Recently I received a criticism because, sometimes, I insist on dealing with very similar topics in different articles. But there are things in computer science on which you really never stop learning and understanding new things, which evolve and require continuous studies and research. One of these things are computer viruses and malware which, via the internet, emails, social networks, infect the computers of even the most expert. Although there are many precautions you can take to limit the risk of infections, sometimes a distraction or an unfortunate moment is enough to catch a damn virus on your PC. Fortunately, as already learned, there are many free programs to remove viruses, which can be used for any emergency, but alone are not enough.
Removing malware can be a demanding job, therefore, when you discover a virus on your computer, there are some basic steps to be followed scrupulously .
To begin with it is necessary to identify what type of malware has affected the Windows PC because, as we know, there are not only viruses, but also other computer threats.
In another article we saw the differences between the types of malware, Trojans, Worms and Viruses.
In the same article, it is also briefly explained what spyware, scareware, ransomware and adware are that are not real viruses but are responsible for the appearance of advertisements on the computer.
It is therefore necessary to analyze the symptoms of the appearance of a virus, in order to know then what countermeasure to adopt or look for.
Symptoms of viruses and malware on an infected Windows PC include:
- The Homepage and the search engine on the browser have changed by themselves.
- A website page opens by itself
- Pop-ups open suddenly
- The PC slows down a lot
- The PC shuts down on its own
- The browser does not load websites
If you are reading this article it obviously means that strange malfunctions have occurred on the PC, but to be sure there are some small tools to be used that have been explained in the post on how to recognize and remove all types of viruses or malware.
The important thing is to remember that the antivirus program is useful and necessary, but it is not enough to defeat any malware.
If it turns out that your PC is infected with a virus or malware, there are 10 steps to take to remove it and 10 things to do to cure it :
1) Back up your personal files
If you discover a virus on your computer, it is advisable, if possible, to save your important documents and files elsewhere so as not to risk losing everything in the event of aggravation.
There is absolutely no need to back up your whole computer, as there is a risk of saving some infected files as well.
What you can do is save a backup of only the important files.
2) Disconnect from the Internet, both the Ethernet cable and the Wifi
A virus is often a program that tries to spread or steal information on the infected PC and pass it on outside.
By unplugging your computer from the internet, you cut off the virus which becomes much less effective and harder.
3) Start in safe mode or use Antivirus Rescue Disk
To remove any type of virus it is better to go in safe mode so that not all programs outside Windows are loaded.
To do this, restart your computer and hold down the F8 key while the computer starts up.
In another article all the ways to enter safe mode on the PC.
If Windows doesn't start at all, you can use an anti-virus recovery disk.
You start your computer from a USB stick where the antivirus was installed.
These are available for free from many antivirus companies such as Kaspersky, Avira, AVG and others.
See here how to do an antivirus scan at computer startup with Rescue Disks on USB stick.
4) Have another computer with Internet access
A second healthy computer that accesses the internet, or even a tablet or smartphone, is needed to seek help, to find treatment programs, to know how to solve more specific problems which will then be copied to a USB stick for use in the PC where the virus was discovered.
5) Try to identify malware and look for specific fixes.
Every known malware has its own name, therefore, if you can understand what name it has, you can also find its specific removal tool.
6) Scan with generic programs
If you cannot find anything specific about the detected infection, it does nothing, you can use other scanner programs capable of removing even unknown viruses and malware.
Among the programs to be used to eliminate each virus are the most powerful and free scanners including: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, HitmanPro, Kaspersky TDSSKiller as well as AdwCleaner for the removal of adware.
Again, you will need to download them using a clean computer connected to the Internet and then transfer the executable files to the infected computer to run them without installation.
These programs are to be used in safe mode.
7) Delete temporary files and unnecessary programs
Once the viruses are removed, it's time to clean up the remaining files.
The recommended program for doing this is CCleaner which mon is considered a "security program", but it can help during this process.
It may also be useful to remove less useful programs, for example by using an app to re-install software such as GeekUninstaller.
8) Remove the recovery points
System Restore is very useful for restoring your PC if it worked yesterday and no longer.
However, when there is malware, the virus is included in the recovery file. You should therefore know exactly when the malware entered your computer and delete the recovery points created by Windows later. However, to be sure, it would be appropriate to remove them all.
To manage your restore points, go to the Control Panel, click on Restore and then on Configure System Restore .
In the Security tab, press on Configure and then on Delete .
9) Solve post-Malware problems
Some viruses are capable of changing some settings on the computer.
Therefore, programs such as Microsoft Safety Scanner to remove the effects of viruses or even the tools of Microsoft Fix it to correct common errors may be useful.
You may need to reset the browser homepage, Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer.
It may be necessary to check the connection settings and any proxies set to hijack the internet.
We have seen in another article the programs to be used for the removal of viruses that take hostage the PC among which a program like Unhide to make the disappeared files reappear and Repair Missing Icons to restore the Start menu of the desktop.
Another very useful program is Windows Repair, for restoring system settings after a virus or malware, especially if Windows Update or the Firewall doesn't work.
10) Change the important passwords of the computer and web accounts
Knowing how easy it is to read the passwords of the sites stored in browsers in clear text, one can imagine how dangerous a virus is in this sense.
For security, it is worth changing the important passwords saved on your PC or on the internet.
For the next time, keep in mind all the precautions to prevent viruses on the internet and protect your PC from malware
