If your computer has been hit by a virus, don't give up. There is still hope!
We all know that malware exists. Malware includes applications that spy on you, damage your data, destroy your hard drive, or transfer control of your machine to someone thousands of miles away. In whatever form it is taken, this is bad business. And since there are many examples of malware in the world, it may only be a matter of time before you fall prey to a malware attack.
The most important piece of advice we can give to anyone who thinks he or she has a computer with malware is this: don't panic. Also, don't feel like you have to clean up your computer and start from scratch. Often times, you can remove malware without erasing everything else. You may lose some data in the process, but you probably won't lose everything.
First you need to determine if there is a virus on your computer. You may suspect that you have a virus on your computer if it is running slowly. If your web browser suddenly looks different or automatically navigates to a site you are not familiar with, this is a good sign that you have malware. If your computer is unstable and crashes quite often, you may have a problem. And if you are trying to access files, but you get a message that they are damaged, this is another symptom.
If you really think you have a virus on your computer, you need to run antivirus software to get rid of it. Some viruses disable antivirus software - they are smart about that. If you don't have antivirus software, now is a good time to buy or download an app. Some variants of malware will try to block the download of antivirus software. In this case, you may need to download the software to another computer and transfer it to a disk or flash drive.
CONTENT
- Detection and removal of a computer virus
- Tips for Removing Advanced Computer Viruses
- Protecting your computer from viruses
Antivirus software is almost a must for anyone using the Windows operating system. While it is true that you can avoid computer viruses if you stick to safe habits, the truth is that people who write computer viruses are always looking for new ways to infect machines. There are several different antivirus programs on the market - some are free and some you need to buy. Keep in mind that the free versions are often missing some of the nicer features you'll find in commercial products.
Let's start by assuming that you can run antivirus software - we'll go over what to do if that's not the case in a moment. If you have the latest version of antivirus software installed, it should detect malware on your computer. Most antivirus programs have an alert page that lists any viruses or other malware found. You should write down the names of each malicious application detected by your software.
Many antivirus programs will try to remove or isolate malware for you. You may have to choose one of the options and confirm that you want your antivirus software to fight malware. For most users, this is the best option - removing malware on your own can be tricky.
If the antivirus software reports that it has successfully removed the malware, you should shut down your computer, restart your computer, and start the antivirus software again. This time, if the program returns with a clean check, everything is fine. If your antivirus software detects other malware, you may have to repeat the previous steps. If it detects the same malware as before, you may have to try something else.
Two is the crowd
If one antivirus program is good, then two are better, right? Wrong. Antivirus software usually uses most of your computer's processing power. Running multiple antivirus programs will slow your computer down to scan and possibly crash it. And not all antivirus programs are compatible with each other, which can make your computer even more unstable.
Tips for Removing Advanced Computer Viruses
If you do not have access to antivirus software, or you continue to see the same scan pop-up after scanning, you may need to try starting your computer in Safe Mode. Many computer viruses store files in the Windows registry folder. This folder acts as a database of instructions and tells your operating system important information about the programs installed on your computer. It can also tell viruses to activate as soon as the operating system boots. Starting your computer in safe mode allows you to work with your computer using only the basic elements of the Windows OS.
Try running your antivirus software in this mode. If you see a pop-up with new malware, you may have found your solution. Some malware exists only to download other malware and install it on your computer. If you uninstall all of these apps, you will be in good shape.
If for some reason your antivirus software is unable to remove the virus on its own, it's time to do some more research. Remember when we said that you should write down the names of any malware that your software detects? This is where it comes into play. You will need to examine each of these files online using the appropriate Internet security firm. Be sure to use the same company that makes the antivirus software you are using. This is because different companies sometimes give different names to the same virus. Not all firms will treat the same virus in the same way.
Most Internet security firms will list all the files associated with a particular virus and let you know where you can expect to find them. You may have to dig around to find each file. Before deleting any files, you must back up the registry folder. If you accidentally delete the wrong file, it can make it difficult or impossible for your computer to function properly.
Remove all malware related files from the list. Once this is done, you will need to restart your computer and run your antivirus software again. Hopefully nothing else appears.
You can update your login information for various online accounts. Some malware has keylogging software that can send your passwords and information to a remote user. Better safe than sorry.
Boot viruses (from disk)
Some antivirus programs allow you to create a special bootable disk. After creating the bootable disc, you should restart your computer with the disc in the drive. Your computer will read from the disk, load the limited OS, and run a virus scan. If you're lucky, this method will allow you to bypass the malware code and disable it.
Protecting your computer from viruses
There are some simple rules to help you avoid computer viruses. Most of them fall under the common sense category.
Don't open strange attachments in email messages, and don't click hyperlinks in email messages. Virus programmers love to trick people into clicking links that lead to malware. Let people know you're not clicking hyperlinks in an email unless the sender has included a description of the link and what it leads to. If your email client supports autorun, turn it off. Otherwise, you can automatically activate a computer virus by simply opening the email.
The same is true for other messages you may come across. Hyperlinks on message boards, Facebook messages, or instant messages can sometimes lead to malware. Pay attention to the source of the message. Look for any unusual signs, such as spelling mistakes or odd sentence structure, especially if the person sending you the message usually avoids mistakes. If you see a strange link, you can tell the sender that he or she could be the victim of a compromised account.
Don't visit questionable websites. This includes everything from software, music and video pirate sites to porn pages. Many modern web browsers will warn you if you try to navigate to a site that hosts malware. Pay attention to these warnings and stay away from these sites.
Pay special attention to any windows that pop up while browsing the web. If you see a notification that you need to download the latest video driver in order to watch something, be careful. This is a common malware distribution tactic.
Run your antivirus software at least once a week. You should also make sure that your antivirus software and OS remain up to date by regularly downloading updates and patches. Most anti-virus programs are updated at least once a week as security firms add more information about viruses to their databases.
Avoiding viruses may seem like a time consuming task, but keep in mind that it is easier than fixing a computer infected with a virus. Find out more about computer viruses and secure computing below.
Worst case scenario
If it seems like you cannot remove viruses, no matter which method you try, it might be time to bite the bullet and do a full system cleanup. This includes formatting the hard drive and rebooting the operating system. This will erase all of your information - remember to back up any important virus-free files before you start.
