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How to get rid of stuff » Computer Problems » How to Get Rid of Computer Viruses
 

How to Get Rid of Computer Viruses

November 21st, 2009 by admin
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What are Computer Viruses?

virus iconComputer viruses are small programs that hide inside of your computer and then replicate themselves in some fashion in order to spread to other computers. With the internet connecting so many computers to one another, and our propensity to share many of our files with other people, we unknowingly transmit to other computers viruses that have infected our own files. Depending on the design of the virus, once it reaches a computer, it can do almost anything from deleting and corrupting your files, to disabling your computers security measures to make it more vulnerable to a hacker.

Types of Viruses

Computer Viruses can be divided into many different categories; Here are the most common, as well as a brief explanation of each one.

Resident Viruses

This is a type of virus that hides in your computer’s RAM memory, controlling and intercepting operations carried out by the system, these are often used to capture passwords and credit card numbers and can corrupt files and programs.

Direct Action Viruses

virus detected1 imageThe main objective of these viruses is to replicate themselves and take a particular action when they are run. When a pre-defined condition is met, the virus will spring into action and replicate itself. These viruses normally attach themselves to other files on your computer, so when the file is run – the virus is activated. Files infected with this type of virus can usually be fixed using anti-virus software. (Need to remove your computer files, read how to get rid of computer files)

Overwrite Viruses

When this type of virus infects a file, it deletes all of the information contained within that file and then copies itself into it. In other words, these will gut your files and then wear their clothes. Files infected with this type of virus become useless and can’t be recovered without restoring a previous backup.

Boot Viruses

This type of virus infects the boot sector of your disk drives. The boot sector is a part of the disk that stores basic system information and is used to start your computer. These viruses are then loaded on boot-up. Please note that this kind of virus does not affect files. The best way to avoid boot viruses is to write-protect your floppy disks and never start your computer with an unknown floppy disk in the drive. Most antivirus programs can detect and remove these.

Macro Viruses

Certain programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Powerpoint have the ability to use small ‘helper’ programs to extend their functionality and automate repetitive tasks. These ‘helper’ programs are known as macros and scripts and are stored in the document files instead of the main program. A macro virus is simply a virus that hides out in these files and waits for you to open them with their respective programs – which then run the virus.

File Infectors

This type of virus infects programs and/or executable files. Each time one of these programs runs, the virus is activated; the majority of existing viruses belong to this category, and are classified depending on the actions that they carry out. Think of these viruses as stowaways on your computer’s files.

Choosing an Antivirus Software

Antivirus software is one of the most important things you should have on your system. Many PC’s come with this software pre-installed, but you should still take a few moments to familiarize yourself with it. There are many available antivirus programs currently on the market. Here, I’ve compiled some of the best retail and free antivirus solutions for you.

McAfee Antivirus

(Retail) – McAfee provides a great antivirus solution. This US based company is maybe the oldest antivirus development company in the world, and in this area experience is king, especially when you’re dealing with high-tech menaces.

Norton Antivirus

(Retail) – Norton Antivirus, commonly known as Symantec Antivirus, is one of the best antivirus solutions available, even though it’s also one of the “heaviest”, meaning your system may run slower after installing it, specially if you haven’t upgraded lately.
Mcafee antivirus image Norton antivirus image

Avast Antivirus

(Free!) – Avast Antivirus is a lightweight and free (for home use) solution. They are a newer company but have gained much ground because their software is free and easy to use.

AVG

(Free!) – Much like Avast, AVG is a light, easy to manage antivirus package, automatically updated, and provides maybe the best shield protection you may need, without even noticing its presence.
Avas antivirus image AVG antivirus image

What to Do if You Think You Have a Virus

If your computer is running unusually slow, complaining with lots of errors, random reboots, blue error screens, or tons of pop-up windows – chances are good that you have picked up some spyware or a virus (Learn how to block pop ups). avast Virus Cleaner imageIn this case it’s better to stop and think before acting.

What should you do?

