Essential Steps After Falling Victim to a Game Testing Scam

Recently, I encountered a disheartening experience that serves as a cautionary tale for anyone in the gaming community. I was approached by two long-term Discord accounts, familiar from years of interaction. Although their presence gave me a false sense of security, I made a poor judgment call and downloaded what they claimed to be a game for testing. Unfortunately, I executed the downloaded file, which led to a third account reaching out to me with alarming news: they had accessed my Google account.

Thankfully, I had a backup notebook available, allowing me to quickly disconnect my primary PC from the network. I promptly logged out of all devices associated with my Google and Discord accounts, taking the critical first step in securing my information. I proceeded to reset my passwords across all platforms, especially since many were saved in Google. I also ensured to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.

To clean my infected system, I performed a fresh installation of Windows 11. While this effectively erased the drive where the operating system was installed, it unfortunately didn’t address the other drives. To further safeguard my PC, I initiated a full scan using Windows Defender and plan to enhance my security with additional software like Avast and Malwarebytes. Currently, my PC remains offline to minimize potential threats.

For those interested, the suspicious malware can be found at oblivora.com, and I recommend caution while investigating it.

Advice for a Comprehensive Cleanup

While I would prefer not to perform a complete wipe of all my drives, I understand that it may become necessary. If I do have to go down that road, what tools or methods are recommended for a thorough wipe?

Additionally, I’m curious to know if the precautions I’ve taken are sufficient to eradicate the threat and secure my accounts. Any insights or suggestions from the community would be greatly appreciated. Your feedback could be invaluable for anyone facing similar situations in the future.