How To Get Rid of a Virus From Your Computer

If your computer has been infected with a virus, you need to act quickly to contain the infection. You should install antivirus software to remove any viruses from your infected device. Computer viruses can be a hassle to deal with, and they put you at risk of a security breach, identity theft and loss of your personal data. 

Continue reading to learn more about computer viruses, how to get rid of them and how to prevent them. 

What Is a Computer Virus?

A computer virus is a type of malware or malicious software that infects a computer and replicates itself to spread to other devices. Once a device is infected, computer viruses can damage your device by slowing down performance and crashing applications. They can also hide themselves by altering files, and can steal your personal information to sell on the dark web. 

5 Steps To Get Rid of a Computer Virus

If you notice any signs of a virus on your computer, you need to contain it and get rid of it right away. Here are the steps you can take to get rid of a computer virus. 

Step 1: Reboot your computer on safe mode

Safe mode is an alternative way to boot up your computer which uses only the basic and essential programs needed to turn on your computer. If your computer has been infected with a virus, you should disconnect from the internet and reboot your computer in safe mode. This ensures you can restart your computer without any viruses interfering– allowing you to restore your security settings and download antivirus software.

Step 2: Download antivirus software

Antivirus software is a tool that detects, monitors and removes any viruses from your computer. When a virus infects your computer, you need to download antivirus software to get rid of the infection. You start by running a full virus scan on your computer to search and quarantine any viruses. Once you have identified the viruses, you can delete them from your computer. Moving forward, you should keep the antivirus software installed so it can proactively detect and prevent other viruses from infecting your device.

Step 3: Delete temporary files and clear your browser cache

Some viruses may be hiding in temporary files or your browser cache. You should delete any temporary files, especially ones you do not recognize or remember downloading. You should also clear your browser cache to prevent any viruses from lurking on your computer. Once you have done this, you can safely reboot your computer.

Step 4: Change your passwords

After you have gotten rid of any viruses on your computer, you should change your passwords if they have been compromised. Viruses can steal personal information such as your login credentials, so you should change your passwords to remove any unauthorized access to your online accounts from cybercriminals.

Step 5: Contact an IT professional

If you are unable to get rid of the viruses by yourself, then you should contact an IT professional to assist you with the removal of the viruses. IT professionals have the knowledge and tools to deal with almost any virus and will remove them for you. Even after removing computer viruses yourself, you can also check with an IT professional to make sure that your computer is completely clean of any viruses.

How To Prevent Computer Viruses

Avoiding viruses altogether is much easier than removing them. Here are some ways you can prevent computer viruses. 

Install antivirus software

The best way to avoid computer viruses is by installing antivirus software. Antivirus software constantly monitors your computer for any incoming viruses and will remove them before they can infect your device. 

Keep your software up to date

Computer viruses will look for any security flaws or vulnerabilities to infiltrate your device without detection. You should keep your software up to date to patch any security flaws and strengthen the security of your devices. 

Secure accounts with a strong and unique password

If a computer virus has been installed on your device, you could be at risk of losing your login credentials. Use strong and unique passwords to prevent your login credentials from being compromised.

You should also store your login credentials in a password manager to protect your credentials from viruses and cybercriminals. A password manager is a tool that securely stores and manages your login credentials in an encrypted vault. It can protect your online accounts from getting compromised, even if a virus infects your computer. 

Avoid phishing attacks

Phishing attacks are the most common way viruses infect a computer, but are easy to avoid if you know the signs to look for. The basics are to never click on a link or attachment in an email if you don’t know the sender or you didn’t directly ask for the link or attachment to be sent to you.

Back up your data

You should regularly back up your data in case a virus alters or deletes the data you have stored on your device. In order to get rid of some viruses, you need to wipe everything off your computer and return it to factory settings. Backing up your data will protect you from losing important photos, videos and documents. 

Staying Safe From Computer Viruses

Although computer viruses can be scary, they can be easily removed when using good antivirus software. However, the best way to get rid of computer viruses is to avoid them altogether. If you follow cybersecurity best practices, you will protect your online data and identity.