How to remove a virus
Viruses and other malicious software are rife on the internet, and many of us have fallen foul of them at one time or another. If you should find yourself in this unfortunate position, this guide offers everything you need to know to remove that virus yourself, avoiding the call-out costs of your local PC repair man.
If you backup regularly, recovering from a virus is straightforward. Reinstall Windows, and recover your backup. If this is an option, it is the more effective method. If not, follow the steps below.
1. Disconnect from the internet
The worst kind of virus will allow the creator to access your computer and your files, emails, address book and saved passwords. The absolute first step is to disconnect from the internet. Unplug any wires, switch off the wireless.
This might be a bit inconvenient, but it can help prevent any further damage.
2. Backup your documents, emails etc
Copy all your documents, emails, contacts etc to an external drive. If successfully removed, you shouldn't lose anything. But, backing up is a really important step, should anything go wrong.
If you never regularly back up because it feels like a bit of a chore, have a read of my guide to backing up.
3. Removal software
Leaving the infected computer disconnected, download the following software. It's all free, and is a great set of software to have ready to go, should you have a problem again.
Put all this on a USB disk or CD, and move it over to the infected PC. Install everything, and run them one at a time, in any order.
Each piece of software has a different approach to removal, so might find different problems.
4. Restart and repeat
Restart your computer, and run each piece of software again. During the restart, any parts of the virus remaining may try to start up again.
If the removal has been successful, everything will be clear. If any further problems are diagnosed, you have a more severe virus. In this case, the only sure way to be rid of it is to backup everything you want to keep, and reinstall Windows. When reinstalling, be sure to choose a complete installation, rather than a repair.
Avoiding viruses
Hopefully you've now removed a virus from your computer, with no financial cost - just a bit of inconvenience. Importantly though, you can avoid this ever happening again, by being a bit more careful when using the internet.
Personally, I don't use anti-virus software. This surprises everyone, because we're always told that this is an essential purchase. Instead, I'm just careful.
- Don't download from an untrustworthy website
- Don't open email attachments that sound suspicious
Unfortunately, the best anti-virus software doesn't stop the best viruses.
Any questions?
If you have any queries or questions, please get in touch.
Last updated on 08 July 2010, at 16:46.