Could you clarify what you're referring to? I need more details to assess if it might be a virus.
Could you clarify what you're referring to? I need more details to assess if it might be a virus.
I experienced a sudden black screen for a short time and then my PC logged me out. After signing back in, the sound output device changed. I had mentioned this before and it turned out there was a virus on my PC that accessed my email, etc. After this incident, I decided not to take any chances and replaced my SSD with a new one. *NOTE* this black screen and sign-out occurred while I was working on a scene in Blender using Cycles, that black screen and app crashing were somewhat normal during rendering, but the fact that it made me anxious and altered my sound settings was concerning.
Did you check for malware? Changing an SSD solely to address a virus isn’t necessary. Clearing the drive would suffice.
I ran a thorough virus scan using various programs, just like when I had an actual infection on my computer. Even then, no threats appeared. I was really worried, which is why I replaced it even though it might have cleared the virus.
I first received a Windows security alert indicating potential threats, which I removed immediately. Initially, I assumed it was harmless until an email notification mentioned suspicious activity, suggesting someone might have used my email with malicious software. Eventually, within a couple of days, spam emails containing erotic content and links began arriving in my inbox—over 50 messages sent.
That's reasonable. You can still use the drive for storage as long as you format it properly. For your current problem, if the scans look clean, you'll need to trust they're accurate or reset the drive completely. There doesn't seem to be a fourth choice. I try to stay calm, but it can still happen sometimes.
so you think this is an actual sign of malware on my pc? this black screen/sign out?
Other options exist; outdated or unpatched modems can be infected. A small trojan may be installed, and once you connect to the internet, infection occurs. On a fresh Windows setup, install Malwarebytes using the offline installer to ensure safety. Additionally, formatting the SSD in a unique way can help—simply fill it with zeros. This process may take time, but it will restore your drive to a clean state.
The crash occurred when the GPU was under heavy use and it wasn't using the latest drivers. Would you consider performing a secure erase and reinstalling Windows to resolve this?