My Journey in Tackling Malware: Steps Taken Against “Great Discover”

Today, I experienced the unsettling challenge of dealing with malware for the first time in seven years and, interestingly enough, this was my initial encounter with a trojan. After numerous run-ins with viruses in the past, I felt equipped to handle the situation, yet I quickly found myself lost in the complexities of malware removal. This blog post is crafted to document my steps in hopes that it might aid others facing a similar struggle.

The Discovery

This morning, my day took a turn when I downloaded a malware program known as “Great Discover.” Unfortunately, information on this specific malware was scarce, limited to one removal guide and a couple of YouTube videos. I found myself in need of advice on ensuring my system was completely secure following this incident.

Initial Investigation

Upon launching my computer, I noticed an unfamiliar program in the system tray. Clicking on it revealed a pop-up prompting me to follow steps to uninstall it—standard procedure. However, this process was complicated by an unyielding captcha that I simply could not solve. A quick Google search confirmed my fear: I was dealing with a trojan designed for cryptocurrency mining, a term that was completely foreign to me.

Cleaning Up My Browser

I knew the first step was to restore my browser’s integrity, so I thoroughly cleaned my browser history and reset the settings to their default state. I then accessed the extensions tab and removed all unfamiliar extensions, taking a cautious approach in ensuring there was no lingering threat.

Uninstalling Suspicious Programs

Next, I navigated to C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) to purge numerous folders with cryptic names that I hadn’t installed. This included files that appeared to have been added months prior—something I found quite alarming.

To further solidify my defenses, I opened the Control Panel and combed through the list of installed programs in the Programs and Features section, removing anything that raised my suspicions.

Running Malware Scans

Following these initial steps, I turned to trusted cleaning software, installing Malwarebytes for a thorough scan. The first scan detected one threat, which I quarantined and subsequently deleted. To be extra cautious, I ran another scan that came up clean. Still not convinced, I also downloaded Kaspersky’s virus removal tool and performed a full system scan, which confirmed my system was clear.

System Resource Check

I then opened Task