This is where backups come in handy, and we strongly recommend you make them regularly, at least once a week.

#2 Recover or reinstall any damaged files or softwareĪssuming the scan detected and removed the virus, you might need to reinstall any files or programs that were damaged. If you’re not sure, contact an IT expert who should be able to help show you how to remove viruses. You should attempt this only if you are experienced with using the Windows Registry and know how to find and delete bloatware and other junk files like system and program files. One of them alone should be able to identify and remove the virus, but running both scanners increases your odds of success. Run the on-demand scanner first, then your real-time scanner. If you don’t have a virus scanner installed, this is the time to reconnect to the internet and download one.Įven if you can’t connect to the internet, you might still be able to download Microsoft Safety Scanner because you started up your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Using both types of scanner might be necessary to remove the virus. There are two types of scanners that can detect and remove computer viruses and malware: real-time and on-demand.Ī real-time scanner like AVG AntiVirus FREE scans for viruses in the background while you’re using your computer.Īn on-demand operating system scanner such as Microsoft Safety Scanner must be activated manually each time you want to scan. Deleting your temporary files may even get rid of your malware if it was programmed to start when your computer boots up. Click OK.ĭeleting these files might speed up the virus scanning you’re about to do. Scroll through the “Files to delete” list, and choose Temporary files. Click it and choose Disk Cleanup from the drop-down menu.

Go to the Start menu and scroll down to Windows Administrative Tools. While you're in Safe Mode, delete your temporary files using the Disk Cleanup tool: Press 5 to restart in Safe Mode with Networking, but keep your PC disconnected from the internet. Your computer will restart and display a menu with several advanced boot options. Hold the Shift key, then restart your computer by opening the Windows menu, clicking the power icon, and clicking Restart. This procedure is as effective for Trojans or adware as it is for a run-of-the-mill virus. These steps should work no matter what kind of malware you have on your PC. And if your phone has been acting strangely, check out our guide to learn how to know if your phone has a virus or other form of malware.) #1 Remove the virus

(You’ll find Mac info at the bottom of the page. If your Windows PC or laptop does have a virus, take the following actions. It comes packed with scanners and a suite of other features for finding and expelling viruses and malware, even if your computer isn’t exhibiting any symptoms. You can download AVG AntiVirus FREE right now and have it running in just a few minutes. To get rid of a virus or malware, you’ll need to download an antivirus program. That said, a lot of modern malware, like spyware and cryptominers, go out of their way to stay as hidden as possible. If you’re experiencing two or three of them at the same time, that’s a strong indication that you’ve got a virus. The sound of the hard drive in constant actionĪny one of these symptoms might be caused by a virus or a different kind of malware. Unrecognized computer programs launching on their own Pop-up messages that appear out of nowhere and are hard to remove But you’ll want to consider how to get rid of a virus if you’re experiencing: A lot of modern malware, like spyware and cryptominers, is hard to detect, and thus hard to remove.

Mac cleaner plus virus