If your computer is infected with a virus, there are a few steps you can take to help get rid of the virus and protect your computer from further infection.
1. Disconnect Your Computer from the Internet:
The first thing you should do is disconnect your computer from the internet. This will stop the virus from spreading or downloading more malicious files onto your computer. If you’re connected to a network or other external device, you’ll need to unplug it or turn it off.
2. Run an Anti-Virus Scan:
Once you have disconnected from the internet, you should run a full system scan using anti-virus software. Make sure that your anti-virus software is up to date before running a scan and be sure to choose the most thorough option. A scan could take a few hours to complete depending on the size of your hard drive.
3. Identify and Remove Malware:
Once the scan is complete, the anti-virus software should provide you with a list of any malware that was found. You should go through this list and delete any entries that look malicious. It is important to be careful when manually removing malware, as you could accidentally delete a legitimate program.
4. Disable Startup Programs:
Startup programs are processes that start up every time you start your computer. Some of these programs can be malicious, so it is important to disable any programs that you don’t recognize or know to be legitimate. To view and disable startup programs, open the task manager or search for “startup programs” in the control panel.
5. Clean Windows Temporary Files:
One of the most common places for viruses to hide is in the temporary files folder. You should clean this folder regularly to keep your computer safe. To clean it, open the file explorer, then click on “view” at the top and select “hidden items.” Go to the C drive, then go to the users folder. There should be a folder called “temp.” Select all the contents of this folder and delete them.
6. Manually Remove Virus Files:
If the anti-virus scan didn’t find any malicious files, you may need to manually remove any virus files. To do this, you should use a program such as Malwarebytes, which can detect and remove malicious files. After installing Malwarebytes, run a scan and delete any malicious files it finds.
7. Reinstall Programs:
If the virus damaged any of your programs, you may need to reinstall them. Make sure to use the original installation disks or download the programs from a trusted source.
8. Update Operating System and Programs:
To ensure that your computer is secure, you should update your operating system and all of your programs. Most programs have a feature to automatically update them or you can manually check for updates by visiting each program’s website.
9. Run Disk Check and Defragmentation:
Disk check and defragmentation can help improve your computer’s performance and make it more secure. To perform a disk check, open the file explorer, right-click on the C drive, select “properties,” then click on the “tools” tab and hit the “check now” button. To defragment your hard drive, select the same tab and hit the “defragment now” button.
10. Consider System Restore:
If all else fails, you may want to consider doing a system restore. This will restore your computer to how it was before the virus, but you will lose any programs or data you added after the virus was installed. To do a system restore, open the control panel and select “system restore.”
By following the steps above, you should be able to successfully remove the virus from your computer and keep it safe from future infection. Remember to always be vigilant about what you download and only use trusted sources for your software. Good luck!