I use a Web browser with a WhatsApp extension, chatting with her she sent me a link to a website to see if I can see the website, she said “I cannot see it, please help me” I did it and the site was visible for me and I notified to her. I think that was the way she used to hack me, I don’t know.

Starting from that day she started to tell me indirects about the info I saw in the sites I visited, I always suspected that she hacked me and she monitored my Web activity, besides that I’m almost sure she recorded all of our videocalls through WhatsApp to show videos of me speaking about others, I lost one friendship because of that.

I formated my pc several times and even with that she could hacked me again and again, this person is toxic is pure envy and gossiping and I want to leave her behind. She asked me how many hard drives I have on my pc and kept telling me indirects about my Web activity, that scared me a lot.

So I stopped speaking to her and today I’m going to change my phone number.

Regarding the hacking I did this and I want to ask for advice to see what else can I do:

  1. My pc is connected through ethernet cable to a router me and flatmates use, I changed the router password.

  2. I formated again my pc I reinstalled all my programs and installed the free versions of avira and avast.

  3. Today I’m going to use the Internet data of my phone to change all my passwords.

  4. I will run a full scan of my hard drives using avast and avira.

  5. Probably I will pay one year of norton antivirus plus.

Is everything OK,? What else can I do? What if I disassemble the pc and format it again this time with only one hard disk while scanning the other hard disk in another pc?

  • LapisExillis@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    My suggestions are:

    1. Change all passwords of your accounts, social media, windows, browsers, emails, etc., and where possible enable 2FA (2 factor authentication), and use the function to close all sessions in all devices.
    2. Uninstall all browser add-ons for the time being. IF you have a browser account enabled, check it doesn’t reinstall those add-ons. Enable the “Clear browsing data” function for everytime you close your browser, at least until you are sure your accounts are not compromised.
    3. Enable 2FA for WhatsApp and and select the option to close session in all devices.
    4. You don’t need to install a 3rd party antivirus. If your computer has Windows 10 or 11 and it’s up to date (version 22H2 at least) it will have Windows Defender. It’s all antivirus you need. Stay away from Norton and McAfee, they are not so good now in 2023. If you insist on getting an antivirus try BitDefender.
    5. You say you reset your computer. See thoroughly if maybe you are using a cracked application or game, don’t install it yet, hold on until you can be certain it is not compromised.
    6. If you have remote support applications (TeamViewer, Anydesk, VNC, etc.) don’t install them yet.
    7. Disable Windows remote assistance (you can find it using the search bar).
    8. When you reinstall applications, download them from their official pages, not 3rd party sites (like uptodown, softonic, filehorse, etc.).
    9. Do the same with your phone, maybe it could be compromised somehow, specially if your main WhatsApp is there. Do a factory restore and don’t install all your apps yet. Don’t use apk files to install applications if possible or get them from reputable sources.
    10. Be wary of links sent to you in WhatsApp or your email, check twice what you are clicking.
    11. If you have your Windows system linked to a Microsoft account, do not restore your backed up configuration when you link it again to your computer.

    Hope this tips help you.