My Laptop is still infected even though I’ve formatted it and reinstalled Windows 10!

I have security issues in my Dell Inspiron laptop (Windows 10 home):

  1. When I open windows update, some updates are not completed and some are blocked. And I get this message:

There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80070643).

  1. Windows security center service can’t be started in safe mode.
  2. When I had Kaspersky free, I got warnings: some protection modules are corrupted and the protection is paused.
  3. when I open a software (Edge, PDF…) and even when I open Settings, I always notice that the windows flash.
  4. When I work in Battery Saver mode and shut down my laptop, the next time I start it I find that the battery level is low and the Battery Saver mode is still enabled! I restarted the pc and found Better Battery and not Battery Saver! So I conclude that my laptop doesn’t really shut down! Besides, sometimes when I start it, I get the following alert: alert the AC power adapter wattage and type cannot be determined. the battery may not charge.

These issues (among others) always occur, for all programs, even when I am not connected to the internet. later, my Facebook account was hacked (notification of many connections at the same time).

I don’t think it’s a hardware problem because it started after less than 1 year from buying the laptop. I used Crystal Disk Info and no problem was reported.

Did these problems start after installing a hardware? : no, but I think I got infected because I used Kaspersky free VPN and I used to connect to a public secured network (coffee, library) and I accessed a streaming website. Besides, I used Turbo VPN in my smartphone.

I already tried:

  • Windows update, scan and the drivers update;
  • checkdisk & scan;
  • scan with Kaspersky and Malwarebytes free;
  • factory reset;
  • formatted and reinstalled Windows using USB flash drive.

After some investigation, I have a doubt about ExtExport.exe (a file of Internet Explorer), especially after reading this article: https://windowsbulletin.com/files/exe/microsoft-corporation/internet-explorer/extexport-exe#what_is

I tried to remove it using RevoUninstaller and Asmwsoft PC Optimizer but it failed. So, I uploaded the file in VirusTotal.com and got the following report:

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/edc454bca93a7d41d193a59953bde82766fc6874345a71bea2a8c52e71d06e2974345a71bea2a8c52e71d06e29

Could an expert check it please? Is the file safe? What causes the issues mentioned above and how can I fix them?

PS: I can provide the file properties (screen shots) and reports about the system/device.

Thank you

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shutting down a laptop doesnt shut it down it still stays on, to shut it down you have to restart it.
alot of free ”antiviruses” are maleware or adware themselfs

secondly ”flashing” windows might be for other reasons such as a faulty not broken gpu or your router blocking popups or such

You cannot rule out a hardware fault simply because the product is still fairly new.

A “Shut Down” of your computer does not actually shut it down the way you’re expecting.

Read here

| When you click “Shut Down” on your Windows 10 PC, Windows doesn’t fully shut down. It hibernates the kernel, saving its state so it can boot faster. If you’re experiencing computer problems and need to reset that state, you’ll need to restart your PC instead

As for the problem you’re having with updates, check out here

I got infected because I used Kaspersky free VPN and I used to connect to a public secured network (coffee, library) and I accessed a streaming website

If you installed that from the Kaspersky site it’s not the problem. If you got it elsewhere then maybe. Kaspersky’s been in the AV business for a long time and is a very good AV with a good rep. The only hit on them is they have connections to Russia so there’s speculation they may cooperate with Russian intelligence services. There has never been any proof, any smoking gun of this, just suspicion.

Regarding the battery issue, by default Windows, particularly with laptops, goes into a low power state when you “Shut down”. If you hold the shift key as you click on shutdown it will do a full shutdown.

You’re link to Virus total and to Windows Bulletin both go to Stack Overflow. Copying the text from the Virus Total one though I see the file had a clean bill of health.

Updates: It’s not unusual for Windows to have an issue installing an update.

my Facebook account was hacked

I presume you changed not only your Facebook password but ALL passwords for everything. Too many people use the same or similar user name/password combo on more than one site. Get a password manager and let it generate secure passwords and keep track of them.

In short, you’re not infected but your userid/password combo could be out there putting any services you use at risk if you did use the same one multiple times.

How to check the GPU please?

The “flashing” occurs even when I’m not connected… when I open a text editor, or the system’s settings for example.

Thank you. I’ll check the link.

  1. I downloaded the VPN from Kaspersky’s official website, but since it’s free, it’s less secure than the paid version.

  2. Sorry for the links, I didn’t pay attention. I have posted the problem On Stack Overflow but I didn’t get an answer, so I modified the text based on techsupport rules and posted it here.
    For the report, under “details” tab ->creation time: why the creation year is 2025?!
    Also, in the section “signature info”: the file is not signed! Why? since it belongs to Microsoft…

  3. Regarding Windows Update, the problem is always about the security update:
    “2024-01 Security Update for Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5034441)”
    How can I fix it?

  4. I don’t use the password or user name several times. I have a unique password for each account. I’ve already changed all the passwords after formatting my pc, but the problem persists.
    for Facebook, I received a security alert showing more than 7 connections to my account at the same time I logged in. some of them are from Netherlands, UK…

Search that on youtube but if you do not have time or are scared to mess it up go to a reputable pc repair shop.

GPU checked with FurMark, no problem with it. Any suggestion please?

go to a reputable pc repair shop