  1. Stop all your work, close all your files and opened windows.
  2. Run your antivirus software to make sure it is operable; do this even before updating it with the latest virus definitions.
  3. Update your antivirus with the newest virus definitions and run it again.
  4. If your system is still complaining, check it for spyware. (For spyware removal, see how to get rid of spyware)
Don’t, in any case, start deleting files and programs as you're likely to cause even more harm. This is a good time to backup all your data if you don’t have any backups already. Even if you back up data infected with a virus, there is a good chance that it can be recovered and this will spare you from loosing important files if your first effort to identify and remove the virus fails.

What if a Virus Doesn’t Let You Access Your Antivirus Software?

If you’re getting an error when you try to open you antivirus software, it is very likely the result of a virus on your machine. There are 3 ways to deal with this.
  1. Use a rescue disk. Most antivirus programs will ask you to create a ‘rescue disk’ during their installation, if you did this and know where you put the disk, put it into your PC and reboot. These rescue disks load the antivirus software before any other programs (including windows). If they can load before the virus, then they can find and neutralize it.
  2. Use online antivirus software. Many antivirus companies provide free online tools that you can run from their web site’s in these emergency situations; Here are just a few:
  3. Carefully remove your disk drives and install them on another PC, or access them through a network, then use another system to scan the drives.
Avas image Kaspersky image
Trend Antivirus image Panda Antivirus image

When to get professional help

If you’ve been through all of this and your PC is still sinking like the titanic, then it’s time to call in reinforcements. Don’t have a friend or family member who’s a computer whiz? That’s ok, because there are plenty of companies which are more than happy to take your PC and clean it up for you, check in your local phone book under “Computers; Repair and Service”. When pricing these services, approach them the same way you approach finding a garage you take your car to – get hourly rates and find a place that will take a look at your PC and give you a free estimate.

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    1. Tiffany Says:
      August 15th, 2009 at 11:24 am

      Hello i have a trojan virus,every web stie i go to its says “Waring this site may harm your computer.”and i dont want to pay to clean it.Please help me fast!!!!!:(

    2. SHEELA :P Says:
      April 14th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

      i still dont know how to get rid of them and all my emails was hacked

    3. FRANK Says:
      April 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 am

      Good Day, I have a Microsoft Windows XP PROFF. VERSION 2002. I have picked up a virus from somewhere, and what is happening now, is that I am getting oblong shape message that says: BAD IMAGE,with a red x circled, then - “the application or dllc: WINDOWSsystem32OARSGG.DLL is not a valid window image. Please check this against your installation diskett. this mesage jumps up everytime and blocks everything. Thank you for your advise.

    4. alison colton Says:
      March 5th, 2009 at 9:54 am

      Hi, My main pc has got a virus on it - i had avg software for anti virus but i am unable to delete the threat as i cannot connect to the internet! The pc also keeps turning off after about 15 minutes, can anyone help please?

    5. joe Says:
      February 20th, 2009 at 5:14 pm

      i have a virus that won’t let me go on line and won’t let me install an anit-virus software. what can i do?

    6. cassandra Says:
      February 12th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

      umm i have been getting this virus that sends it to other ppl from my computer adn it say foto haha and a wedsite but i clicked it that one of my friends sent it to me and now i dotn kno what to do ..if someone can help me with this .. plezz and thanxs

    7. Dudemeister Says:
      February 11th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

      Delete anything called ‘not_a_virus’ or dont open a file sent to you called ‘your mam naked’ or something like that. kapersky is a good anti virus system to get for your PC cos thats what they use on some office computers and they never get viruses! it is waaaaaay better than norton

    8. kirsty :) Says:
      January 26th, 2009 at 8:03 am

      i have lots of viruses my computer gets all these pop-ups and most of them are this thing called ciD: they slow my computer down when im on the internet and my computer is now slower than ever. i would like a free anti-virus webste which isnt fake and acually works. do you have any ideas that i can use and a good antivirus thing please..
      thanks

    9. Alex Says:
      December 9th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

      oh person with 10minute scan, that anti virus u downloaded from that site is a virus posing as an antivirus

    10. Alex Says:
      December 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

      i got a virus posing as a antivirus system and my mcafee isnt picking it up on the scan, there is a red x icon by the clock on my screen, and an error msg pops up saying some crap about mozilla fox and how it might be infected, then it gets cheezy and makes that full screen error blue backround that i can exit how of by pressing control alt delete, so i know my computer isnt really shutting down, anyway, its a virus posing as a antivirus system, and mcafee doesnt pick it up, any tips?

