Rootkit Virus

[LeeYoh]

Hey guys, some of you might recognize my post from last week about my pc being affected by a rootkit virus via new OS.  My question now is, if I use the same key to another (new) PC, will I still get the virus?  The way i see it is that the virus is already transferred to my old pc therefore there should be no virus if I use the same key on a different pc?  Thanks in advance!!

[TAHIRMIA]

12 minutes ago, LeeYoh said:

Hey guys, some of you might recognize my post from last week about my pc being affected by a rootkit virus via new OS.  My question now is, if I use the same key to another (new) PC, will I still get the virus?  The way i see it is that the virus is already transferred to my old pc therefore there should be no virus if I use the same key on a different pc?  Thanks in advance!!

Are you talking about Windows Activation key?

[LeeYoh]

2 minutes ago, TAHIRMIA said:

Are you talking about Windows Activation key?

Yes, it is a key I bought for 35 bucks, though I forgot which website it is.  It looked official though, and a lot of people bought from the site already.  

[TAHIRMIA]

Then No the rootkit won't be transferred 

[LeeYoh]

Just now, TAHIRMIA said:

Then No the rootkit won't be transferred 

So if I use the same key, it will corrupt my new pc again?

[TAHIRMIA]

Just now, LeeYoh said:

So if I use the same key, it will corrupt my new pc again?

No, the key is only used by Microsoft to check if it is a legal copy of Windows so the root kit won't be transfered

[LeeYoh]

18 minutes ago, TAHIRMIA said:

No, the key is only used by Microsoft to check if it is a legal copy of Windows so the root kit won't be transfered

So then 2 questions, how did I get the virus and what will happen if I use the same key on my new pc?  Sorry if I'm being repetitive here, but I just want everything to be clear in my head.

[Omon_Ra]

10 minutes ago, LeeYoh said:

So then 2 questions, how did I get the virus and what will happen if I use the same key on my new pc?  Sorry if I'm being repetitive here, but I just want everything to be clear in my head.

You downloaded and installed something you shouldn't have. The key is just to check with Microsoft that you have actually paid for a Windows license, there's nothing else to it but that. The virus either came from a compromised OS installation (which is possible if you downloaded it from a torrent site or something similar) or something you downloaded and installed after the OS was done. With any third-party software, ALWAYS make sure it is from the creator/source. Even then, some software (free stuff for 'shady' things in particular) is just loaded down with malware/viruses. Viruses rarely just 'appear.' A computer is a machine, it does what its user tells it to do, so it's something you did, so go back and look at what you installed and figure out the source. And obviously don't use whatever it was that infected your machine.

[GoodBytes]

Keep in mind that OEM license of Windows are not transferable. Only retail licenses are.

The best way to protect yourself from rootkits attack is to:

• Use the latest version of Windows, and have it fully updated
• Get a system with full UEFI support, and enable SecureBoot
• Keep your software fully updated
• Don't download illegal content (common grounds to get various infections)
• Only download stuff from trusted sites (while possible, it is unlikely to be infected and distribute infected content)
• Use a good virus protection software and scan downloaded content from untrusted sources, inlcuding e-mail before opening
• Don't open .exe's that look like something else (example: image.exe with an image icon).
• Pay attention to UAC prompts. These are your last line of defense. If you open a video, music, picture, or something, and it asks you system level permission to modify your system, you know something is wrong. Hit Cancel!

 

 

[TAHIRMIA]

2 hours ago, LeeYoh said:

So then 2 questions, how did I get the virus and what will happen if I use the same key on my new pc?  Sorry if I'm being repetitive here, but I just want everything to be clear in my head.

The Virus came from some software you may have downloaded before that was malicious

The key will activate and you can use the pc like normal

[LeeYoh]

Just now, TAHIRMIA said:

The Virus came from some software you may have downloaded before that was malicious

The key will activate and you can use the pc like normal

I think the virus might have come from this software called ShareX.  I was trying to download Puush, but then they redirected me to this website and they told me that they partnered with ShareX.  So I'm not really sure. I just went with the software prior to crashing pc.

[TAHIRMIA]

2 minutes ago, LeeYoh said:

I think the virus might have come from this software called ShareX.  I was trying to download Puush, but then they redirected me to this website and they told me that they partnered with ShareX.  So I'm not really sure. I just went with the software prior to crashing pc.

It could be that so avoid it next time