the situation carefully. I think you did well to report the fraud and lock the account, as a first preventive measure. Going forward, I think the next step would be to perform a full system scan with Bitdefender since you've mentioned it. Then, examine your system for unusual programs, browser extensions, or recent changes to your system settings. Uninstall or remove anything suspicious. Also check for modified hosts files or unusual startup programs.

After confirming that your system is clean, change ALL passwords for your financial accounts and any others that could have been compromised. Use strong, unique passwords for each account. This is a crucial step, because if you used the compromised credentials for any other accounts as well, the password should be changed immediately, to prevent any unauthorized access and potential data or financial loss. If your financial institution offers 2FA, enable it to add another layer of security to your account and to all accounts that may offer this feature.

Now, if your financial institution strongly advised taking the computer to a specialist, I think it’s worth considering, especially for peace of mind. Also, specialists may have tools and expertise beyond standard antivirus solutions, especially IF:

• The phishing attempt involved advanced malware (e.g., keyloggers, rootkits).
• Bitdefender doesn’t detect anything, but you still notice suspicious behavior.
• The device is used for sensitive activities, such as banking or managing investments.

In any case, if you're technically comfortable, a clean installation of the operating system is the most thorough way to eliminate potential infections. Keep in mind that If you have sensitive data on the device, it's good practice to back it up securely before making significant changes. Last but not least, keep an eye on all financial accounts for unauthorized activity, at least for a while. I think that taking these precautions can help you ensure your system is secure and regain confidence in its integrity.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Alex

Gjoksi

Hello.

To add here, you could scan (and disinfect, if needed) your PC with Bitdefender Rescue Environment:

https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/29132/

After the scan is done, restart your PC.

Regards.