How I Fell Victim to a Classic Scam: Lessons Learned and Steps Taken to Regain Control

Recently, I faced an unfortunate incident that serves as a cautionary tale for many of us. I was contacted by two old Discord accounts, individuals I believed I could trust. They asked me to test out a new game through a link they provided, and, regrettably, I let my guard down. I executed the file, only to find myself confronted with a third Discord account revealing a screenshot of my Google account login.

Immediate Actions Taken

Upon realizing what had happened, I quickly moved to mitigate any potential damage. I unplugged my main PC from the network and logged out of all devices across Google and Discord. I began the crucial task of resetting my passwords everywhere—thankfully, I had been using a password manager, so this wasn’t as daunting as it could have been. Additionally, I enabled two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible to bolster my account security.

Recovery Strategy

Next, I decided to perform a clean installation of Windows 11 on my PC. This process wiped the drive containing the operating system but left my other drives intact for the time being. Following the reinstallation, I ran a comprehensive scan with Windows Defender and planned subsequent scans with Avast and Malwarebytes as added precautions. My PC remains disconnected from the internet during this recovery stage to prevent any further exposure.

For those interested in investigating the malware, it can be found on this suspicious site: oblivora.com. I recommend extreme caution if you consider doing so.

Questions for the Community

As I reflect on my experience, I have a couple of pressing questions:
– I would prefer not to wipe all my drives, but if it’s necessary for full security, what are the best tools available for a thorough wipe?
– Do you think I’ve taken sufficient steps to eliminate the threat and secure my accounts?

If you’ve encountered similar issues or have any advice to share, I would greatly appreciate your insights. Let’s learn from each other to enhance our online safety!