Computer virus, which emerged many years back from a practical joke between school friends, has been a serious concern for billions of PC users. As degree of their sophistication ascends, a virus not only can cause your fast computer to work at a crawling speed, it can practically make you dance according to the music and beats it secretly composes sitting inside your PC!
There are various types of viruses such as Worms, Trojans, and Malware, each with its own way of wreaking havoc. The best strategy is to prevent these threats before they cause damage. This comprehensive guide will help you understand how to identify, remove, and prevent computer viruses.
Signs Your Computer is Infected
Before diving into virus removal, you should be able to recognize if your computer is infected. Here are some common signs of infection:
- Frequent advertisement pop-ups
- Sudden slowdown of your computer
- Applications failing to start
- Slow web page loading times
- Missing files
- Disappeared antivirus and disabled firewall
- Frequent Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
Running a Virus Scan
Step 1: Install or Update Your Antivirus Software
If you suspect your computer is infected, the first step is to run a virus scan. Ensure you have a reliable antivirus installed. If not, you can choose from free or paid options such as Avast, Norton, AVG, or download Microsoft Security Scanner. Here’s how to proceed:
- Install Antivirus Software:
- Download and install your chosen antivirus software from the official website.
- Update the Antivirus:
- Ensure your antivirus software is up-to-date to detect the latest threats.
Step 2: Run the Scan
Antivirus software typically offers three types of scans: Quick, Full, and Custom. To thoroughly check for infections, select the Full Scan option, which will scan your entire computer for viruses, malware, Trojans, and adware.
- Open your antivirus software.
- Select Full Scan:
- This scan may take an hour or more to complete.
Step 3: Handle the Scan Results
Once the scan is complete, your antivirus will inform you whether any threats were found.
- Quarantine Detected Threats:
- If viruses are found, select the Quarantine option to prevent them from spreading.
- Remove the Virus:
- Follow the prompts to delete the quarantined threats.
Troubleshooting Persistent Issues
Sometimes, even after a virus scan, issues may persist:
- Computer still runs sluggishly: The virus might not have been detected.
- Scan finds viruses but cannot delete them: There might be an error in the removal process.
- Continued issues after virus removal: The virus may have caused damage that requires further action.
Reinstalling Problematic Programs
If a specific program is infected, you may need to uninstall and reinstall it:
- Open Control Panel:
- Click on Start > Control Panel.
- Uninstall the Program:
- Under Programs, click Uninstall a program. Select the infected program and click Uninstall.
At times, it is possible that your anti-virus is compromised. This means that the virus has altered the anti-virus so that it would not detect or delete it. It is also possible that the virus managed to escape detection. In such cases, it is best that you uninstall your anti-virus and all its components.
You will then have to download the software and re-install it. Then run the scan again. It is always good to take a second opinion, so if you wish, you can un-install your anti-virus software and install another one.
Boot in Safe Mode
If the above methods fail, try booting your computer in Safe Mode. Safe mode is a troubleshooting option wherein only the bare essential software and system applications are run. This means that the virus won’t be able to run during this mode.
- Reboot your computer.
- Press F8 repeatedly before Windows starts to load.
- Select Safe Mode from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
- Run a full antivirus scan in Safe Mode.
Now that you are in the safe mode, run the full scan of your anti-virus software. If any viruses exist, the anti-virus software will be able to find them without any possibility of the virus interfering.
Formatting the Hard Drive
As a last resort, you may need to format your hard drive. This will delete all data on the drive, so ensure you have backed up important files:
- Backup your data.
- Reformat the hard drive:
- Use your operating system’s installation media to format the drive and reinstall the OS.
Preventing Future Infections
To prevent your computer from getting infected, follow these tips:
- Use a strong firewall:
- Have your firewall at its highest setting. Window’s firewall prevents any viruses, malware, worms or anything else from sneaking into your computer without your knowledge.
- Keep your system updated:
- Always receive windows updates. Make sure that you are downloading windows updates. This will strengthen the security system of windows. See how to access Windows Updates.
- Be cautious with emails and downloads:
- Do not click on popup ads or open unknown emails. This will result in viruses trying to sneak in.
- Regular antivirus scans:
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- Run your antivirus scan once a week. This will prevent any viruses from settling into your computer.
When it comes to dealing with computer viruses, always try to remember the old way of doing it – prevention is better than cure.
Conclusion
Dealing with computer viruses can be daunting, but by taking preventive measures, you can avoid most infections. Recognize the signs of infection, run regular scans, keep your software updated, and always be cautious with downloads and emails. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
