Getting malware on your computer is a major security risk. If so, this is what you can do to limit the damage. See the 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer.
Viruses are everywhere! Did you click on a broken link or open a malicious email attachment?
It doesn’t take long to infect your PC with malware.
Computer virus removal can be difficult, but it can be done for free. Describes the process of detecting and removing malware.
Viruses are not the only ones: Other types of malware you should be aware of :
We often use the term “virus” to describe all the nasty things that can infect your computer. But the correct term is actually “malware” and there are many of them.
The main types of malware are viruses, Trojan horses, and worms. You may also encounter rootkits, botnets, spyware, adware, ransomware, or scareware.
The Symptoms of a Windows Virus or Malware Infection
Your antivirus program should detect malware before you notice any symptoms. But when a zerodayexploit hits your computer or your antivirus signature files aren’t uptodate, an infection might go unnoticed. Being aware of potential malware symptoms can help you catch an intruder before it does any serious harm.
Here are the most common signs your computer was compromised:
Computer Issues:
Windows is slow, the internet is laggy, but only on your PC, or you’re experiencing frequent software or system crashes. These symptoms aren’t always related to a malware infection, but if this is happening along with some of the other issues mentioned here, you’ve most likely got something going on.
Browser issues:
The home page or default search engine has changed, a non-installed toolbar suddenly appears, clicking a link redirects you to a random (possibly malicious) website, or the same strange pop-up Noticed-Up all websites you visit These are obvious signs of malicious activity on your computer.
Antivirus software issue:
Antivirus is disabled or not updated. Unwanted programs appear: Certainly, Microsoft may have decided to release an app that contains the latest updates, or it may have been bundled with other installed programs. But it may also be a sign that something more serious is happening.
Files disappear:
Perhaps ransomware has begun to take hostages.
What to do if your computer gets infected Before you start removing Malware, you need following:
- A clean (ie, malware-free) computer with internet access to check for infection symptoms on your computer, download infection removal programs, and create rescue or recovery media.
- A formatted USB flash drive, SD card, or external drive for transferring or running the recovery software.
Once you have both, you can try the following 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer.
1. Backing up your personal files
When you go with 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer, first step is this.
Hopefully you have already backed up your files. Still, for your safety, it’s a good idea to copy your personal files to another location. Keep in mind that you do not want to back up everything on your computer as there is a risk of storing infected files on your computer.
The following is a list of Windows files and folders that we recommend backing up. You can also set up a cloud backup. Note that most of these do not contain malware scans.
2. Perform a Microsoft Defender offline scan
This is the second step out of 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer.
Windows 10 has built-in malware protection, including the Microsoft Defender offline scan option. Search for Windows Security in the Start menu or launch it from the Settings app.
Press Windows + I to open the Settings app and go to Update & Security> Windows Security> Virus and Threat Protection.
In the Windows Security app, click Scan Options, select Microsoft Defender Offline Scan, and click Scan Now.
Windows security scan options (including Microsoft Defender offline scan). If this scan returns to normal, or if you still have suspicious symptoms, we recommend that you continue with additional scans.
3. Disconnect from the internet
We are talking about 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer, however this step is essential.
Windows laptop keyboard with F keys including airplane mode keys. Disconnecting from the internet should be one of the first things to do to fight any form of malware, as the virus is trying to call home. Here’s an easy way to disconnect from the Internet on your Windows computer:
- If you are using a desktop, unplug the Ethernet cable.
- If your computer is connected to Wi-Fi, put Windows in airplane mode. Press Windows + A to launch the Action Center and click the Airplane mode button at the bottom.
- If you have a laptop, your keyboard may also have airplane mode or a Wi-Fi button. 4. Boot in safe mode
4. Boot in Safe Mood
Booting in safe mode prevents all components except the core from running and makes it easier to identify problems.
The easiest way to boot into safe mode in Windows 10 is to use advanced boot options. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app, go to Update & Security> Recovery, and under Advanced Launch, click Launch Now.
In the Windows 10 Settings app, there are advanced startup options under Update & Security> Recovery.
When your computer restarts in recovery mode, you will see a blue screen with several options to choose from.
Select Troubleshoot> Advanced Options> Startup / Up Settings> Restart.
If you encrypted your drive, have the BitLocker recovery code in your Microsoft account ready. The PC will restart and the startup settings screen will open where you can select safe mode. Once in safe mode, you can proceed to the malware removal process.
If Windows does not boot at all, you can use antivirus bootable discs. These are available free of charge from many antivirus companies such as Kaspersky and AVG.
5. Close the suspicious application
Windows 10 Resource Monitor showing running processes under the CPU tab. Look for recently updated or installed applications. Press the Windows key and type “Resource Monitor” to open the related app.
