We’ve all heard of it before – the dreaded computer virus. There are many different viruses that can be contracted, but one thing is consistent, they are bad for your computer! Even a cautious internet user can come across a virus at some point, so what should you do if your computer has a virus? Here at Carisma we have a few tips to get you started with the virus removal process:
Install Antivirus Software
If you already have antivirus software, skip on ahead. But if not, this is the first step to diagnosing your problem and getting on the road to recovery. A good antivirus software will scan through your entire computer and compile a list of potentially problematic files.
Quarantine Infected Files
This will essentially put the bad files in “time out”. They will not be able to damage your computer further, and then you can have the antivirus software delete them. Sometimes, one infected file downloaded to your computer can download additional problematic files, so make sure to wipe out all suspicious files.
Run in Safe Mode
Most computers come with the option to boot up in “safe mode”. This setting allows the computer to run with only the most basic and necessary functions – so the idea is that the virus won’t turn on. Conducting a virus scan in this mode can find the more difficult viruses and remove them. To run in Safe Mode press F8 while booting up your computer and select “Safe Mode” from the list that appears.
Restore Computer
If you’ve tried and tried and nothing seems to be effective, the last ditch effort you can make is to restore your computer. This wipes everything from it and brings it back to the original factory settings. A quick search on the computer of “System Restore” should bring up a wizard to walk you through this process.
To be sure that you’re doing all that you can do to protect your computer, contact us! We will be happy to walk you through preventative measures or assist in ridding your computer of an already present virus.