7 Tips For Preventing and Removing Viruses

7 Tips For Preventing and Removing Viruses

Author: Paul Barret

Computer viruses have been causing trouble for computer users for almost as long as the PC has been around. Computer viruses are a frustrating and costly problem for anyone who gets 'infected' by them. Some are simply are nuisance causing pop ups and making unauthorised changes to programs. Others can delete information on a computer causing many problems especially to to people in work environment.

A computer virus is a small piece of software that has been created with the intention of causing damage to your computer software and/or data, giving unauthorised access to your computer to someone thousands of miles away and can also be used to steal your private information such as banking details and passwords.
What do you do if you suspect your computer has been infected with a virus? Here are 7 tips to get you on the way.

1. Run anti-virus software

Generally the first step to take if you think you have a virus is to run a full system scan with your antivirus software. If you don't own anti-virus software Malwarebytes' Anti-malware and AVG Antivirus are two free options that work well. If you are considering buying anti-virus software its best not to skimp and buy the cheapest. Go with a well know program such as those buy Computer Associates, Trend Micro or Norton's are all good options.

2. Turn off your internet connection

Its important to know how to turn off your internet connection. As viruses can use your internet connection to send your private information to malicious website and computer hackers. Turning off your internet connection will allow you to run anti-virus software without the worry of having your information being spied upon or leaving your computer vulnerable to hackers.

3. Stop downloading

This simple step will ensure that no new viruses are downloaded while you're waiting for your computer to be repaired. You may have to wait a few days to grab those new tunes and the latest free programs but this is probably the best preventative step to take to ensure you don't make the problem worse.

4. Install updates

New viruses and malicious programs are popping up all the time. Anti-virus software needs to be updated regularly to ensure the software is ready to protect your computer from the latest threats. Some programs can be set to update automatically which is handy although is you suspect you have a virus it's a good idea to manually update your anti-virus software to ensure you have the latest updates.

5. Run in safe mode

Some viruses are quite complex programs and can be very difficult to fully remove. Some use sneaky tactics like disabling your anti-virus software making it very hard to remove them. If you find you can't run your anti-virus software try starting your computer in 'Safe Mode' By pressing F5 as soon as you turn your computer on or press F8 and select Safe mode from the Boot menu. Once in Safe Mode run your anti-virus software scan as usual. This is often a very effective way of removing stubborn viruses.

6. Try an online scanner

If you don't have anti-virus software or are having problems running your current software try using Trend Micro's House Call or something similar. This is a free online virus scanner that will detect any viruses lurking on your system. These are always updated to detect the latest and most recently created viruses.

7. Call a professional

If everything else fails it may be time to call for back up. Many computer service companies deal with virus removal on a daily basis. They often have access to more advanced diagnostic tools and are up to date with the latest news in fighting virus infections. What be an impossible situation to you can often be a quick fix for a professional computer technician.

Prevention is always the best cure. Stay away from suspect looking web sites, only download from web sites you trust and always scan everything you download before opening it.

Check out my website http://www.perth-computerrepairs.com.au for more tips on virus removal and getting your computer running faster and crashing less.

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