Download a virus scanner or complete internet security solution. We recommend Kaspersky Internet Security. The video below will guide you through the installation process:. When you are removing a virus from your PC, it is a good idea to disconnect from the internet to prevent further damage: some computer viruses use the internet connection to spread. Are you unsure of how to do this?
Some viruses are programmed to initiate when your computer boots up. Deleting temporary files may delete the virus. However, it is not safe to rely on this. To ensure you rid your computer of viruses, it is wise to complete the following steps.
Now it is time to run a virus scan using your chosen anti-virus or internet security software. If a virus is found, it may affect multiple files.
If threats are found, quarantine or delete the files. Now that the virus is removed, you can reboot your computer. Simply turn it on as you would normally. To protect your computer from further attack, change all your passwords in case they were compromised. This is only strictly necessary if you have reason to believe your passwords have been captured by malware, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Updating your software, browser and operating system will reduce the risk of flaws in old code being exploited by criminals to install malware on your computer.
If you use a Mac, you may be under the impression that your computer cannot get a virus. Unfortunately, this is a misconception. There are fewer viruses that target Macs compared with the many that target PCs, but Mac viruses do exist. Some Mac viruses are designed to trick users into thinking they are anti-virus products.
If you accidentally download one of these, your computer may be infected. If you think your Mac has a virus, here are six steps to follow to remove it:. To ensure nothing is missed and to keep your Mac protected, consider installing a running an anti-virus solution if you do not already have one.
We recommend comprehensive internet security solution like Kaspersky Total Security. A computer virus is a type of malware malicious software designed to make self-replicate, i.
Computer viruses are so-called because, like real viruses, they can self-replicate. Once your computer is infected with a virus, this is how it spreads. When a computer virus infects your computer, it may slow it down and stops it working properly. There are three main ways that your computer may have become infected with a computer virus.
The first way your computer could become infected from removable media, like a USB stick. If you insert a USB stick or disk into your computer from an unknown source, it may contain a virus. Another way your computer become infected with a virus is through a download from the internet. If you are downloading software or apps to your computer, ensure you do so from a trusted source. Microsoft offers a free online tool that scans and helps remove potential threats from your computer.
To perform the scan, go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner website. 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.
That means there are fewer opportunities for the virus to do anything or to spread to other computers. Once you're in safe mode, run your antivirus software and put the kettle on: no matter how fast your PC, scanning everything on it can take a little while.
Your antivirus software will identify any infected files and clean them if it can; if they're beyond repair, it will quarantine them so they can be safely deleted without re-infecting your PC.
In some cases you can also use Windows' System Restore to roll files back to their pre-infection state. We'd strongly recommend good antivirus software no matter how careful you are. Many of the best antivirus software suites will automatically scan incoming emails, files you download and USB devices you connect — but they'll also protect you in other ways too.
For example Norton AntiVirus has anti-ransomware protection and virtual private networking VPN to prevent people from intercepting your data when you're using public Wi-Fi, and it has parental controls so you can ensure the kids browse safely too. Not every virus is obvious and not every virus spreads in ways you can anticipate, and new viruses are discovered every day.
Good antivirus knows about them too. It's also very important to keep your copy of Windows and your other apps up to date. In most cases that should happen automatically via Windows Update and your apps' own automatic checking for updates, but not all apps do it for you so make sure you click those "check for updates" buttons. We'd also recommend two other very important things. One, make sure you backup anything important. Viruses aren't the only threat to your important files: hardware can fail, laptops can be stolen and accidents can happen.
If it matters to you, make sure you have backups of it. And two, never use the same username and password twice. It's tempting, we know, but if you do and malicious software manages to intercept your password for site A, it can then try those details on site B, and site C, and site D, and site E, and… If the thought of trying to remember different, complicated passwords for lots of different sites sounds terrifying, look for an antivirus suite that also includes a password manager.
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