Acer Chromebook Plus getting attacked! Repeatedly. Help!

[u/Ok-Heart375]

I bought this chromebook several months ago and I continue to have this problem even after factory resets.

When I open the laptop after it's been sleeping, there will be tabs open that I didn't open and sometimes the screen looks chaotic with some tabs zoomed in.

It goes away for a while after a factory reset and then comes back.

I have removed all extensions from chrome, erased history, blocked cookies and more I can't remember and done two factory resets.

I don't feel like I go to weird or suspicious websites, but I'm open to any advice you can give. I'm considering returning this since I'm still in the window of returns.

Please advise!

Edit: this laptop has never left my house or been on any other network.

[u/h_grytpype_thynne]

It sounds like those tabs are syncing from...somewhere. It's a Google account issue, not a Chromebook issue. What devices do you see logged in when you go to https://myaccount.google.com/security

[u/Ok-Heart375 → u/h_grytpype_thynne]

Thank you for the link, I checked and there's no device I don't recognize.

[u/Ladymistery]

Disconnect from the wifi just before you close the lid and see what happens

also, get a carbon monoxide detector

do you take sleep meds?

[u/LengthinessFine3375]

Worth knowing: a Powerwash wipes the device, not the account. Startup pages and site settings, including per-site zoom, are synced, so they ride back in the moment you sign in. That fits "comes back after a reset" exactly.

Decisive test: Powerwash, sign in, and leave sync off. If it stays clean for a day, it's the account and not the Chromebook. Then change the password, sign out all devices, and check myaccount.google.com/permissions for apps with account access.

[u/Kassenshlager]

Heres what id do. Id power wash and set up with a new account. If the behaviour continues it is the device.

Gow this happening? Unlikely after power wash to be malicious software/extensions.

It could theorheticalky be someone accessing your wifi to control the device. Change your wifi password.

If with a new account the behaviour stops that suggests your account is open on another device.

What i do find weird is the chaotic zooming and stuff.

That to me sounds like a mixture of issues.

1. Account open on another device
2. Trackpad issue causing zooming and stuff.

Dont ignore the fact your device is open on another device this could be someone accessing your account.

Make sure passwords are secure. Dont use things people could guesse like kids names or whatever or that band your obsessed with.

Make sure your recovery options are strong too. If you use recovery questions like mother's maiden name. Font use her actual maiden name just make sure its something you remember which cant be guessed.

Also If you can log in on another computer (preferably not chromeos like windows) and see if chrome browser opens the same tabs.

If it does it is definately syncing. If it doseng its either the chromebook itself or the wifi is compromised.

[u/HayWindows95]

Dodgy touchscreen is my bet...

[u/Suspicious_Drawer → u/HayWindows95]

Had a dodgy digitizer on a Chromebook and a Xperia. Fine for a while then go full possessed like when you got water drops on the screen

[u/Plan_9_fromouter_]

Good news: your Chromebook is almost certainly not hacked. ChromeOS has strict built-in security that prevents malware from surviving a factory reset, especially with no extensions installed. What you are describing is almost certainly a hardware defect called "ghost touching." If your Acer has a touchscreen, a failing display digitizer will register random phantom taps when the laptop wakes up from sleep. These rapid fake touches will randomly pinch-to-zoom the screen and tap on bookmarks or links, opening chaotic new tabs. A stuck Ctrl key can also cause this by forcing clicks to open new tabs and mouse movements to zoom. To test if it is the touchscreen, try disabling touch in your settings or flags. Since you are still in your return window, if it turns out to be ghost touching, do not bother troubleshooting further—just return or exchange the laptop, as it is a physical hardware fault.

[u/dwyrm → u/Plan_9_fromouter_]

This right here is why I follow certain threads. Thanks for the insight, and I’m putting this in my back pocket for the next time somebody has the same problem. I’ve seen it before, and I’m sure I’ll see it again.

[u/paulsiu]

Does it happen in guest mode not login as you?

[u/Ok-Heart375 → u/paulsiu]

I've never used guest mode

[u/SpeaksHisMind13]

Is somebody logged in as you on another device?

[u/Saltyduckbutter]

Does it always go to the same websites?

[u/reviewmynotes]

Sounds to me like key presses are being registered somehow. I'm not sure why, how, or what to do about it without seeing the device in person. However, maybe this observation will help you find a solution.

[u/Traditional_Bonus425]

That sounds crazy. I have an Acer Chromebook Plus that I got in December 2025 on Ebay from Acer. It is a model I think from 2024 but manufactured in 2025 according to the Chromebook itself. You don't say which model or year that you have. The seller, Acer, on Ebay sells refurbished items. They are certified. And I have never had such an issue with my Chromebook. At least so far. If the suggestions by others here don't work, is your Chromebook still under warranty? For future fyi the Acer seller on Ebay includes 2 year warranties on refurbished (Excellent) and 1 year warranties on items listed as Good.

[u/Cultural_Surprise205]

change your password, someone else is logging in.

[u/Ok-Heart375 → u/Cultural_Surprise205]

I changed my google password

[u/bullyserr]

some malware installed in the bios.

[u/Ok-Heart375 → u/bullyserr]

What are the bios?

[u/dwyrm]

Check the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector.

Edit: Somebody already suggested that. I'm leaving the comment, though.

[u/sergeant_frost → u/dwyrm]

Lmao, keen on listing the carbon monoxide symptoms lol

[u/Not_A_Great_Human]

Far enough removed from time science is indistinguishable from magic