Helpful Tips on Virus and Malware Removal
There are many tips and methods on how to remove virus and malware on infected computers. Some methods can be performed by professionals like pen testing, while others can be performed by normal individuals like antivirus scan and quarantine. However, this article will only discuss about the some of the methods regular desktop users can perform.
Antivirus
If your computer is infected by malware or computer viruses, pen test and antivirus alerts would scream and alarm, alerting you of the problem. But there are some malware that display fake alerts that will make a person believe that their computer is infected, then this malware will ask the person to download more malware masking as an antivirus program or asking them to pay for fake and unreal protection. We can call this program as scareware or simpy Trojan horses.
In the event you receive antivirus alerts, you have to verify them first before clicking on them. If you have an installed antivirus program on your computer, then look for its icon found on the lower right corner of the screen and check on its status or its logs. If there are no evidences of such infection, then those alerts are traps-in-waiting. Ignore them, never click them and never, ever fork over your money. If the alerts are true, then go to your existing antivirus program and choose whether to remove the infected file or quarantine it. Or you should follow these tips in scanning the computer until the problems are resolved.
Before you perform any system scans on your desktop, you have to delete the temporary files you have. Sometimes the cause of the problem can be found there and if these files are present on the computer, then it would greatly increase the time in scanning the computer. These files can be removed manually or you can perform a Disc Cleanup. Look it up on the Start Menu, and then go through the All Programs, next Accessories and finally System Tools.
If you are running on Windows, then you have to use high-quality scanners that will work well with Windows. It would be much better if they can connect to the internet because it will make the system scan much easier and faster. There are programs you have to subscribe, while others have free editions like MalwareBytes, ComboFix, SUPERAntiSpyware and also Spybot Search and Destroy. Now it is important to use 2 or more programs in scanning because there are instances that a scanner can never catch all kinds of viruses or malware on your computer.
Sometimes malware can be smart and they can block some malware and antivirus scanners. But it is possible to fix this problem by simply renaming the program. And if that doesn’t work then try to run a program that can kill malware process like RKill. Sometimes, errors can happen on some executable programs because malware has removed or perhaps corrupted the executable file, thus you should restore these files extensions.
If the system won’t load or you cannot run the scanners, then you must reboot it by pressing F8. Once the Advanced Boot Options appear, look for the Last Known Good Configuration to revert the system back to revive the system. If it is still not working, then try the Safe Mode; if the system is up and running then try running the scanner once more.
If the programs will not work after you have done everything, then seek professional help, they can fix the problem by performing checks like penetration testing and others.
Fix Windows
Before you consider removing malware, try to see if you can fix the Windows first. You see, even if the malware has been removed, there’s a possibility that the Windows will not work properly, thus you will have to reinstall it again. It would be better to first try the Windows repair mode before removing malware so that it would save more time.
If you are using Windows XP, press F8 on the boot menu to go to the Recovery Console if you are using the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows or perhaps the Windows Setup CD. Run the chkdsk, the fixboot and also the fixmbr. If you run the system with the Safe Mode then use the System Restore so that the system would be restored.
If you are using Windows 7 or Vista, press F8 on the boot menu to go to the System Recovery Options if you are using the CD for Windows Recovery or perhaps the DVD for Windows Setup. Run the Startup Repair and also the System Restore that can be found on the Command Prompt chkdsk as well as the System File Check or sfc.
Resource Box
The International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) is a member-based organization that certifies individuals in cybersecurity and e-commerce. It is the owner and developer of 20 security certifications. EC-Council has trained over 90,000 security professionals and certified more than 40,000 members. These certifications are recognized worldwide and have received endorsements from various government agencies. They also offer trainings in penetration testing.
More information about EC-Council is available at http://www.eccouncil.org.
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