https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/02/no...ly-chain-attack


so the popular notepad++ got hacked for 6 months. so if you use this app, you may want to do something about it.

the dev said, update directly from the website using the latest version.

other things you may want to do is kaspersky removal tool, scan. malwarebytes, scan. windows defender offline scan.

in the most extreme, a clean reinstall of windows 11 (the nuclear option. why? rather than finding a needle in a hay stack, just nuke it all. then you can be sure it's fixed)


do you really need to go that far? it's up to you. just know that notepad++ got compromised.



usually the signs of a compromised system

- system feels sluggish even when not doing much
- high cpu usage? when not doing much
- lots of network traffic
- and other signs

This post has been edited by Moogle Stiltzkin: Feb 3 2026, 09:53 AM

I have this installed though hardly use.

Used to use it on regular basis, until MS Notepad now has the multi-tab as well.

Whew lucky i never install any other app and use only MS Wordpad

The Notepad++ author cant stop babbling about Taiwan Independence on his twitter lol
That's why he got targeted by PRC hacker

i'm not aware about his political stuff. i only use his app cause i do coding from time to time (docker mostly) so it's better than the default. anyway interesting stuff i didn't know about and explains something as to why it got targeted

https://notepad-plus-plus.org/translation/v...bout-taiwan_tw/
One of the page, there are more of them lol, he too vocal and mix up the notepad stuff with his political view

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notepad%2B%2B
His twitter probably hidden or removed.

Before this i was using notepad2, but the project seems abandoned, then switched to notepad++
There are few editor on windows app store too, but performance wise notepad++ is still faster due to lack of fancy gui stuff.

Even VScode isn't safe, some of their extension look legit but embedded with malwares too iirc.

This post has been edited by 1024kbps: Feb 14 2026, 11:19 AM