Urgent Cybersecurity Alert: My Online Accounts Were Compromised

Recently, I experienced a serious online security breach that left my accounts in disarray. After downloading a seemingly harmless free program, I returned to my computer the following morning only to discover a nightmare scenario. My browser was persistently hijacked, and I found numerous unfamiliar programs cluttering my C drive.

In an attempt to address the issue, I utilized Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, and CCleaner, but unfortunately, none of these tools identified the root of the problem. My computer was still behaving erratically, indicating that the situation was far from resolved.

To make matters worse, I received a notification from PayPal informing me that I had unwittingly issued two $1,700 gift cards to an unknown individual. I quickly filed a request to reverse these transactions, but since then, I’ve been locked out of my PayPal account despite changing my password. I’ve reached out to their customer service for assistance.

Additionally, I discovered that someone had altered the password for my T-Mobile account, which I was able to rectify, but they also attempted to access my U.S. government account. The whole experience has left me feeling vulnerable and anxious about what sensitive information may still be at risk.

At this stage, I’m at a loss for how to regain control and prevent further damage. I never anticipated that simply downloading a program could open the floodgates to such extensive breaches of my personal information. Are they still siphoning off my data as I write this?

If anyone has experienced a similar situation or has any advice on how to remediate these types of issues, I would greatly appreciate your suggestions. How can I secure my accounts moving forward and ensure that my personal information is safe? Thank you for your help!