Assess if computer has been compromised

Hi lregister:

Can you provide any additional information about your system? For example, what is your Dell computer model, the version and OS build number of your Windows operating system [if possible, open a Run dialog box (Windows key + R) and enter winver] and antivirus?  Is any message displayed on your blue screen (e.g., Installing... 30% complete)? Has the service warranty for your Dell computer expired yet?

NOTE: If the service warranty for your Dell computer has not expired you can contact Dell customer support directly by clicking the blue Get Help Now located in the bottom-right corner of each page of this forum to start a Live Chat and ask them for assistance. After you type in a brief summary of your problem the automated chat bot will ask for your email address and the unique Service Tag of your Dell computer.  Once it confirms you still have a valid service warranty it should connect you to a live customer service rep.

Microsoft normally releases monthly cumulative updates on Patch Tuesdays on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. If your problem started a few days ago it's more likely one of the December 2025 Patch Tuesday updates released on 09-Dec-2025 requires a system restart to finish the installation, or your operating system is currently undergoing a major version upgrade (e.g., from Win 11 v23H2 to v24H2). If you leave your computer on for 2 or 3 hours and there is no message on your blue screen indicating that your installation is progressing then one of your Patch Tuesday updates might have gotten "stuck" and is failing to run to completion.

See the answer the Perplexity AI chatbot gave me when I searched for "how to fix windows blue screen saying wait while computer is updated" at https://www.perplexity.ai/search/ow-to-fix-windows-blue-screen-x6qZIBJ7SkWvndslSjn.wA, which describes how you can enter your Windows recovery environment (e.g., Troubleshooting | Advanced Options) to try a Startup Repair or uninstall your bad update.
-----------
Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.6691 * Firefox v146.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.25110.5-1.1.25110.1 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.4.5.226-146.0.5441 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

Hi lregister:

Have you made any progress with this problem?  It has been over a month since your original post.

See the 25-Jun-2025 BleepingComputer article Hackers turn ScreenConnect into malware using Authenticode stuffing about a malicious Remote Access Tool (RAT) that displays a fake Windows Update screen, as well as Wayne Maruna's 12-Jan-2026 topic Another hacked computer in the AskWoody forum for suggestions on how to detect and/or remove this malware.

If you are worried that your computer might be infected I'd suggest your install the Malwarebytes Free anti-malware scanner and run an advanced Deep Scan to see if it can detect any threats that were missed by your antivirus.  If you aren't familiar with this scanner see my 07-Jul-2024 post # 2678804 in crimsoncricket’s Window Security is behaving strangely in the AskWoody forum for instructions on how to install Malwarebytes Free and run your first scan.
-----------
Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.6809 * Firefox v147.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.25110.6-1.1.25110.1 * Malwarebytes Standard v5.4.6.227-147.0.5453 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0