What are the steps in effective computer virus removal?

Computer virus removal is a process that requires adequate understanding of how computers work. Dealing with viruses can be complicated and can lead to bigger problems with missteps or careless clicks and OK’s. It is important to learn how to properly remove a computer virus not only to effectively get rid of the malware but also to protect or salvage important files that might have been infected. Who likes losing gigabytes of files to a failed attempt at eliminating a minute 10kb virus?

Signs of computer virus infection include frequent system freezing, slower than normal computer response or operation, involuntary shutdown and restarting, malfunctioning of applications that used to work perfectly fine, inaccessible disks or disk drives, unusual error messages, distorted menus and dialog boxes, and an oddly behaving user interface. Though these signs may also mean other computer problems, it is imperative to address them immediately. The issue should be promptly identified to be able to take appropriate action.

The following steps are the basics in safe and effective computer virus removal:

1. Make sure that the problem is indeed computer virus related. The presence of a computer virus manifests through a variety of signs and symptoms. However, one can never be sure unless an antivirus software gets to scan the computer and display the results. Most antivirus software would automatically attempt to quarantine or get rid of the virus after they are detected. If no viruses are found while the computer continues to run erratically, virus removal is apparently not the appropriate solution.
2. Create data backup. Computer viruses typically will not only try to make a computer freeze or operate problematically. They can also corrupt files or infect files that will eventually get corrupted as a virus removal procedure is attempted. Important files should be copied to some removable device or uploaded to an online file storage service. It is possible for the virus to be replicated while doing the backup. Nevertheless, having infected backup files is better than losing important files in case a hard disk reformatting would be necessitated. The infected backup may be subjected to another virus removal procedure using a different computer.
3. Run an antivirus software in safe mode. The steps mentioned here follow the assumption that the infected computer permits the proper installation of an antivirus or it already has an antivirus software installed. Likewise, the antivirus that will be used should also be an updated one. If an antivirus cannot be properly installed, the hard disk may just be scanned using a web-based antivirus tool or it will have to be taken out to be scanned by another computer with a working virus removal application. Running an antivirus in safe mode enables better chances of eliminating the viruses. Safe mode usually successfully prevents the viruses from initiating to make it easier for the antivirus to act on them.
4. Redo the antivirus scan even after getting a clear report. Repeat the antivirus scanning if the detected viruses are not yet removed. Try using a different antivirus product if the one being used is able to detect but is unable to get rid of the viruses. Once a “cleared” or “fixed” scan result is already displayed, restart the computer and run the antivirus again to make sure that problem is completely sorted.
5. Obtain special virus removal tools for hard-to-remove viruses. There are times when antivirus applications detect viruses but fail to remove them. Reformatting the hard disk is not necessarily the immediate next step. There are various free tools and tutorials available online specifically made to get rid of such unyielding viruses and other malware.
6. Install antivirus protection. After eliminating the viruses, it is only logical to install safeguards to avoid encountering the same problem again. A multitude of free virus protection tools can be obtained online. Choose the popular and highly rated ones that offer real-time protection and free regular virus database updates.

Not all computer users can be adequately knowledgeable or confident enough to do computer virus removal on their own. It may be commendable to try ways to fix a computer on one’s own; but if important data or time constraints are involved, it is always better to seek professional assistance. The assistance provided by an online or virtual computer technician could already be a good enough solution.