How to Remove Malicious Adware
Malicious adware can rob your computer of performance, inundate you with annoying offers and make your computer more susceptible to spyware and viruses. Typically, computers become infected with adware without the knowledge and consent of the user. This software sneaks into a computer under false pretenses and installs itself in such a way that it can be difficult to detect and remove. Fortunately, there are many free tools that can be used to remove it from a computer.
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Things You'll Need
- Windows installation or restore discs
- Data storage devices like burnable discs, flash drives or external hard drives
Instructions
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1
Open your default anti-spyware software if you happen to have such a program installed on your computer. Update the spyware definitions first, then run a complete system scan. If the program finds any infections, take the action recommended by the program to quarantine or delete the infected files. If you do not have an anti-spyware program, skip to the next step.
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2
Open your default anti-virus software if you happen to have some installed. Update the virus definitions first, then run a full system scan. Take your anti-virus program's recommended action against any detected viruses or malware. If you do not have an anti-virus program, skip to the next step.
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3
Download the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool from the Microsoft website. A link to the download location can be found in the Resources section. This tool is free for all Windows users and is capable of detecting and removing many of the more common types of malicious adware. It may detect infections that your default anti-spyware and anti-virus software didn't catch, and it is a good first step if you don't have any such software.
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Open the file you downloaded in Step 3 and follow the simple on-screen prompts to begin the system scan. A full system scan with the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool can take several hours, so budget for this time. When the scan is complete, review the report and take any recommended actions against detected adware.
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5
Restore your computer to an earlier restore point if problems persist and if your computer has System Restore. To determine if you have System Restore, click the "Start" button, look under "All Programs," then under "Accessories" and finally under "System Tools" for the "System Restore" icon. If you see it, click the icon and select "Restore My Computer to an Earlier Time." On the calendar, pick a valid restore point from before your computer became infected with adware and initialize the restore process. After restoring your computer, see if the problem persists before proceeding.
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Use different anti-spyware and anti-virus software to see if you get different results. Links to free anti-virus and anti-spyware software download locations are in the Resources section. Download and install each program, update each program's infection definitions and run full system scans to see if the infections can be detected and removed.
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7
Take your computer to a service and repair specialist if problems persist. If you do not want to spend any money or if you would prefer to handle the problem by yourself, proceed to the next step.
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8
Back up all of your data and important files on some sort of removable data storage. You can use CD-RWs, DVD-RWs, flash drives, external hard drives or whatever is most convenient for you. Track down the original installation discs for all of your currently used software as well as the installation discs for your version of Windows.
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9
Reinstall Windows. To do this, insert the first Windows installation disc in the CD-ROM drive and reboot the computer. When the system begins booting up, press F8 repeatedly. This will take you to the boot menu. On the boot menu, choose to boot from the CD-ROM drive. This will launch the Windows installation process; follow the on-screen prompts to do a full hard drive formatting and system reinstallation.
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10
Reinstall your original software and replace your backed-up data on your system's hard drive after you've reinstalled Windows. All of your system settings will have returned to their default state, so you may need to reset them to your preferences.
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