How to clean an infected computer ?

What to do when your computer is infected with a virus or other malicious program? we offer you a simple 3-step procedure.

What is a computer virus ?

A computer virus is a type of malicious software that can spread from one computer to another by attaching itself to legitimate programs or files. Once activated, the virus can cause damage to the computer system, including stealing sensitive information, corrupting files, and disabling the computer’s functions.

Computer viruses can be spread through various methods, such as email attachments, infected downloads, or even social engineering tactics. To protect against computer viruses, it’s important to have antivirus software installed and to regularly update it. Additionally, practicing safe internet habits, such as avoiding suspicious websites and downloads, can also help prevent the spread of computer viruses.

How to protect your computer from viruses

To protect your computer from viruses, follow these simple steps:

• Install reputable antivirus software and keep it updated regularly.
• Keep your operating system and other software up to date with the latest security patches.
• Avoid opening email attachments or clicking on links from unknown sources.
• Be cautious when downloading software or files from untrusted websites.
• Be careful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, as they can be susceptible to cyber attacks.
• Create strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection.

By implementing these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of a virus infecting your computer and causing damage.

How to clean your computer if it’s infected ?

Step 1: clean up junk files

CCleaner is a software to clean your computer of all the small files and unnecessary recordings which can slow down its good functioning.

You don’t necessarily realize it, but by dint of surfing the Internet you can end up accumulating several gigabytes of data!

Download CCleaner: http://piriform.com/ccleaner/download/standard

CCleaner also cleans the Windows registry: when you uninstall a program or delete a file for example, there are always small traces of the action or file residues that point in the air, and this ends up being counted in MB or GB of data.

This is why you should run CCleaner from time to time (once a month for example) in order to keep your computer performance at best, and to protect it from potential threats on the other hand.

Step 2: Check for malicious files

Your computer is now rid of small unnecessary files, so it is easier to find the real malicious or contaminated files, we will use for this MalwareBytes, a free and very effective software

Download MalwareBytes: www.malwarebytes.com

MalwareBytes neutralizes malware such as Trojans, adware or spyware that may not be detected by an anti-virus.

See how to remove malware using Malwarebytes.

Indeed, although the nuance can be difficult to grasp, malware is not necessarily a virus!

Step 3: run a full virus scan

Once the malware has been neutralized, all that remains is the shell: the complete computer scan by the antivirus.

Whether you have Avast, Avira Antivir or other, the operation and the goal will be the same: finalize the cleaning of the computer.

Refer to your antivirus guide or its official website for how to run a full scan. Once it is finished, restart your computer to empty the cache memory: you should find a clean computer like a dime!