Malicious software can infect a computer in many ways.
Hundreds of types of malicious software are at work on the Internet. Browser hijackers make surfing the web impossible, Trojans hide on your hard drive and disable your system and keyloggers record your keystrokes and use them to steal your personal information. New viruses are constantly being created. The only protection is antivirus software.
Instructions
1. Download and install a secure web browser such as Firefox. If Internet Explorer is infected with malicious software this will enable you to use the Internet without popups and hijackers.
2. Disable or uninstall any other antivirus program that you are running. These programs interfere with each other if you are running more than one at a time.
3. Download and install an antivirus and anti-spyware program. AVG is recommended as an antivirus program, and Ad Aware is recommended as an anti-spyware program. Both of these programs are free. Once they are installed allow them to quarantine or delete any malicious software that is found.
4. Disable or uninstall any other anti-virus program that you are running. These programs interfere with each other if you are running more than one at a time.
5. Update AVG and Ad-Aware so that you are using the most recent virus definitions.
6. Disconnect your computer from the Internet and from any network that you are using. This will prevent the viruses from accessing the Internet or spreading to other computers while you are deleting them.
7. Run Ad-Aware again and quarantine or delete any files that it finds.
8. Once Ad-Aware has finished deleting everything that it can, restart your computer in safe mode by pressing F8 repeatedly as Windows starts. Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight safe mode then press "Enter." This enables Ad-Aware to delete viruses that are in use while your computer is running.
9. Run Ad-Aware again while your computer is in safe mode. Start with a basic scan and then do a full scan. Restart your computer between scans.
10. Continue restarting in Safe Mode and running Ad-Aware until a full scan comes up clean. At this point you will know that all of the malicious software has been removed.
Tags: your computer, malicious software, Ad-Aware again, anti-spyware program, antivirus program, computer safe