How to Get Rid of Trojan Computer Viruses

A trojan virus is a small malicious program.

Trojan viruses, or simply trojans, are malicious codes designed to carry out certain undesirable actions in a computer. Being a program, a trojan infects computers and not individual files, as does a virus. Most trojans disguise themselves as harmless programs, forcing the computer to execute actions without the user's knowledge, or giving the author back-door access to an infected computer. Trojan viruses may be removed from a system using a comprehensive security suite.

Instructions

1. Download a proven antivirus security software. Popular antivirus software include Avast, AVG, Trend Micro, BitDefender, SpyWare Doctor, Ad-Aware, AntiSpyWare, SpyHunter and Norton, among others. Go to a reputable download site such as CNET.com and read the editors' reviews before you select a program to download (see Resources). Never download from sites you are not sure of, as many spurious websites infect computers with malware hidden inside fake security programs.

2. Install and update the program. Double-click on the downloaded installer file and simply follow the onscreen instructions to install. Update to the latest version of the software and upgrade the virus database; keeping an antivirus program up to date enables it to detect and remove newly released threats. The update process may vary depending on the type of antivirus software.

3. Load the program and configure your settings. Depending on which program you download, you may have to activate or turn off different features and options. Specify which locations on disk you want to scan, what file types to overlook, and the default action to take when a threat is identified. In most programs, the options can be accessed through the "Tools" or "Settings" menu bar item.

4. Run a full-system scan. Load the program and locate the "Scan" button on the program's interface. Wait for the software to scan your computer; you may be able to see the progress on a bar. Time for scanning will depend on program type, available memory and the processor speed of your computer.

5. Review the list of identified threats. Upon finishing scanning your computer, the software will generate a list of potential threats, including malware such as trojans, viruses, worms and spyware; some programs may also display a threat level associated with the malware. Check boxes adjacent to individual items in the list, and click on the appropriate command, depending on whether you want to delete, attempt to disinfect, or quarantine the item. Take actions for all trojan viruses.

6. Restart the computer and run a scan again. Review the list and check whether all identified trojan viruses have been removed from the system.

Tips & Warnings

• Some trojan viruses are able to disguise themselves very well, and are not identified by antivirus scans. If you notice a program you did not install, and if you are unable to remove it using antivirus software, you may have to uninstall it manually. Removal procedures are different for each type of trojan virus, and may entail changing system settings; only attempt this if you are sure about the process.

• Do not download software from unknown websites. Some questionable sites offer free security programs, but actually infect your computer with a hidden malware when you download the program.

References

• Bleeping Computer: How To Remove Trojan, Virus, Worm And Other Malware
• 2 Spyware: How To Remove Trojan

Resources

• CNET: Antivirus Software