I believe I encountered some unwanted software. Is it safe for me now?
I believe I encountered some unwanted software. Is it safe for me now?
I visited a website that used captcha protection, which raised my concerns because it was a forum. I tried to ignore the notifications repeatedly until I gave up. Someone mentioned it could be adware, so I removed it from Google Chrome settings, though I was surprised it showed up after blocking it. After installing Avast free Antivirus and running a scan, it reported my PC was clean in all areas.
My main worries are:
- Did something else affect my social media accounts? (like Facebook, Steam, Reddit, Google, etc.)
- Should I remove Windows Defender since I already have Avast?
I’m not sure if everything is safe, but I think I should double-check.
Your mental state makes sense. Running a malware scan with Malwarebytes trial or Bitdefender Free Edition can help ensure your PC is safe. It’s unlikely adware will interfere with social media, but unknown threats might still pose risks to your local system. You won’t be able to manually remove Windows Defender; it shuts off automatically when another antivirus is detected.
It's feasible that Avast or any antivirus software might not flag "adware" or similar items as threats. For instance, Windows Defender may overlook certain adware or "pups," whereas tools like Malwarebytes can detect them reliably. Tldr: no single antivirus is flawless, but a thorough scan with Malwarebytes or AdwCleaner won't hurt.