Could malware impact sound drivers? Noticed speaker issues after suspicious pop-up?

Viruses & Threats
1

Hi AVG Community,

I’ve recently started experiencing an issue with my Windows laptop’s speakers — the sound randomly cuts out or becomes muffled, especially after startup. This started happening shortly after I accidentally clicked on a weird pop-up while browsing. I immediately ran an AVG scan, which flagged one minor issue and removed it, but the audio problems are still ongoing.

I’m wondering — is it possible that some form of malware or adware could have affected my audio drivers or system settings?

As part of my troubleshooting, I tried this site I found online that uses audio frequencies to clean out the speakers. It seemed to help a little, which makes me think maybe it’s a hardware/dust issue — but I still don’t want to rule out a software or security concern.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? Would a deeper scan or reinstalling drivers be the next best step?

Thanks in advance!

2

To fix my speaker, first verify power, wiring, and use a different source of audio to eliminate external problems. Check the speaker cone for damage and listen for distortion, buzzing, or nothing. Take the casing off (if it’s safe to do so) and examine for loose wiring, broken components, or blown fuses. Test continuity with a multimeter and check the drivers and internal circuitry to see if they’re working. Remove dust or debris, re-solder loose connections, and replace broken components such as cones, fuses, or drivers. For Bluetooth speakers, reset and update the firmware. Reassemble the speaker tightly and test again. Consult professionals if necessary. https://fixmyspeaker.org/