A fake PS1 game download installed malware and cost me my Steam account
I got hacked! A couple of weeks ago, I was trying to download a PS1 game to play through an emulator. I've been doing this for years already.
This time though, because I was rushing, I realized too late that I had downloaded an .exe file instead of the usual .iso file. Nothing happened when I ran it, so I just assumed everything was fine.
A few days later, I received an email in a foreign accent informing me that my password had been changed. I immediately remembered the .exe file I had downloaded and rushed to change the passwords for every email and account I could think of.
Unfortunately, I lost my Steam account and am currently in the process of getting it back. I ran a quick scan with Windows Defender and downloaded a free trial of another antivirus program to get a second opinion on my device. The thing is, I just don't feel safe using this computer anymore.
If this is happening to you
Practical steps for this exact situation.
- I clicked a suspicious link. What now?What clicking actually does, what it does not do, and how to tell the difference between a scare and a real problem.
- Someone has taken over my accountWhat to do in the first hour when someone else is inside your email, social or bank account, and how to work out how they got in.
- Turn on two-factor authenticationThe single change that prevents most account takeovers, which accounts to do first, and why not all methods are equal.
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