Check the tasks running in the Resource Monitor to see how they affect your computer. To close the application, right-click on the application and select End Process. This is the forth step out of 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer
5. Identify the actual malware and check for fixes
When malware infects your computer, it is usually not a common virus, but a specific type of virus that needs to be removed by a specific process. Everywhere on the Internet, there are articles and forums dedicated to all types of malware infections.
Start with a simple search based on the little information you know about the infection. For example, if it’s a fake antivirus, what is it called? Once you get started, you can continue to look for more information about what to do. Ideally, you’ll find steps to walk you through the entire process from start to finish.
6. Scan with some programs until the infection is gone
Don’t worry if you can’t find a specific one about the infection. You can use a variety of tools to get rid of the infection. These tools range from antivirus and rootkit removers to antivirus and antispyware and common antimalware programs.
These are the third party tools we recommend:
- Rkill (to stop malware running in safe mode)
- SpyBot Search & Destroy (for adware and spyware)
- Emsisoft Emergency Kit (Portable App)
- Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (may already be installed)
- Kaspersky TDSSKiller (to remove rootkits)
- HitmanPro (free trial)
All of these tools are free or free trial versions and can be used in combination with each other. You need to download them to a clean computer with an internet connection and transfer the executable to the infected computer. Programs like Malwarebytes Premium require internet access to get the latest definitions. If you can, update definitions first, then boot in Safe Mode to run the scans.
Note: While you can use multiple malware removal programs, you can’t use multiple antivirus programs at the same time, as they can conflict.
7. Clear Temporary Files and Browser Cache
This is the seventh step out of 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer.
Once you’ve removed the nasty infections, it’s time to clean up any remaining files. You can use CCleaner or clean your computer manually. When you’re done, check your browser’s homepage and search engine and reset to your preferred settings or default settings. This may be a good time to go through the program list and uninstall unwanted or potentially dangerous software that has invaded your computer.
8. Delete the system restore point
System Restore helps repair a failed Windows setup, but System Restore points may contain malware. We recommend that you delete all system restore points. If you know exactly when you were infected with the malware, you can delete the restore points up to that point.
See System Restore Guide for detailed instructions on how to delete old system restore points.
9. Fix PostMalware removal issue
After removing the infection from your computer, some problems may occur. An easy option to try is Microsoft’s FixIt tool.
Below are some common issues and how to fix them.
- Unable to connect to the internet: Malware has made changes to the system, but it remains even after the system is removed. This can include DNS configuration changes, proxy server changes, or new hosts files. This Ugetfix article will help you fix all these issues. The Malware Removal Guide also addresses many of these issues.
- Programs and files won’t open: Removing malware doesn’t undo malware damage, such as changing executable file associations. The easiest way to fix all issues is to create a new Windows user profile or new account.
- Search engine redirects to random websites: One of the main reasons this happens when using Java (probably not needed) is that you need to clear the Java cache. If the main search bar is still in a different location, you can change it in your browser settings. The home page is still different. If the homepage is changed like a search engine, please change it in the browser settings as well.
- No desktop icon: If you don’t see any icons on your desktop, try downloading software such as Unhide.
- Windows Update and Firewall Not Working: If Windows Update or Firewall isn’t working properly, you can try a tool called Windows Repair on Tweaking.com.
It can do a lot, so uncheck all options except the following 5 when using it:
- Repair WMI
- Repair Windows Update
- Repair Windows Firewall
- Reset registry permissions
- Reset file permissions
- Computer is slow: If your computer is still slow, there are several ways to do it. Delete all other temporary files. Type sfc / scannow in the run window (start key + R) to repair the Windows system files and restart your computer. Make sure that only one antivirus program is installed and running on your computer.
Follow these tips to speed up Windows 10 and improve performance.
Do you still have problems? Post your issue to the Windows Help Forum to get a customized response.
10. Change your password
Finally, this is the last step from 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer. You need to change your password so that the information that may have been obtained during the infection of your computer will continue to be used and will not cause further damage.
We recommend using a password management strategy to create strong yet easy-to-remember passwords.
So, now you know about the 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer. Carefully consider them and protect your computer against Malware.
Prevention of further computer malware infections
Hopefully through the above explained 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer, you’ve removed the malware and restored your computer, so you need to set up a regimen to never get the malware again. This should include antivirus, antimalware, and anti-ransom software. Always refresh your browser and keep its settings strictly.
Further, Familiarize yourself with these 10 Steps to Perform When Detecting Malware on Your Computer, then you need to be quick and do it properly.
Need to know more , click below links and get the knowledge:
How to Detect and Disable Mac LaunchDaemons and LaunchAgents
How to see whether It’s Malware-Infected when you downloaded something suspicious?
Is there an Antivirus Requirement for Mac? Here’s the solution
7 Free Antivirus Bootable Disks to Remove Malware from Your Computer
