Navigating the Aftermath of a Computer Virus: Safeguarding Your Photos

Recently, my husband inadvertently exposed our computer to a significant virus after clicking on a suspicious link in a blog post. The aftermath has been quite alarming: our computer is now struggling to function properly, and we even received a dubious phone call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft, who tried to extract sensitive information. Thankfully, my husband recognized the scam and terminated the call.

In the midst of this technical chaos, I’m facing a pressing concern about our treasured photos. Like many, I’ve been meaning to back them up onto a USB drive but kept putting it off. Now, with the computer compromised, I’m questioning the safety of transferring these files.

After attempting to restore the system to a point from about a week ago, the computer appears to be somewhat operational, and Windows Defender isn’t flagging any issues. Still, I can’t shake the worry: Will these photographs carry any remnants of the virus? What other risks should I be aware of before making this backup?

We’re planning to undertake a factory reset soon, which should clear any lingering threats from the system. However, I want to ensure that the photos I’m trying to secure are not tainted by whatever malware we encountered.

If you’ve been through a similar experience or have expertise in dealing with post-virus scenarios, your insights would be invaluable. What steps can I take to guarantee the integrity of my files? Are there specific precautions I should consider before proceeding with the backup? Your guidance would be greatly appreciated as we tackle this challenging situation.