How to Remove Malware from Windows PCs

Malware comes in many forms these days. Some will destroy your files, infect your email account, stop you from connecting to the internet or surrender control of your computer to an outside party, but the one thing that all malware has in common is that you will have a strong desire to remove it from your computer.

Unfortunately, malware is now a way of life and the chances that your computer will be infected at some point are high. If, or when, your computer is infected with malware, it is important not to panic. As long as it is not on your computer for too long, there will most likely be an easy fix for removing it.

Antivirus software is the best solution for removing malware from your computer. If you don’t have security software installed, or if your subscription has lapsed for the software that you have, now is the time to get antivirus software. You can buy security software online and download it quickly and easily, but if a virus is preventing you from accessing the internet properly, you may need to buy security software from your local computer or electronics store.

Install the software as soon as you can and run a full system virus scan to see if it can find and remove the malware on your machine. Make sure you tell the software to quarantine or remove any offending items, and then reboot your computer and run the scan again to make sure that the infection is gone. If it comes up clean, your computer is likely free of the malware that was installed on your machine.

If the virus is preventing you from running your own antivirus software, or if it won’t let you install your new security suite, consider rebooting Windows and starting it up in Safe Mode. Instructions for how to do this vary depending on your computer and operating system, but the process will invariably involve pressing a function key such as F8 to select your boot options.

Once in Safe Mode, try to run or install your antivirus software and run a full scan as discussed above. If the malware is successfully removed, restart Windows as normal and run the scan again to ensure that the virus has been removed.

If your internet security software is successful at removing the malware, make sure you set up a scheduled scan so that your antivirus software will check for viruses automatically on a regular basis. This is a good proactive step you can take to avoid similar hassles in the future.

If for whatever reason your antivirus software is not successful at removing the malware, you are going to have to turn to the internet to do a bit of research on how other people are dealing with the problem you are having. It is best to do this on another computer that is not infected with the virus, so borrow a friend’s computer or go to an internet café and use the machines there.

Take note of any warning messages or unusual behavior that your PC is exhibiting when under the influence of malware, and then start with the website of your chosen security suite to see if it has any updates for the threat that is affecting your PC. Then scour Google for solutions that other people are using to fix their computers.

Ultimately, the best offence is a good defense, so don’t wait until you are infected by a virus before investing in good antivirus software; do it now. With one of these applications in place, the chances of your computer contracting a virus will be considerably reduced and your computer will be much safer from malicious threats.

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