OK we have "bugs" so what do we do. ?
Well you start by checking the state of your best defense, I am talking about the antivirus no less, and that is the key element in both prevention and cure for new and old viruses alike. The antivirus is the hero and the virus the villain, so let's now charge up our new found viral wasting magnate and set him to work.
The first thing we should do before anything once we suspect we have a virus, is to shutdown and exit any programs running on the system. Next open your antivirus program and check for any updates, after updates are installed commence scanning the computer, respond to any alerting or advisory cautions your AV brings up and follow the prompts as necessary.
Because antivirus companies make software that differs greatly from one to the next, I cannot simply tell you what is the best action to take regarding advice etc resulting from your scans. Use your best judgment and read carefully, most of all “take your time”, I have come across to many people that believe that you must kill a virus ASAP, the truth is that once your AV has it in its grips, more often than not it won’t do you anymore harm.
Let’s assume you have completed the above and after running a scan your antivirus tells you that it found a “bug” or virus as the IT mob would have it, (they have a language of their own).!! I will periodically fill in the gaps of our lingo as this website develops so anyone can understand what the hell we are all on about.
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Usually your AV (antivirus) software will remove the virus for you and then you go on your merry way, it’s all happy days until this happens again and again and soon enough you will perhaps come across a bug so dangerous that you no longer have a computer that works. The adage that “prevention is better than cure” rings true with computer security, once you have had your first virus and had it successfully removed, quarantined or deleted, the next thing you must do is figure how and why you got the bug in the first place.
It is possible that you may have inherited it from an email attachment that was infected, or it simply “snuck in” the back door while no one was watching, (back door trojan). You could have also downloaded it from a website or even from a USB stick or disc. There are many different ways you can “catch a virus” and a big part of your defense involves vigilance and diligence that comes from the operator which is you. Even so with due care and diligence it also happens that some people are unlucky enough to adopt a bug while they have made all attempts to avoid it. You might say this is just bad luck and I should let you know that IT professionals are not exempt. !!
It is possible that you may have inherited it from an email attachment that was infected, or it simply “snuck in” the back door while no one was watching, (back door trojan). You could have also downloaded it from a website or even from a USB stick or disc. There are many different ways you can “catch a virus” and a big part of your defense involves vigilance and diligence that comes from the operator which is you. Even so with due care and diligence it also happens that some people are unlucky enough to adopt a bug while they have made all attempts to avoid it. You might say this is just bad luck and I should let you know that IT professionals are not exempt. !!
Obviously what I am emphasing here is the need to be savvy with suspect items such as email attachments, suspect websites or while downloading some kind of content, make sure the site from which you are downloading is safe and secure. I can hear you thinking, “Ok how do I know what sites are safe and not” ? Good point, and one fairly sure way is to let your AV do the hard work for you, sometimes it will tell you that a site has unsafe or suspect content and advise that you to not enter or download from that site. Another way is to observe the warnings Windows will give you at the top of your screen, this is the one that pops up and lets you know that a website is a risk.
Your antispyware software also has a part to play in this and it to will in some cases inform you one way or another that with a few more mouse clicks on that page and you are well on the way to enjoying the delights of a free virus. !!
So back to removing viruses, you can see how it is easier to avoid them in the first place but once infected and let’s assume your AV could not fix it for you. The next step is to go to your antivirus vendors website and check to see if they offer solutions in the form of “removal tools” that enable you to exterminate the bug yourself. Sometimes you will have to download and install these tools which are specific programs designed to remove certain viruses. It is best to take your time with these and read the instructions carefully. They usually offer alternative solutions if you have difficulty removing the virus and also contain relative information that may help you find a solution.
A quick fix is to try using System Restore, you simply take your computer back in time before you had a virus, this method does not always work and we usually avoid it however it can be a lazy way out. !! I also recommend that you turn off System Restore before commencing a scan, as viruses can hide in the system restore folder where your AV can not get at it unless you open it by turning it off.
A quick fix is to try using System Restore, you simply take your computer back in time before you had a virus, this method does not always work and we usually avoid it however it can be a lazy way out. !! I also recommend that you turn off System Restore before commencing a scan, as viruses can hide in the system restore folder where your AV can not get at it unless you open it by turning it off.
If and after you have turned off system restore a good practice for scanning is to perform them in “Safe Mode”. This is where Windows loads a minimum of drivers and services that allows you to undertake tasks you otherwise could not. For this reason Windows can then have your AV search all the nooks and crannies and seek out those bugs that may find a place to hide when Windows operates in normal mode.
To find out how to use Safe Mode and System Restore click either.
Other circumstances may require further investigation and our best mate “Google” all of a sudden becomes your new best friend. No doubt the virus you now have someone else has already had and found away to remove it, chances are they and others have been kind enough to put this info on the net and your job now is to track it down.
To find out how to use Safe Mode and System Restore click either.
Other circumstances may require further investigation and our best mate “Google” all of a sudden becomes your new best friend. No doubt the virus you now have someone else has already had and found away to remove it, chances are they and others have been kind enough to put this info on the net and your job now is to track it down.
There are worst case scenarios where you have been infected by a bug so bad that your only option is to reformat your computer, this is a last resort but it will guarantee a clean bill of health. This becomes necessary when a virus has damaged Windows beyond repair that you have no other choice, you have to surrender and accept the inevitable. The problem here lies with your data being lost, once your reformat your computer you basically erase everything on your hard drive and then end up with Windows reinstalled like the day you got it.
This is also why we constantly encourage people to “backup” everything you want to keep. There is also the possibility of your backups being infected, this does happen and you must have your antivirus installed and updated first and then scan these items before you reload them back onto your computer. As mentioned previously and throughout this website, make it a regular habit to update and scan with your antivirus and antispyware software and also install any Windows security updates or patches.
Your antivirus and antispyware software along with your firewall all come into a class of their own, these guys combined form the internet security package providing protection and are the heavy weights of the security business. These programs are only as good as their last update, so be sure to update regularly. !!
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It must be said that if and after you have tried all the above and still no cigar, your next step would involve seeking professional help. Virus removal is not always cheap because it can be a painstaking process, especially if you do not wish to reformat.!! Most technicians will charge you based on time, and unfortuanetly this very thing can and does take quite a bit of it.!