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Clean Your Infected PC in 10 Easy Steps: A Comprehensive Guide

Updated: • 0 • 9 min read

Clean Your Infected PC

The Windows operating system, while widely used, is often more susceptible to bugs and performance degradation compared to other desktop platforms. Over time, Windows systems can become sluggish, with applications responding slowly or even becoming unresponsive. This decline in performance can be a frustrating experience for users and may indicate a deeper underlying issue.

If you are encountering persistent performance problems, such as unexplained slowness, frequent crashes, or unusual behavior, it is highly probable that your computer has been infected with malware. Viruses and various forms of malware are primary culprits behind unexpected system slowdowns and malfunctions. If you suspect a malware infection, it is crucial to take immediate and effective steps to clean your system and restore its optimal performance. This guide provides a comprehensive ten-step approach to help you thoroughly clean your infected PC.

1. Check For Symptoms

Before proceeding with any cleaning methods, it is essential to accurately determine if your computer is indeed infected with malware. While many symptoms can point to an infection, it’s important to rule out other potential causes, such as hardware malfunctions. Hardware issues can also manifest as Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors, frequent system crashes, application unresponsiveness, and other similar symptoms. Therefore, a careful assessment of the symptoms is necessary to differentiate between malware infections and hardware-related problems.

Signs that strongly suggest a malware infection include a sudden barrage of pop-up advertisements, web browsers unexpectedly redirecting to unfamiliar websites, the appearance of new and unrecognized icons on your desktop, or a significant and unexplained decrease in system performance. These symptoms often indicate the presence of malicious software actively operating on your system. Observing these signs should prompt you to investigate further for potential malware infections.

2. Enter Safe Mode

Booting your computer into Safe Mode is a crucial diagnostic step when dealing with potential malware infections. Safe Mode is a diagnostic startup mode in Windows that starts your computer with a limited set of files and drivers. It disables most startup applications and loads only the essential system components necessary for operation. This environment is invaluable for troubleshooting because it helps isolate whether the issues you are experiencing are caused by third-party software, drivers, or malware.

If the problems you’ve been encountering, such as system slowness or crashes, persist even in Safe Mode, it is less likely that malware is the sole cause. In such cases, the issue might stem from underlying software conflicts, corrupted system files, or hardware malfunctions. However, if the problems disappear or significantly diminish in Safe Mode, it strongly suggests that a third-party application, driver, or malware, which is typically disabled in Safe Mode, is the source of the problem. This isolation helps narrow down the scope of the investigation and points towards focusing on software-related issues, including potential malware infections.

3. Backup Your Important Files

Before undertaking any malware removal or system cleaning procedures, backing up your important files is an absolutely critical step. Given that your computer is potentially infected, there’s a possibility that you might need to format your system partition or perform more drastic measures to completely eliminate the malware. Data loss is a significant risk during these processes, making a backup essential to protect your valuable information.

It is recommended to back up all your important documents, photos, videos, and personal files to an external USB drive or a secure cloud storage service. However, it is equally important to exercise caution and avoid backing up program files or application installation folders. Malware often hides within these types of files and directories. Backing up infected program files could inadvertently reintroduce the malware to your system after the cleaning process, negating your efforts. Focus solely on backing up personal data to ensure a clean and safe restoration process.

4. Run A Complete Scan with Malwarebytes

Once you have securely backed up your essential data, the next crucial step is to perform a comprehensive system scan using a reputable anti-malware tool. Malwarebytes is a highly recommended and effective anti-malware program renowned for its thorough scanning capabilities and high detection rates. It excels at identifying and removing various types of malware, including hidden threats and adware that might be missed by standard antivirus software.

To ensure Malwarebytes operates optimally and without conflicts, it is advisable to temporarily disable Windows Defender, the built-in antivirus program in Windows, before initiating the scan. Running two real-time antivirus programs simultaneously can sometimes lead to software conflicts and hinder the effectiveness of both. After disabling Windows Defender, download, install, and run Malwarebytes to perform a full system scan. This comprehensive scan will meticulously examine all files and processes on your computer, identifying and flagging any potential malware infections.

5. Quarantine or Delete Infections

After Malwarebytes completes its scan, it will present you with a list of detected threats. By default, Malwarebytes is configured to quarantine all identified infected files. The quarantine feature is particularly useful because it isolates the suspicious files, preventing them from executing or causing further harm to your system, while still retaining them for potential review or restoration. This provides a safety net in case of false positives.

