How to Remove Malicious Viruses

If you surf the web you should scan your computer for viruses at least once a week.

Email attachments are a major source of viruses, according to Symantec. The most common types of malicious viruses include macro viruses, multipartite viruses, master boot record viruses, boot sector viruses and file infector viruses. Keeping your antivirus software up to date can help prevent malicious viruses from infecting your computer in the first place. However, if a malicious virus has already infected your computer, you can remove it by performing a virus scan.

Things You'll Need

• Malicious Software Removal Tool

Instructions

Update Your Computer

1. Install the latest updates from Microsoft Update (See link in Resources).

2. Update any antivirus software you're currently running on your computer by visiting the manufacturer's website and checking for updates.

3. Perform a scan of your computer with your antivirus software after downloading the latest updates.

Malicious Software Removal Tool

1. Download and install the Malicious Software Removal Tool from the Microsoft Download Center (See link in Resources).

2. Click "Start."

3. Click "Run."

4. Type "MRT."

5. Press "Enter."

6. Click "Next" on the "Welcome to the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool" screen.

7. Click "Full Scan" to scan your entire computer or "Quick Scan" to run a quick scan of your computer.

8. Click "Next."

9. Wait for the Malicious Software Removal Tool to scan and remove malicious viruses from the hard drive of your computer.

10. 

    Emails are a major source of malicious viruses.

    Click "Finish" or "View Detailed Results" if you want to view details of how the scan went and how many malicious viruses were removed from the hard drive of your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Scanning your computer for viruses at least once a week is a good idea especially if you use the Internet on a daily basis, according to Microsoft. You can either use your own antivirus software or the Malicious Software Removal Tool offered by Microsoft through the Microsoft Download Center. You can help prevent viruses from harming your computer in the first place by using an Internet firewall, according to Microsoft Security. Operating systems such as Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP with SP2 already have a built-in Internet firewall. Downloading Microsoft Security Essentials (See link below) can also help protect your computer from viruses.

• Users often mistake malicious viruses for spyware, according to Microsoft Security. You can help protect your computer from spyware by downloading Windows Defender from the Microsoft Download Center (See link below).

References

• Symantec: What Is a Virus?
• Microsoft: Malicious Software Removal Tool
• PC Hell: How to Manually Run the Malicious Software Removal Tool
• Microsoft: Prevent Computer Viruses

Resources

• Microsoft Update
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Windows Defender
• Microsoft: How to Protect Your Computer Against Adaware and Spyware
• Windows: Trojans and How to Protect Your Network from Them