This article is about ways to protect your PC from viruses that can screw up your computer, or allow criminals to steal your data, personal information, or money.
Use an anti-malware app - Installing an anti-malware app and keeping it up to date can help defend your PC against viruses and other malware malicious software. Microsoft Defender is free anti-malware software included with Windows, and it's kept updated automatically through Windows Update. There are also anti-malware products made by other companies that you can choose from.
Running multiple anti-malware apps at the same time can cause your system to be slow or unstable. If you install an anti-malware app from a different company, Microsoft Defender will automatically turn itself off. If you install two anti-malware apps from other companies, however, they might both try to run at the same time.
Don't open email messages from unfamiliar senders, or email attachments that you don't recognize - Many viruses are attached to email messages and will spread as soon as you open the attachment. It's best not to open any attachment unless it's something you're expecting. For more information see: Protect yourself from phishing. Use a pop-up blocker with your internet browser - Pop-up windows are small browser windows that appear on top of the website you're viewing.
Although most are created by advertisers, they can also contain malicious or unsafe code. A pop-up blocker can prevent some or all of these windows from appearing.
The pop-up blocker in Microsoft Edge is turned on by default. If you're using Microsoft Edge, make sure SmartScreen is turned on - SmartScreen in Microsoft Edge helps protect you from phishing and malware attacks by warning you if a website or download location has been reported as unsafe.
For more info, see What is SmartScreen and how can it help protect me? Pay attention to Windows SmartScreen notifications - Be cautious about running unrecognized apps downloaded from the Internet. Unrecognized apps are more likely to be unsafe. When you download and run an app from the internet, SmartScreen uses info about the app's reputation to warn you if the app isn't well-known and might be malicious.
Keep Windows updated - Periodically, Microsoft releases special security updates that can help protect your PC. We recommend that you set the Automatic Updates service to run automatically so that a computer is not missing any important updates. Microsoft offers a free online tool that scans and helps remove potential threats from your computer.
To perform the scan, go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner website. Note the name of the rogue security software. For this example, we'll call it XP Security Agent When you are prompted, use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode with Networking , and then press Enter. Click the Start button and check whether the rogue security software appears on the Start menu. If it's not listed there, click All Programs and scroll to find the rogue security software's name.
Right-click the name of the rogue security software program, and then click Properties. In the Properties dialog box, check the path of the rogue security software program that is listed in Target. Note The folder name frequently is a random number. In the Program Files window, click Program Files in the address bar.
Scroll until you find the rogue security software program folder. For example, XP Security Agent Go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner website. If you suspect that your computer is infected with rogue security software that was not detected by using Microsoft security solutions, you can submit samples by using the Microsoft Malware Protection Center submission form.
Microsoft Defender Offline is an anti-malware tool that helps remove difficult to eliminate viruses that start before Windows starts. Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft Defender Offline is built-in. Click Download the 32 bit version or Download the 64 bit version , depending on which operating system that you are running. 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. The video below will guide you through the installation process:. When you are removing a virus from your PC, it is a good idea to disconnect from the internet to prevent further damage: some computer viruses use the internet connection to spread. Are you unsure of how to do this?
Some viruses are programmed to initiate when your computer boots up. Deleting temporary files may delete the virus. However, it is not safe to rely on this. To ensure you rid your computer of viruses, it is wise to complete the following steps. Now it is time to run a virus scan using your chosen anti-virus or internet security software. If a virus is found, it may affect multiple files. If threats are found, quarantine or delete the files.
Now that the virus is removed, you can reboot your computer. Simply turn it on as you would normally. To protect your computer from further attack, change all your passwords in case they were compromised. This is only strictly necessary if you have reason to believe your passwords have been captured by malware, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Updating your software, browser and operating system will reduce the risk of flaws in old code being exploited by criminals to install malware on your computer.
If you use a Mac, you may be under the impression that your computer cannot get a virus. Unfortunately, this is a misconception. There are fewer viruses that target Macs compared with the many that target PCs, but Mac viruses do exist. Some Mac viruses are designed to trick users into thinking they are anti-virus products. If you accidentally download one of these, your computer may be infected. If you think your Mac has a virus, here are six steps to follow to remove it:.
To ensure nothing is missed and to keep your Mac protected, consider installing a running an anti-virus solution if you do not already have one. We recommend comprehensive internet security solution like Kaspersky Total Security.
A computer virus is a type of malware malicious software designed to make self-replicate, i. Computer viruses are so-called because, like real viruses, they can self-replicate. Once your computer is infected with a virus, this is how it spreads. When a computer virus infects your computer, it may slow it down and stops it working properly. There are three main ways that your computer may have become infected with a computer virus.
The first way your computer could become infected from removable media, like a USB stick. If you insert a USB stick or disk into your computer from an unknown source, it may contain a virus. Another way your computer become infected with a virus is through a download from the internet. If you are downloading software or apps to your computer, ensure you do so from a trusted source.
Avoid downloading anything via a pop-up or a website you do not know. The third way your computer could become infected with a virus is if you open an attachment, or click on a link, in a spam email.
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