How to Delete Infected Computer Files

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Infected files damage your computer, ruin your files and make software hard to run. System updates and careful use of the Internet prevent some computer file infections, but it's important to know how to recognize and delete computer files when malware infects them. Malware includes viruses, spyware, adware, data miners and Trojan horse programs.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Memory storage device(s)
Antivirus and anti-spyware (anti-malware) software

Step 1

Back up all essential files to another memory source, such as a portable hard drive, CD-ROM, memory card, thumb drive or floppy disk. Backup copies of the files you want to keep are important in case malware infects the files at a later date.
Step 2

Download and run a good antivirus program and a good anti-spyware program. For example, AVG offers good-quality, free antivirus and anti-spyware programs. Lavasoft's Ad-Aware and Trend Micro's HijackThis are also great programs for detecting malware. Make note of any infected files.
Step 3

Reboot your computer in Safe Mode and run the scan programs again to ensure that you have uncovered as many infected files as possible. Write down the names of the infected files and quarantine them until you're sure you can safely delete them.
Step 4

Delete infected files using your antivirus and anti-spyware programs. Search your computer's memory to ensure that all of the infected files you can safely delete from your computer are gone.

How to Delete Infected Computer Files

Things You'll Need:

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