Experiencing a Discord Virus? Here’s What You Should Do Next

Yesterday, I unknowingly fell victim to a phishing scheme that masqueraded as a game-testing opportunity on Discord. What seemed like an innocent request from a contact quickly turned into a troubling experience, leading me to share the steps taken and seek advice on recovery.

It all began when I received a direct message from a friend’s account, inviting me to test a new game. Without a second thought, I clicked on the provided link, which led me to a deceptive game download page. Despite alerts from Windows Defender indicating potential risks, I downloaded an executable file and innocently installed it.

In no time, my Discord account exhibited strange behavior, and my computer’s fans kicked into overdrive—clear signs of trouble. Shortly thereafter, a suspicious DM from the supposed hacker confirmed my fears: they intended to extort me. Instead of engaging with them, I wisely chose to remain silent.

Beyond disrupting my Discord, the intruder manipulated my browser, causing Firefox to open a series of unsettling pop-up pages that seemed to taunt me with reminders of being hacked. Although I couldn’t capture any screenshots of those bizarre messages, the experience was unnerving.

Reacting swiftly, I utilized Malwarebytes to eliminate as many malicious elements as possible. I also took precautionary measures by changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on my most critical accounts via my mobile device.

Despite my efforts, I suspected remnants of the malware remained on my system. I discovered a suspicious program labeled “startup” and another Javascript file in my appdata folder, beginning with “stealit_,” both created upon executing the downloaded file.

As I ponder my next steps, I am considering backing up essential files to the cloud and performing a complete wipe of my computer to ensure a fresh start. However, I am uncertain how to address my banking and payment methods, particularly since I haven’t stored these details in any browser, yet some sensitive documents were saved on my PC.

To gain clarity, I have several pressing questions:

1. What kind of data could the hackers access? Is it limited to browser passwords and Discord, or could they obtain more sensitive information?

2. How can I guarantee that my PC will be free from viruses post-wipe?

3. Are changing passwords and activating 2FA sufficient to secure my accounts?

I hope to find answers to these questions, as I am understandably anxious about the long