Fix computer virus spyware

But there are some telltale signs that your PC or laptop might have a virus , Trojan , worm , or some other kind of malware. Any one of these symptoms might be caused by a virus or a different kind of malware. That said, a lot of modern malware, like spyware and cryptominers, go out of their way to stay as hidden as possible. If your Windows PC or laptop does have a virus, take the following actions.

And if your phone has been acting strangely, check out our guide to learn how to know if your phone has a virus or other form of malware. These steps should work no matter what kind of malware you have on your PC.

This procedure is as effective for Trojans or adware as it is for a run-of-the-mill virus. Hold the Shift key , then restart your computer by opening the Windows menu, clicking the power icon , and clicking Restart.

Your computer will restart and display a menu with several advanced boot options. Choose Troubleshoot. Click Startup Settings. While you're in Safe Mode, delete your temporary files using the Disk Cleanup tool:. Go to the Start menu and scroll down to Windows Administrative Tools.

Click it and choose Disk Cleanup from the drop-down menu. Click OK. Deleting your temporary files may even get rid of your malware if it was programmed to start when your computer boots up. There are two types of scanners that can detect and remove computer viruses and malware: real-time and on-demand. An on-demand operating system scanner such as Microsoft Safety Scanner must be activated manually each time you want to scan.

Get it for Mac , Android , PC. Get it for Mac , PC , Android. Using both types of scanner might be necessary to remove the virus. Run the on-demand scanner first, then your real-time scanner. One of them alone should be able to identify and remove the virus, but running both scanners increases your odds of success. Some malware must be removed manually. You should attempt this only if you are experienced with using the Windows Registry and know how to find and delete bloatware and other junk files like system and program files.

Assuming the scan detected and removed the virus, you might need to reinstall any files or programs that were damaged. This is where backups come in handy, and we strongly recommend you make them regularly, at least once a week. That makes it easy to restore deleted files on Windows and Mac devices. For optimal results, make sure to get an external hard drive.

Update your antivirus software to help protect your laptop or PC against all types of malware. Not required - typically infrequently used tasks that can be started manually if necessary. Definitely not required - typically viruses, spyware, adware and "resource hogs". File 2 - V1. I cant see my files from a virus. Use Unhide to show them File.

If you have XP you will have to run these steps for every user. Start the computer in safe mode and run in safe mode through step 6 if possible. Go To Recycle Bin and Empty it! Download this virus file VirScan. Download and run this Program Also Spybot Ver 1.

Re-Install Virus Protection if a Virus was found on your system. You should be using a router or firewall if you have a high-speed connection. You can get a firewall from Zone Alarm0. You can run this program online when you are through to see if anything is left PestPatrol or Download it. Cloud Ver Web File. ClamAV Website. BitDefender onlineScanner Website. ERD 6 6. If you're unsure of which operating system that you are running, see Is my PC running the bit or bit version of Windows.

When you are prompted, press a key to select an option to use to start your computer, such as F12, F5, or F8, depending on the kind of computer that you are using. Use the arrow key to scroll to the drive where you installed Microsoft Defender Offline file.

Microsoft Defender Offline starts and immediately scans for malware. Confirm that the Windows firewall is turned on. See Turn Microsoft Defender Firewall on or off for instructions on how to do that on modern versions of Windows. In the Search box, type firewall, and then click Windows Firewall. In the left pane, click Turn Windows Firewall on or off you may be prompted to enter your administrator password.

Only download programs from sites that you trust. If you're not sure whether to trust a program that you want to download, enter the name of the program into your favorite search engine to see whether anyone else has reported that it contains spyware. Read all security warnings, license agreements, and privacy statements that are associated with any software that you download. Never click "Agree" or "OK" to close a window that you suspect might be spyware. Be wary of popular "free" music and movie file-sharing programs, and make sure that you understand all the software packaged with those programs.

Use a standard user account instead of an administrator account. An administrator account can access anything on the system, and any malware run with an administrator account can use the administrator permissions to potentially infect or damage any files on the system. For more information about how to protect a computer against viruses, see Protect my PC from viruses. Want to chat with a live person?

Our Answer Tech trained professionals are ready to help: Answer Desk. Security information and training. For computer virus and security-related support for locations outside North America, go to the Microsoft Support website. This computer is infected by spyware and adware.

Click Start , and then type Windows Update in the search box. In the results area, click Windows Update. Click Check for Updates. Follow the instructions to download and install the latest Windows Updates. Restart your computer. When you see the computer's manufacturer's logo, repeatedly press the F8 key. Click the Shortcut tab. Click Open File Location.

Right-click the folder, and then click Delete. Click the Download Now button, and then click Run. Follow the instructions to scan your computer and help remove the rogue security software. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel. Need more help? Expand your skills. Get new features first. Was this information helpful? Yes No.