If your PC or Mac seems to be running slower than normal, or you’re experiencing other problems, it might be a sign of malware. Sometimes, there are simply bugs in the hardware that will go away on their own. But the first thing you should do is make sure that your computer isn’t infected by a virus. Even if you have antivirus software installed on your computer, it’s not 100 percent effective. Luckily, we have some malware removal tips that are sure to help you clean up your computer and get it back to normal.
Are you interested in learning more? If so, then continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know!
1. Enter Safe Mode
The first thing you should do is disconnect your computer from the internet. You then shouldn’t use the internet until you’re finally ready to clean the computer. This is going to help make sure that malware doesn’t spread your private data to other users.
If you suspect that there’s malware infecting your PC, then boot your computer into Microsoft’s Safe Mode. Once you’re in this mode, only the most essential features and apps are going to be loaded. If there’s any malware that is designed to automatically load when your computer boots up, then Safe Mode should stop it from working.
This is going to make it easier for you to identify and remove malware because it won’t be able to run.
2. Delete Temporary Files to Resolve Malware Removal
If you have a computer that runs on Windows 10, then you can use the disk cleanup utility program to clean out any temp files that you don’t need. If you’re still in Safe Mode, you should then execute a scan for viruses. However, before you can run the scan, you want to delete the temp files.
Deleting these files will make the scan go faster. It could even clean out some of the malware and also free up some disk space.
To use this feature, just enter “Disk Cleanup” in the search bar. You can also press the Start button to pull up Disk Cleanup.
3. Download Malware Scanners
Once you’ve gotten rid of everything you could in Safe Mode, it’s time to utilize the power of malware scanners. Running a malware scanner should be enough to get rid of any infections on your computer. (Malware Removal)
If you already have an antivirus scanner on your computer, you should use a different one. This is because you’re current scanner probably didn’t detect whatever bug is currently messing with your system.
There are two kinds of malware scanners you should know about. One kind consists of real-time antivirus programs. These programs operate in the background and they’re looking out for malware 24/7.
The other kind of scanner is one that only operates when you tell it to. It’s generally recommended that you have one real-time scanner running and also have multiple on-demand scanners ready to go. This is because different on-demand scanners might be able to detect different kinds of malware.
4. Use Activity Monitor
While Mac users seem to get fewer viruses than PC users, that doesn’t mean that Apple computers are bullet-proof. Thankfully, there are some features that are built into Macs to help with malware.
One such feature is Activity Monitor. This program scans for viruses and malware removal. It does a great job of letting you know what’s taking up your computer’s resources.
With that said it won’t be able to remove malware for you.
In order to make use of Activity Monitor, you just have to open up the application. Activity Monitor can be found on every Mac.
In order to actually remove malware from Mac, you’re going to need malware removal software.
5. Fix Your Web Browser for Malware Removal
Malware infections tend to affect your system files as well as other features. A common trait of malware is to change your web browser’s homepage. This helps it to reinfect your computer and also display ads and pop-ups.
Before you start up your web browser, check your connection settings and your homepage. Make sure that everything appears to be in order.
6. Recover Your Files
If your PC still isn’t working properly, then you might have to reinstall the software. However, before you clear your hard drive, you should back up all of your files.
You also want to copy over your device drivers in case you don’t want to download all of your driver discs again.
Keep in mind that you can’t save programs that have been installed. Instead, you’re going to have to redownload them or reinstall them from discs.
After you back all of your files up, reinstall your software. If it’s a factory restore, you usually have to press a certain key during boot-up in order to begin the restore process. After you turn your computer on, the PC should tell you what key to press.
The Importance of Knowing About Malware Removal
Many of us rely on our computers to help maintain our work, social, and personal lives. And when our computers become infected, it can lead to a lot of frustration and confusion. But by knowing about how malware removal works, you can more effectively remove any malware that you come across and also make sure that you keep your computer clean in general.
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