What to Do After Detecting Malware
Removing the file closes the technical incident. Whatever the malware collected before removal is still out there, and that is usually the bigger problem.
Immediately after cleanup
- Change your email password first, from a different device you trust.
- Then change banking, work and shopping passwords — email first because it resets everything else.
- Enable two-factor authentication wherever it is offered.
- Sign out all active sessions in each account's security settings.
Check for damage
- Review recent bank and card transactions
- Check email rules and forwarding addresses you did not create
- Look at recovery phone numbers and addresses on key accounts
- Confirm your backups still restore and were not encrypted
Then verify the PC
Run a second scan after a reboot, confirm idle CPU and network activity look normal, install pending Windows updates, and re-enable any protection layer that was turned off during cleanup. The removal guide covers escalation if anything returns.
Frequently asked questions
Should I change passwords on the infected PC?
No. Use a different device until the PC is verified clean, in case a keylogger is still active.
Malware-Bytes.net is an independent information resource about malware protection for Windows. We are not Malwarebytes, and this site is not the official Malwarebytes website or support channel. Malwarebytes is a trademark of Malwarebytes Inc.