PUP files

[AlexAxill]

So I had someone hack my laptop yesterday ( he took control ) and now that he wasnt messing with my laptop I managed to get malwarebytes and do a scan. It found 1,066 pup.optional files that I deleted immediatelly. Where they spyware and am I good now because I'm not wanting to format my whole laptop.

[Tabs]

PUP stands for "Potentially Unwanted Program". It means it found things you may not want, but aren't strictly malicious (like spyware, viruses, Trojans etc would be classed separately since they serve no actual purpose but to be malicious).

 

The short answer to your question is: If you have had a confirmed breach, with or without the use of malicious software, you can no longer trust the system you use without a full reformat with known-clean installation media. 

[Septimus]

Sounds traumatic

Yeah, using Malwarebytes and Windows Defender you should be okay. Make sure that the files Malwarebytes is detecting are actually being deleted, and not just quarantined. I would also recommend that you let Malwarebytes do a full scan of your computer, and to check the box that says "scan for rootkits". As @Tabs mentioned, I wouldn't trust your system with things like banking or other sensitive information without reformatting the drive and doing a re-installation of Windows.

[AlexAxill]

8 minutes ago, Septimus said:

Sounds traumatic

Yeah, using Malwarebytes and Windows Defender you should be okay. Make sure that the files Malwarebytes is detecting are actually being deleted, and not just quarantined. I would also recommend that you let Malwarebytes do a full scan of your computer, and to check the box that says "scan for rootkits". As @Tabs mentioned, I wouldn't trust your system with things like banking or other sensitive information without reformatting the drive and doing a re-installation of Windows.

Okay thanks.Btw the past hours have been hell ?

[D13H4RD]

I would probably do a full drive re-format and reinstalling the OS as a clean slate.

[AlexAxill]

9 minutes ago, Tabs said:

PUP stands for "Potentially Unwanted Program". It means it found things you may not want, but aren't strictly malicious (like spyware, viruses, Trojans etc would be classed separately since they serve no actual purpose but to be malicious).

 

The short answer to your question is: If you have had a confirmed breach, with or without the use of malicious software, you can no longer trust the system you use without a full reformat with known-clean installation media. 

Yeah I think I will format in a bit.Btw thanks for the information.

[AlexAxill]

1 minute ago, D13H4RD2L1V3 said:

I would probably do a full drive re-format and reinstalling the OS as a clean slate.

So when I bought the laptop it came with a cd for windows or someothing can I use that for new OS ?

[D13H4RD]

8 minutes ago, AlexAxill said:

So when I bought the laptop it came with a cd for windows or someothing can I use that for new OS ?

Yes, you can but for Windows 10, the license is tied to the machine, so you can theoretically just reinstall Windows without the disc but do keep it around just in case.