Malware or am I just losing it?

Question

Not sure if I'm doing this correctly because I've never had this much trouble before with a PC.

I have also included screenshots of my specs. Everything AMD and ASUS, minus the corsair stuff.
Everything I have read online say's this is very normal for this build.

Last year I upgraded my entire pc. This year I start having problems with all of my accounts getting hacked. Everything, all of my Microsoft accounts, reddit, discord, literally everything. I can't find any type of malware on my PC at all. My brother told me it isn't normal to have the instance's of Console Host like I have in task manager and that he has zero running on his pc. I've included a screenshot. My PC is all of the sudden sluggish and the fans will randomly change speeds even though I have a curve setup. My CPU is running kind of a high temp also which one indicate a lot of processing power being used. It was not like this last year even after the upgrade to my parts. This year everything changed. Again, don't know if I did this correctly.

Answer 1

Hello,

If everything is correct, multiple instances of ConHost shouldn't be open; usually, only one or two remain open in the details tab.

Did you run MSRT, Malwarebytes, and AdwCleaner scans to check for malware?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=9905

Have you downloaded any pirated software or games?

As a last resort, it would be good to do a complete and clean Windows reinstallation as a precaution if nothing is found.

Do the slowness problems occur at any time during use?

Open the command prompt (admin) and run the commands: sfc /scannow and dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth, wait for the process to finish and restart the computer.

Then perform a clean boot and if you want to uninstall applications that you do not use.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-execute-a-simple-boot-start-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

Perform an offline scan using Windows Defender > Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Offline scan

Thanks

Answer 2

It sounds like you're experiencing a range of issues that could potentially be linked to malware or other underlying problems with your system. Here are some steps you can take to address your concerns:

1. Run a Full Malware Scan: Even if you haven't found any malware so far, it's a good idea to run a comprehensive scan using Windows Security or a trusted third-party tool like Malwarebytes. This can help identify any hidden threats.
2. Check for Unusual Processes: The presence of multiple instances of Console Host in your task manager could indicate that something unusual is happening. If you're unsure about what processes are running, consider researching them or seeking help from a knowledgeable friend or professional.
3. Monitor System Performance: If your CPU is running at a high temperature and your PC is sluggish, it could be due to background processes consuming resources. Use Task Manager to identify any applications or processes that are using an unusually high amount of CPU or memory.
4. Update Your System: Ensure that your Windows operating system and all drivers are up to date. Sometimes, performance issues can stem from outdated software.
5. Check for Startup Programs: Disable any unnecessary startup programs that may be running in the background when you boot your PC. This can help improve performance.
6. Consider a System Restore: If the issues began recently, you might consider performing a system restore to revert your PC back to a state before the problems started.
7. Secure Your Accounts: Since you've mentioned that your accounts have been hacked, make sure to enable two-factor authentication on all your accounts, change your passwords, and monitor for any suspicious activity.

If these steps do not resolve the issues, you may want to consider seeking professional help to further diagnose the problem.

---

References:

• Understanding malware & other threats
• Troubleshoot performance issues related to real-time protection