Security should be anyone's first and top priority when they buy a new PC. Any PC that connects to the Internet regularly, downloads and installs software, and uses removable media devices is likely to be insecure and be infected by malware - viruses, trojans, worms, spyware and adware.
Follow the tips below to help keep your computer safe and sound. I recommend first taking a look directly at the last step.
1. Download - of course - an Antivirus Software!
Bitdefender is the best of all. Then comes Kaspersky. Do not install more than one virus removal software on a single PC - they both will conflict with each other and slow down your machine.
2. Use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
Download and install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free ALONG with another antivirus software. It's an assistant to your current antivirus. It is a lightning fast handy tool to eliminate malware from your PC.
3. Stop Downloading Junk!
Blinking cursors, themes, keygens, cracks, so-called hacking programs, torrent files and bla bla bla might seem to be good and safe, but in reality they aren't.
4. Stop Opening Suspicious Emails
Don't even touch them - throw them off the window right away! If an email offers you to 'get your free cash balance now!' or that 'you have been qualified for...,' mark them as junk or phishing scam.
5. Check a Website's Rep Before Visiting
If a website looks suspicious, check it's reputation and popularity online. If it's a 'Hack Forums' website or even a 'Free Cracked Software,' you know that your PC would be in great trouble if you visit them.
6. Can't Download an Antivirus?
If a nasty virus is denying you to download an antivirus or connect to the Internet, reboot Windows into 'Safe Mode with Networking.' This prevents many infected drivers and system files from being loaded, so check if you can download an antivirus. If you can do so, follow the first step and the second step.
7. Run System Restore
Click on Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. Choose a date to restore your PC to and run System Restore. It might take some time (even up to an hour) depending on what date you've selected.
8. Run a Full System Scan
No matter how much time it takes to finish its work, perform a complete system scan by your antivirus. Do not interrupt it.
9. Update your Antivirus
Updating antivirus definitions can help A LOT. Many times an antivirus can't find a virus because its definitions aren't updated. Update your antivirus definitions and scan your Windows again.
BEFORE PERFORMING THIS STEP, BACKUP YOUR WINDOWS REGISTRY AND FILES.
10. Remove an Infection Manually
If you know what particular program is causing the problem that is part of the malware, follow the steps below:
a. Download Autoruns for Windows and extract the file. Make sure to extract it to C:\Autoruns.
b. Reboot your PC into Safe Mode by keep pressing the F8 key while your PC is being restarted. This way the file that contains the malware would not be loaded.
c. Double click on the autoruns.exe in C:\Autoruns.
d. Now click on the Options menu.
e. Enable the following options: Include Empty Locations, Verify Code Signatures, Hide Signed Microsoft Entries.
f. Press F5 on your keyboard to create a list of startup entries.
g. You'll see 8 different tabs and will probably find the malware associated entry under the Services or Logon tab (but scan through all the tabs if you don't find it in the Services or Logon tab.) Some malware programs conceal themselves as programs with trustworthy names, so you should be pretty sure of what entry is the malware. You'll find the entry name under the Image Path column.
h. Once you're sure of what entry is the malware, right click and delete it.
i. Once the entry has been deleted, it won't again start at boot up so delete the file if you know its path in Windows Explorer. Don't forget to delete it from the Recycle Bin too.
If you can't see the file, it might be hidden. To view hidden files in Windows Explorer, go to Control Panel and click on Appearance and Personalization. In the Folder Options, click on Show hidden files and folders. Uncheck the options 'Hide extensions for known files types' and 'Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)' and click OK. Now go to step 10 (i) again.
j. Now reboot Windows normally and you'll get to know that the malware has been eliminated. If it isn't you've probably done something wrong or deleted the wrong entry.
Follow the tips below to help keep your computer safe and sound. I recommend first taking a look directly at the last step.
1. Download - of course - an Antivirus Software!
Bitdefender is the best of all. Then comes Kaspersky. Do not install more than one virus removal software on a single PC - they both will conflict with each other and slow down your machine.
2. Use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
Download and install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free ALONG with another antivirus software. It's an assistant to your current antivirus. It is a lightning fast handy tool to eliminate malware from your PC.
3. Stop Downloading Junk!
Blinking cursors, themes, keygens, cracks, so-called hacking programs, torrent files and bla bla bla might seem to be good and safe, but in reality they aren't.
4. Stop Opening Suspicious Emails
Don't even touch them - throw them off the window right away! If an email offers you to 'get your free cash balance now!' or that 'you have been qualified for...,' mark them as junk or phishing scam.
5. Check a Website's Rep Before Visiting
If a website looks suspicious, check it's reputation and popularity online. If it's a 'Hack Forums' website or even a 'Free Cracked Software,' you know that your PC would be in great trouble if you visit them.
If in case a virus has already got the path to enter your PC, follow these tips:
If a nasty virus is denying you to download an antivirus or connect to the Internet, reboot Windows into 'Safe Mode with Networking.' This prevents many infected drivers and system files from being loaded, so check if you can download an antivirus. If you can do so, follow the first step and the second step.
7. Run System Restore
Click on Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. Choose a date to restore your PC to and run System Restore. It might take some time (even up to an hour) depending on what date you've selected.
8. Run a Full System Scan
No matter how much time it takes to finish its work, perform a complete system scan by your antivirus. Do not interrupt it.
9. Update your Antivirus
Updating antivirus definitions can help A LOT. Many times an antivirus can't find a virus because its definitions aren't updated. Update your antivirus definitions and scan your Windows again.
BEFORE PERFORMING THIS STEP, BACKUP YOUR WINDOWS REGISTRY AND FILES.
10. Remove an Infection Manually
If you know what particular program is causing the problem that is part of the malware, follow the steps below:
a. Download Autoruns for Windows and extract the file. Make sure to extract it to C:\Autoruns.
b. Reboot your PC into Safe Mode by keep pressing the F8 key while your PC is being restarted. This way the file that contains the malware would not be loaded.
c. Double click on the autoruns.exe in C:\Autoruns.
d. Now click on the Options menu.
e. Enable the following options: Include Empty Locations, Verify Code Signatures, Hide Signed Microsoft Entries.
f. Press F5 on your keyboard to create a list of startup entries.
g. You'll see 8 different tabs and will probably find the malware associated entry under the Services or Logon tab (but scan through all the tabs if you don't find it in the Services or Logon tab.) Some malware programs conceal themselves as programs with trustworthy names, so you should be pretty sure of what entry is the malware. You'll find the entry name under the Image Path column.
h. Once you're sure of what entry is the malware, right click and delete it.
i. Once the entry has been deleted, it won't again start at boot up so delete the file if you know its path in Windows Explorer. Don't forget to delete it from the Recycle Bin too.
If you can't see the file, it might be hidden. To view hidden files in Windows Explorer, go to Control Panel and click on Appearance and Personalization. In the Folder Options, click on Show hidden files and folders. Uncheck the options 'Hide extensions for known files types' and 'Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)' and click OK. Now go to step 10 (i) again.
j. Now reboot Windows normally and you'll get to know that the malware has been eliminated. If it isn't you've probably done something wrong or deleted the wrong entry.
