Is Your Laptop Compromised? Understanding Unusual CPU Activity

In today’s digital world, maintaining the integrity and security of our devices is paramount. Recently, I encountered a troubling issue with my laptop that raised concerns about potential virus or miner infections. Here’s a brief overview of what I’ve been experiencing, and I hope it might resonate with others facing similar challenges.

I observed that my laptop’s fans were spinning up significantly, and there were noticeable increases in CPU temperature and utilization—even when the screen was off. These unusual spikes in activity caught my attention, prompting me to investigate further.

To address my concerns, I utilized multiple scanning tools, including Malwarebytes, Hitman Pro, and the ESET online scanner. Despite my efforts, none of these programs detected any threats. In an attempt to rectify the situation, I even performed a complete reset of my laptop, wiping everything clean and starting anew. Unfortunately, the erratic behavior persisted.

This leads me to wonder: could this be indicative of a hidden virus, or might it simply be a background Windows process that’s running while the device is idle? If anyone has dealt with a similar situation or has insights on this matter, your guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for any tips or advice you can provide!