Handling pc after remote access to a printer-support scammer

[wasser]

A family member gave remote access to an HP print repair spoofer, and I'm trying to figure out if I need to do a full wipe/reset,

and what I can save from the laptop's files first, and what event logs etc I should export beforehand.

Malwarebytes has come up clean on several scans.

The spoofer installed several HP utility apps, I'm not savvy enough to tell if they're genuine or bogus.

I've changed the most critical passwords, reset wifi and router passwords, and am working my way through the rest.

The only clearly suspicious thing I've found is a c drive folder named "a" , created during the remote access, with a whole bunch of empty/hidden files only subfolders that seem like data dump structures?

screenshot of that folder is attached.

Right now, the pc has a system update and chrome update pending; I dunno if I should allow those or not, before/after whatever else I do?

Thanks in advance!

[Malwarebytes]

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[wasser]

Malwarebytes support tool gathered logs are attached.

 

mbst-grab-results.zip

[David H. Lipman]

The scam is primarily about money.  They may also exfiltrate personal data and harvest financial data along with the payment information.

They may or may not leave a backdoor trojan or Remote Access Trojan (RAT).

The first thing to do is cancel payment and/or put it in dispute.

In reference to the affected platform...

Please read;   I'm infected - What do I do now?  and then create a new post in for that affected PC;   Windows Malware Removal Help & Support

Edited November 13, 2023 by David H. Lipman
Edited for content, clarity, spelling and/or grammar

[wasser]

5 minutes ago, David H. Lipman said:

The scam is primarily about money.  They may also exfiltrate personal data and harvest financial data along with the payment information.

They may or may not leave being a backdoor trojan or Remote Access Trojan (RAT).

The first thing to do is cancel payment and/or put it in dispute.

In reference to the affected platform...

Please read;   I'm infected - What do I do now?  and then create a new post in for that affected PC;   Windows Malware Removal Help & Support

 

Thank you!

1. Yep, we stopped payment on the check (still arguing about whether to close the account completely)

2. I wondered if I should go directly to the "removal help" subforum but guessed wrong that I should start here.  Hopefully there won't be a next time but if there is I'll know!

 

[David H. Lipman]

 

 

[Porthos]

6 minutes ago, wasser said:

I'm trying to figure out if I need to do a full wipe/reset

I am always on the fence about this. If it was me I would clean install Windows.

6 minutes ago, wasser said:

I've changed the most critical passwords, reset wifi and router passwords, and am working my way through the rest.

Did you do it from the same computer?

if so, do the password changes from a different known clean system, starting with email.

 

[wasser]

I used a clean computer for all the resets, and I'll do another reset pass in a few days too.