Removing Viruses and Malware
Tips for Removing Viruses and Malware
There is nothing quite worse than firing up a computer with the hope of having fun or getting some work done only to discover it's been infected. Viruses and malware can damage files, slow down operations and even compromise safety and security. Getting them off a machine as quickly and as effectively as possible is a must.
When a computer is turned on and virus alerts start popping up like crazy, the first thing to do is stop and breathe. It's important to make sure the alerts are in fact valid. Keep in mind that some malware is designed to display false positives with the motivation of getting the computer owner to download additional malware or shell out cash for bogus antivirus software. That's why you have to check for computer virus symptoms.
If you do receive antivirus alerts, don't click on them right away. Verify them first by opening the antivirus program installed on your machine. Check the status or logs the program displays. If there is no evidence of an infection, the alerts are bogus.
Now, if there is evidence of a true infection, there are a number of ways to go about removing viruses and malware from a machine. Here are some tips that can help you clean up your machine before real damage is done:
- Get rid of temporary files – This is always a first step worth taking since the infection could very possibly be located right in the temporary Windows or Internet Explorer folders. To remove these files before a scan, click on the Start Menu and go to All Programs. They click on Accessories and System Tools. From here, you'll see that option to delete temporary files.
- Run onboard virus scanners – If a computer is equipped with an onboard software package to ferret out viruses and malware, by all means use it. Norton 360 and other similar programs – if they are kept up to date – can solve the problem right away. Follow the instructions for the program to run a scan and removal procedure.
- Try on-demand scanners – Windows users can also try some of the free on-demand scanners to get rid of viruses and malware. Options include ComboFix, Spybot Search & Destroy and MalwareBytes. It is never a bad idea to run two programs to be 100 percent sure all threats have been removed. Keep in mind that some malware is designed to block malware scanners. If this seems to be the case, try changing the name of the setup or program executable file. If that doesn't work, RKill might be able to help. If errors are found when trying to open an executable .exe program, restore the extensions.
What To Do If Windows Won't Load
In some cases, infections can be so bad that Windows simply won't load. It is also possible that onboard and on-demand scanners just won't function. If these things happen, there is still hope. It might be time to try system recovery and advanced boot options.
To get this started, reboot the machine and press F8 right away. Doing this will bring up the Advanced Boot Options Screen. At this point, select “Last Known Good Configuration.” This might reset any system changes and bring Windows back online.
Should problems still exist, try the “Safe Mode with Networking” option. If that doesn't work, try “Safe Mode.” If you can access Windows from these locations, try performing an on-demand scan again.
Reboot Looping
Some viruses can cause Windows to produce blue screens that go away too quickly to use and others may force repeated Windows restarts. If this is the problem, select “Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure.” This option is in the Advanced Boot Options menu.
Tips For Fixing Windows
If Windows still isn't running right, it's a good idea to go ahead and fix the OS before moving forward with virus and malware removal. Even if all viruses are removed from the machine, it is possible Windows still won't function right if you don't take the steps to fix it.
Windows XP users can get into the Recovery Console by hitting F8 on the reboot, using the Windows Setup CD or using Ultimate Boot CD for Windows. Try running Check Disk, fixboot and fixmbr from here. If Windows XP is accessible from the normal startup or Safe Mode, using System Restore to select a previous – non-infected point of time – can solve the problems.
Windows 7 and Vista users can also press F8 on the reboot to get into the System Recovery Options screen. The Windows Setup and Windows Recovery CDs will also do the trick. Run a startup repair and/or system restore. From the Command Prompt, go ahead and Check Disk and do a System File Check, as well.
If nothing is working, it might be time to reinstall Windows. Repairing the installation with the Setup CD can also do the trick.
What To Do Next
Once Windows is running, go back through the malware and virus scans. Be sure to run at least two different programs to ensure that all problems have been detected and removed.
After everything is working again and Windows is restored, be sure to put an antivirus program on the computer to prevent further infections. Programs such as Norton 360 can prove very useful as computers these days are online all the time. If you're running Mac OS, Norton for Mac is an option.