If your software detects a virus, it may give you the option to remove it automatically. If it doesn't, or if you prefer to fix the computer virus on your own, you can follow these steps. One note before starting: Getting rid of viruses manually requires knowledge of program and process names. Since these processes run in the background, it's normal not to recognize them—but that doesn't mean they're harmful. Before quitting or uninstalling a program, confirm that it is malware and doesn't belong on your machine.
If you've tried these steps and still need a little help, we're right around the corner. Keep viruses away from your Mac or PC with these 7 helpful tips:. Protect the devices your family loves and relies on with one simple plan that covers all your favorite home tech. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Asurion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the respective owners of the other trademarks appearing herein.
You may also be interested in:. You can restore the entire backup by selecting Browse for folders. Click Next to continue. Tell Windows where to put the restored files. If you want everything exactly as it was, choose In the original location , then click Restore.
If Windows detects that the original files are still on your computer, you can choose to replace them or leave them uncopied. When the restoration is complete, click Finish to conclude the process. Now you can enjoy your virus-free files and folders. Become an expert at malware detection and learn how to tell if your computer has a virus by remaining alert for the following symptoms:. Your system begins running slower than usual. With less computing power remaining for its own processes, your computer will slow down and suffer other performance declines.
Ads and pop-ups appear on your desktop. Many viruses fall into the adware category — malware created to flood you with ads to generate revenue for a cybercriminal. A sudden rush of pop-up ads may very well be the handiwork of a virus. A virus may download additional malware onto your computer for use in subsequent cybercrimes. The only programs on your computer should be those you installed yourself, or those included by its manufacturer.
Your system starts behaving erratically. Computers can fill up with junk faster than you think, and this sort of digital hoarding can result in the consequences described above. Use a cleanup tool such as Avast Cleanup to trim the fat and restore things to working order. Well, just scroll up a bit and run through our detailed instructions for removing a virus!
Regardless of what you use, your best defense against viruses is always a reliable antivirus solution from a reputable provider. It can, but not always very well. Windows Defender offers some protection against viruses, but it is not nearly as comprehensive as a dedicated antivirus tool. For this reason, we highly recommend that you protect your devices with specialized cybersecurity software.
Avast Free Antivirus runs quietly behind the scenes, scanning for any traces of malware and removing them before they have a chance to infect your machine. Download Avast Free Antivirus to remove viruses and prevent threats. Protect your PC in real time. Other Threats. Internet of Things. See all Security articles. IP Address. See all Privacy articles. See all Performance articles. Select language.
Link Copied. What is a computer virus? This article contains:. Note the name of the rogue security software. For this example, we'll call it XP Security Agent When you are prompted, use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode with Networking , and then press Enter.
Click the Start button and check whether the rogue security software appears on the Start menu. If it's not listed there, click All Programs and scroll to find the rogue security software's name. Right-click the name of the rogue security software program, and then click Properties. In the Properties dialog box, check the path of the rogue security software program that is listed in Target. Note The folder name frequently is a random number.
In the Program Files window, click Program Files in the address bar. Scroll until you find the rogue security software program folder. For example, XP Security Agent Go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner website. If you suspect that your computer is infected with rogue security software that was not detected by using Microsoft security solutions, you can submit samples by using the Microsoft Malware Protection Center submission form.
Microsoft Defender Offline is an anti-malware tool that helps remove difficult to eliminate viruses that start before Windows starts. Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft Defender Offline is built-in. Click Download the 32 bit version or Download the 64 bit version , depending on which operating system that you are running.
If you're unsure of which operating system that you are running, see Is my PC running the bit or bit version of Windows. When you are prompted, press a key to select an option to use to start your computer, such as F12, F5, or F8, depending on the kind of computer that you are using. Use the arrow key to scroll to the drive where you installed Microsoft Defender Offline file. Microsoft Defender Offline starts and immediately scans for malware. Confirm that the Windows firewall is turned on.
See Turn Microsoft Defender Firewall on or off for instructions on how to do that on modern versions of Windows. In the Search box, type firewall, and then click Windows Firewall. In the left pane, click Turn Windows Firewall on or off you may be prompted to enter your administrator password. Only download programs from sites that you trust.
If you're not sure whether to trust a program that you want to download, enter the name of the program into your favorite search engine to see whether anyone else has reported that it contains spyware. Read all security warnings, license agreements, and privacy statements that are associated with any software that you download.
Never click "Agree" or "OK" to close a window that you suspect might be spyware. Be wary of popular "free" music and movie file-sharing programs, and make sure that you understand all the software packaged with those programs. Use a standard user account instead of an administrator account.
An administrator account can access anything on the system, and any malware run with an administrator account can use the administrator permissions to potentially infect or damage any files on the system. For more information about how to protect a computer against viruses, see Protect my PC from viruses. Want to chat with a live person? Our Answer Tech trained professionals are ready to help: Answer Desk. Security information and training.
For computer virus and security-related support for locations outside North America, go to the Microsoft Support website. This computer is infected by spyware and adware. Click Start , and then type Windows Update in the search box.
0コメント