Has
your PC been hit with a virus? Don’t despair! In these three easy-to-follow
steps we’ll show you how to get rid of pesky viruses and malware and get your
PC running smoothly again.
Step One
The
first thing you need to do is get your PC into a state where you can safely
start to tackle the malware.
Many
viruses wreak havoc via your internet connection, whether that’s relaying
information about your computer, hacking your emails, or installing something
nasty on your device. Before you try to remove the virus, disconnect from Wi-Fi
or any other internet connection. You then need to restart your computer in
Safe Mode.
In
older versions of Windows (pre Windows 8) this is super easy. As soon as your
computer starts to turn on, press the F8 button repeatedly until the Advanced
Boot Options Menu comes up on the screen. Then, select Safe Mode. If you’re
using Windows 10, this is slightly more complicated. Click the Start Button,
select the Power Button (as if you are going to reboot) but don’t click it yet,
then hold down the Shift button. You can now click Reboot.
A
menu should now appear. Select Troubleshooting >> Advanced Options
>> Startup Settings. On the next window click Restart. Another screen
will now appear with more options. Click number 4, which is Safe Mode.
Running
your computer in Safe Mode prevents the malware from launching automatically on
startup. If your computer is running noticeably faster, this could be a sign
that you do indeed have a virus. That said, Safe Mode also prevents perfectly
legit programs from running automatically as well, so it’s possible that any
improvements to performance are down to this, too.
Step Two
Next,
delete your temporary files. This will make your virus scan run faster and free
up disk space. In some cases it can even delete malware!
Select
Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >>
Disk Cleanup
Click
the option to delete temporary files and you’re all set.
Step Three
Now
your computer is fully prepared for a virus scan – but, of course, you need a
virus scanner for that! We’d recommend using Malwarebytes, which has an
excellent free on-demand scanner that’s perfect for this scenario.
However,
since your PC is still infected, it’s best to avoid reconnecting to the
internet if at all possible. Instead, use a different computer to download
Malwarebytes, save it to a USB flash drive, plug it into your computer or
laptop and install / run it from there.
Installing
Malwarebytes is really easy. Open it up, run the setup file and follow the
prompts given to you by the wizard. The only thing that might set you back a
little is if you need to install any updates, which will mean reconnecting to
the internet for long enough to do this. If this happens, make sure you
disconnect again before you run the scan!
For
now, stick with the default option, which is Perform Quick Scan. This is super
speedy – it should be done in about 5-10 minutes and will usually find any
infections in that time. If it doesn’t catch the malware first time round, you
can then try running a full scan, which can take up to an hour.
Malwarebytes
will automatically flag up any files that it knows are dangerous from its own,
well-maintained database, so you just need to click “Remove Selected” to get
rid of these.
How to Stay Safe
In
the majority of cases, these steps will work just fine, but there is always the
chance that you’ve picked up something really nasty, for example a rootkit
virus that automatically closes down scanners to prevent itself being detected
or deleted.
If
this happens, you will very likely need to splash out for more powerful
antivirus software or even seek out an IT professional who can get to work on
your computer.
And
while it’s possible to remove a virus, by the time it’s managed to sink its
teeth into your system, some irreversible damage may already have been done.
This is especially true if you’re saddled with spyware that’s captured
sensitive data or any kind of malware that deletes important files from your
hard drive.
The
best approach is to prevent it happening in the first place. Invest in a powerful internet security suite that scores highly in
independent tests. Make use of real-time scanning to ensure nothing slips
through the net. Look out for features that protect your privacy while
browsing, shopping and banking online. It’s well worth spending a few dollars
to save yourself a ton of hassle – and potentially cash – further down the
line! //http://www.top10antivirussoftware.com