When a file is quarantined, it is moved to a secure location on your system and rendered inaccessible to other programs and processes. You have the option to review the quarantined files and, if you are certain they are indeed malicious and no longer needed, you can choose to permanently delete them from the quarantine. Alternatively, if you determine that a file was mistakenly quarantined (a false positive), Malwarebytes allows you to easily restore it to its original location. This flexibility ensures you can manage detected threats effectively and safely.

6. Remove Adware with AdwCleaner

Following the malware removal process with Malwarebytes, it is highly recommended to employ an additional specialized tool to target and eliminate adware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). While Malwarebytes is excellent at removing viruses and malware, adware and PUPs often require a more focused approach. AdwCleaner, also developed by Malwarebytes, is a free and lightweight utility specifically designed for this purpose.

Adware and PUPs are frequently the culprits behind unwanted browser behavior, such as hijacked start pages, persistent pop-up ads, and the installation of browser toolbars you did not intentionally install. AdwCleaner effectively scans your system for these types of nuisances and provides a straightforward way to remove them. Download and install AdwCleaner, then run a full system scan. AdwCleaner will identify and allow you to remove any adware, PUPs, and browser hijackers, helping to restore your browser settings and eliminate unwanted advertisements.

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7. Restart Your Computer Again

After completing the malware and adware removal processes using Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner, it is crucial to restart your computer once more. This restart is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it allows the changes made by the cleaning tools, such as file deletions and registry modifications, to be fully implemented. Secondly, it ensures that any malware processes that were running in memory are terminated and do not restart automatically.

Following the restart, use your computer as you normally would for a while and carefully observe its behavior. Check if the symptoms that initially indicated a malware infection, such as slowness, pop-ups, or browser redirects, have been resolved. In most cases, a combination of Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner is highly effective at removing the vast majority of malware and adware-related infections. However, continued monitoring after the restart is a prudent step to confirm the success of the cleaning process and to ensure no residual infections remain.

8. Reset All Passwords

A significant risk associated with malware infections is the potential compromise of your personal information, including passwords. Certain types of malware are designed to capture your keystrokes, login credentials, and other sensitive data and transmit them to malicious actors. Even if the malware appears to be removed, there is a chance that your passwords may have been compromised during the infection period.

To mitigate this risk, it is a critical security measure to reset all your important passwords immediately after cleaning your infected computer. This includes passwords for your email accounts (like Gmail), social media platforms, online banking, e-commerce websites, and any other online services you use. Choose strong, unique passwords for each account and avoid reusing passwords across multiple platforms. Consider using a password manager to securely store and manage your complex passwords. Resetting passwords is a proactive step to safeguard your online accounts and prevent unauthorized access in case your credentials were stolen by the malware.

9. Update Your Operating System and Applications

Maintaining an up-to-date operating system and applications is paramount for robust cybersecurity. Malware often exploits vulnerabilities in outdated software to gain access to your system and install malicious code. Software developers regularly release updates and security patches to address known vulnerabilities and fix security loopholes. Failing to install these updates leaves your system vulnerable to exploits.

Ensure that your Windows operating system is set to automatically download and install updates. Similarly, update all your installed applications, especially web browsers, antivirus software, and other frequently used programs. Updates often include critical security patches that protect against the latest threats. Regularly updating your software is a fundamental security practice that significantly reduces the risk of malware infections and helps protect your computer from emerging cyber threats.

10. Review Startup Programs and Services

After cleaning your computer and updating your software, it’s beneficial to review the programs and services that automatically start when your computer boots up. Malware can sometimes establish persistence by adding itself to the startup programs or services list. This ensures that the malware automatically runs every time you start your computer, even after a cleaning process.

Use the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) in Windows to access the “Startup apps” tab and review the list of programs set to launch at startup. Disable any programs that you do not recognize or that seem suspicious. Similarly, use the System Configuration utility (msconfig) to review the “Services” tab. Check the “Hide all Microsoft services” box to focus on third-party services and disable any unfamiliar or suspicious services. Be cautious when disabling services, as some are essential for system functionality. If unsure, research the service online before disabling it. Regularly reviewing and cleaning up startup programs and services can help prevent malware from reactivating or persisting on your system.

By following these ten comprehensive steps, you can effectively clean your infected PC, remove malware, and enhance your system’s security. Remember to stay vigilant and practice safe computing habits to minimize the risk of future infections.

Do you have any experiences with computer infections or tips for keeping systems clean? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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