Cybersecurity Breach: A Personal Experience and Request for Guidance

Last night took an unexpected turn when I decided to download a seemingly harmless free program. What I encountered upon returning to my computer this morning felt more like a digital nightmare than a simple Software installation. My web browser was hijacked continuously, and a myriad of unfamiliar programs had appeared on my C drive.

In an effort to regain control, I operated various security tools, including Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, and CCleaner. Unfortunately, these measures did not fully resolve the chaos on my system, and I still wrestle with ongoing complications.

To my horror, I found a notification from PayPal indicating that I had unknowingly gifted two $1,700 gift cards to an unknown recipient. I quickly took action to reverse the transactions, but despite changing my password, I have been locked out of my PayPal account. My attempts to regain access have been frustrating and futile, leading me to contact their support team for assistance.

As if the situation couldn’t get worse, I discovered that someone had also altered the password on my T-Mobile account. Although I’ve managed to restore access there, I have concerns about my U.S. government account, as there were attempts to breach it as well.

Now, I find myself at a crossroads, unsure of how to proceed and overwhelmed by the mounting threat. I’m perplexed as to how the perpetrators managed to access such sensitive information and worry they may still be siphoning off data even as I write this.

To anyone reading this with experience in cybersecurity or similar situations, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or best practices to help stem this tide. Your advice could be invaluable in navigating the aftermath of this distressing event. Thank you for your support!