    11. gilda garcia Says:
      December 9th, 2008 at 4:21 am

      thank you for free downloading !!

    12. HELP PLEASE! Says:
      December 8th, 2008 at 3:58 am

      I have a several viruses, like trojans, keyloggers, adware, spyware etc. I downloaded an antivirus thing from this site. But it doesn’t work. It just scans my computer in like 10 seconds and tells me I have over 2000 files infected! OMGSH! Can someone tell me some way of getting rid of it without moving my files, or deleting everything? I can’t open up any files either so i cant open up the Windows Anti-Virus thing either

    13. brandon batham Says:
      November 21st, 2008 at 7:09 am

      if you want a decent anti-virus get the avast anti-virus free to download online it will pick up any virus before it enters your computer and tell you if you want to delete the virus that is there and it is the only anti-virus that i have found out of all off them that detects and deletes worms before they enter your system

    14. shannon morgan Says:
      November 4th, 2008 at 5:08 am

      hii my frend sent me this virus on my laptop by a messege and now it wont let me on the internet it says the webpage cannot be displayed but it lets me on msn coz that is at the bottem of my destop

      HELLP ME I DONT KNOW

      WHAT 2 DO X

    15. celine Says:
      October 16th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

      have a virus on my pc. Every time I go to internet explorer I get a message that says I have a virus, download total secure 2009. I cant get past the pop ups. Can I go to restore to mix or how do I get rid of the virus? I use Mcaffe protection.

    16. Tanya Says:
      September 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 am

      Watch out for Antivirus XP 2008. It installs fake Windows security alerts which are ANNOYING. And it tells you your computer is infected, it tries to mimic a real Windows XP version, but if you didn’t install it - do NOT click on anything. It also does not give you the option to close the application. You can only scan, which installs it. It has a virs, trojans, malware and spyware. And I tried to reove it - but it corrupted some of my .exe files, so now my system does not start up past the Windows start up page. BEWARE!!!!! I now need to seek professional help (for my computer) and maybe myself. I just hope that my systm can be restored, even in safe mode - I can’t get past it.

    17. Dave Says:
      September 16th, 2008 at 11:19 am

      I have a virus on my pc. Every time I go to internet explorer I get a message that says I have a virus, download total secure 2009. I cant get past the pop ups. Can I go to restore to mix or how do I get rid of the virus? I use Mcaffe protection.

    18. John Says:
      September 3rd, 2008 at 6:24 pm

      i have a trojan on my laptop and can not get it off…. it keeps pulling up internet explorer….. when or when i’m not on the net…

    19. ed Says:
      September 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 am

      i was at a site and i clicked on a link. something popped up that said run, don’t run, or saved. i clicked on run and my company had downloaded something. after that my computer started to act funny. i looked on my desktop background it was all red, has the biohazard symbol, and it says you have a virus!!!

      what do i do???

    20. Kez Says:
      August 17th, 2008 at 5:45 pm

      I have a virus on my computer >.> nearly everytime i open a file in my computer, my documents etc. a message pops up saying “Attention,8800GT!(my computers name)Some dangerous files were detected in your system. Microsoft Windows XP files corrupted. This may lead to the destruction of important files in C:WINDOWS. Download protection software now!” and if i click yes it goes right to a link i download without any information so its fairly obvious its a virus. And i don’t know if its the same or different virus but my internet explorer doesn’t work it just keeps popping up a link for anti-spyware everytime i try to do something, im in serious need of help :( if you think you can help email me and i’ll try to get it(hard to read email cause so many popups) Josh_Taylor9@live.com

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