We all know malware is out there. Malware includes applications that spy on you, corrupt your data, destroy your hard drive
or give control of your machine to someone thousands of miles away. No
matter what form it takes, it's bad business. And since there are a lot
of examples of malware in the wild, it may only be a matter of time
before you become the victim of a malware attack.
The most
important advice we can give anyone who believes he or she has a
computer with malware on it is this: Don't panic. Also, don't assume
that you need to wipe your computer clean
and start from scratch. Often you can remove malware without having to
erase everything else. You may lose some data in the process, but you
probably won't lose everything.
First you need to determine if your computer has a virus
at all. You might suspect your computer of having a virus if it seems
to be sluggish. If your Web browser suddenly looks different or
automatically goes to a site you don't recognize, that's a good
indication that you've got some malware. If your computer is unstable
and crashes fairly often, you may have a problem. And if you try to
access files but receive a message saying they're corrupted, that's
another sign.
If you do think your computer has a virus, you
need to run antivirus software to weed it out. Some viruses disable
antivirus software -- they're clever that way. If you don't have any
antivirus software, now's a good time to purchase or download an
application. A few malware variants will try to block you from
downloading antivirus software. If that's the case, you may need to
download the software on another computer and transfer it to disk or a flash drive.
Detecting and Removing a Computer Virus
Antivirus software is practically a requirement for anyone using the Windows operating system. While it's true you can avoid computer viruses
if you practice safe habits, the truth is that the 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 have to purchase. Keep in mind that free versions
often lack some of the nicer features you'll find in commercial
products.
Let's start with the assumption that you're able to run
antivirus software -- we'll look into what to do if this isn't the case
a little later. Assuming your antivirus software is up to date, it
should detect malware on your machine. Most antivirus programs have an
alert page that will list each and every virus or other piece of
malware it finds. You should write down the names of each malware
application your software discovers.
Many antivirus programs will
attempt to remove or isolate malware for you. You may have to select an
option and confirm that you want the antivirus software to tackle the
malware. For most users, this is the best option -- it can be tricky
removing malware on your own.
If the antivirus software says it has removed the malware successfully, you should shut down your computer,
reboot and run the antivirus software again. This time, if the software
comes back with a clean sweep, you're good to go. If the antivirus
software finds different malware, you may need to repeat the previous
steps. If it finds the same malware as before, you might have to try
something else.
Advanced Computer Virus Removal Tips
If you can't access your antivirus software or you keep seeing the
same malware pop up scan after scan, you may need to try and start your
computer in Safe Mode. Many computer viruses will store files in your Windows registry folder. This folder acts like a database of instructions and tells your operating system
important information about the programs you have on your computer. It
can also tell viruses to activate as soon as the operating system
loads. Starting your computer in Safe mode allows you to work with your
machine using only the core elements of the Windows OS.
Try
running your antivirus software in this mode. If you see new malware
pop up, you may have hit upon your solution. Some malware exists only
to download other kinds of malware and install them on your machine. If
you can remove all of these applications, you'll be in good shape.
If
for some reason your antivirus software can't remove the virus on its
own, it's time to do a little more research. Remember when we said you
should write down the names of all the malware applications that your
software discovered? Here's where that comes into play. You'll need to
research each of those files online using the appropriate Internet
security firm. Make sure to use the same firm that produces the
antivirus software you're using. That's because different firms
sometimes give the same virus different names. Not all firms will refer
to the same virus the same way.
Most Internet
security firms will list all the files associated with a particular
virus and tell you where you can expect to find those files. You may
have to do some digging to find each file. Before you delete any files,
you should save a backup copy of your Registry folder. If you
accidentally delete the wrong file, you may make it difficult or
impossible to run your computer properly.
Delete all the files
associated with the malware on your list. Once that's done, you'll need
to reboot your computer and run your antivirus software again.
Hopefully nothing else will pop up.
You may want to update your
login information for your various accounts online. Some malware has
keylogging software that can send your passwords and information to a
remote user. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Computer Virus Protection
There are some simple rules you can follow that will help you avoid computer viruses. Most of these fall under the category of common sense.
Don't open strange e-mail
attachments or click on hyperlinks in e-mail. Virus programmers love to
trick people into clicking on links that will lead them to malicious
software. Let people know that you don't click on hyperlinks in e-mail
unless the sender includes a description of the link and what it leads
to. If your e-mail client supports autolaunch, turn it off. Otherwise
you might automatically activate a computer virus just by opening the
e-mail.
The same applies to other messages you might encounter. Hyperlinks in 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 like
misspellings or odd sentence structure, particularly if the person who
sent you the message normally avoids errors. If you do see an odd link,
you may want to let the sender know -- he or she might be the victim of
a hacked account.
Don't visit questionable Web sites. This
includes everything from software, music and video piracy sites to porn
pages. Many current Web browsers will alert you if you try to go to a
site that is known for hosting malware. Pay attention to these warnings
and stay away from those sites.
Pay close attention to any windows that pop up while you surf the Web.
If you see a notification claiming that you need to download the latest
video driver to watch something, use caution. This is a common tactic
used to distribute malware.
Run your antivirus software at least
once a week. You should also make sure your antivirus software and OS
remain current by downloading updates and patches on a regular basis.
Most antivirus software updates at least once a week as security firms
add more virus information to their databases.