Update, 14 hours of investigation and re-installing later:

### Findings:

1. Two different virus scans came back clean (bitdefender and spybot search and destroy )

2. A more technically savvy friend poked through the running processes and browser settings in detail, he didn't see anything shady

3. That being said, three super technically savvy types (CISO, CTOs) suggest that I reformat the drive and reinstall Windows anyway. One concern: there is something lurking, undetected, and takes lays low until it strikes later, perhaps in the form of ransomware

### Actions taken :

1. Re-installed the whole machine

2. Reset a few passwords. Fewer than i feared... i am taking comfort from Findings #2 above. That friend doesn't believe it's likely that any passwords were (able to be) stolen from the browsers

### Reflections / Thankfully:

1. My antivirus program seemed to have done its job

2. I don't have anything important loaded onto the computer. not much to steal, and not much to re-install

3. The browser on which I first encountered the problem is NOT the browser I have more important stuff loaded (I use 2-4 browsers at any time...)

4. I have wonderful technically savvy friends who were able to provide both guidance and comfort!

5. Never download binaries to my computer while rushed. Time saved to think through things properly is minimal (5-10 minutes)... time wasted can be incredible (14 hours).

6. Just never ever download binaries from file sharing websites!