I have windows defender running most of the time, with active protection on, but I don't have any anti virus, which I probably should. But anyway, I hadn't run defender with a full scan for a while (at least a week), although as I say its been activly running in the background the whole time, just doing weekly scans every monday. That brings you up to speed on my protected status situation.

This morning, I started up the comp and got an odd error telling me a service was unable to start. I've never had such an error before, so alarm bells began to ring. I went onto trend micro and started up housecall, and it found 7 instances of malware and 3 greyware. Most of them seemed to be java related crap, but one thing it found was a keylogger.

I've been downloading things on and off for a while now but I don't think something that obvious could slip past windows defender, but even if it didn't it could have been on my system for well over a week since I haven't scanned it for at least that long as I said.

I'm just wondering if I should be worrying right about now and scurrying around changing all my account passwords on various websites? Better safe than sorry I know but I have so many different accounts, emails, forums, websites, shops... And I've logged into quite a lot of them over the past few weeks.

Would it be wise for me to take the time to do this or should I just not worry about it? It makes me wonder if the fact that service error I got was in fact the keylogger trying to start by failing to do so, in which case since it was the first time I got the error (and I haven't change any major settings), maybe it was never even successful to begin with from the very second it got onto my computer.

Or is that just wishful thinking?

First get a good Anti virus program on your computer, and run it. There are many free ones.

Second:I have absolutely no use for Windows Defender so I will stop right there, but at least you are running something, and yes do a full system scan.

Third:As for changing your passwords, that really won't do you much good until you successfully remove the keylogger.

Fourth:When I set up computers for others, I create a folder on the C drive and name it Downloads. Whenever any program is downloaded I have it go to that folder. Never EVER install a program from a website unless you are 200% positive that it is from a reliable source, and even then save it to the downloads folder and then run it.
This will also save you heaps of time should you ever have to reload a program and all of the updates.

Fifth: After you download a program and have it saved to your downloads folder, right click on that download and check it for virus's.

Sixth: When installing ANY program if you see the words Custom or advanced always select that install option and read carefully. Reason: if there are any hidden things that can be installed such as toolbars etc. that is where they will show up.

Seventh: If you really want the program but are unsure and have not read the EULA then make a restore point before you install the program.

Okay! sorry I will get off my soap box now.
Good luck and Safe Computing.