[Guide] Removing Malware from your system.

[vidster]

I'm noticing loads of people talking about pop-ups, slowing puters and general moans/groans. In the main computers don't slow down or start acting strange for no reason. Most of the time this is due to malware. Malware consists of virus'/ Trojan's/ Spyware/ Rootkits/data cookies etc etc etc....

 

The following 'should' clean up your poor beleaguered puters and have them whizzing away like the good old days. Everything here is my opinion and thoughts only. It is not a guarantee and if you do follow what i say you do so at your own risk. Having said that it's worked 100% of the time for me and nothing that i link to is unsafe in any way.

 

A note about system restore..... I stopped trusting system restore a long time ago. These days it seems half the malware infecting computers stores itself inside a restore point anyway. Meaning when you run your removal tool/s the infection just appears again the next time you reboot.

 

If you do not feel comfortable with turning system restore off just skip this part.

 

XP users [i dont have/want Vista yet]

Step1: Turn off system restore. Most people say not to unless you really have to. I don't like wasting time so i turn it off anyway.

Go to > Start > Right click on 'My Computer' > Select 'Properties' > System Restore tab > Place a check in 'Turn off system restore' > Apply.

 

Step2: Click the link to download Malwarebytes. Install and update the software. Have it perform a full scan and fix whatever it finds.

 

Step3: Click the link to download Trojan Remover. Again, install and update it. Have it perform a full scan and fix whatever it finds.

 

Step4: Click the link to go to Trend Micro's Housecall. This is the best online antivirus/malware scan i know of. Follow the steps to run the full scan and let it deal with anything it finds.

 

Once it's finished reboot your computer and run Housecall again. If it comes back negative your system will more than likely be 100% clean.

If you had turned system restore off just reverse the instructions to turn it back on again now your system is clean.

 

Feel free to add to or point out anything thats wrong with the above.

[vidster]

Updated the Trojan Remover link. Old one was redirecting some people to an update page

[Kingmaker2]

A note about system restore..... I stopped trusting system restore a long time ago. These days it seems half the malware infecting computers stores itself inside a restore point anyway. Meaning when you run your removal tool/s the infection just appears again the next time you reboot.

 

 

"Using System Restore" is generally safe and effective in solving many malware problems, as long as you know how to use it properly.

What some people either forget or don't realise, is that if you ever do get infected with Malware and have rectified the problem with either using Anti Spyware or Anti Virus programs ,or by restoring your computer to an earlier time, you MUST temporarily switch off System Restore AFTER you have rectified the problem to prevent reinfection, once you switch System Restore off then any infections hiding in restore points will be eliminated.

 

Once you have temporarily switched off system restore, it is then advisable to switch on system restore once again.

[Dave650]

I wouldn't turn sys rest. off. Forgetting malware it's useful for undoing other things.

[Kingmaker2]

I wouldn't turn sys rest. off. Forgetting malware it's useful for undoing other things.

 

You don't need to switch it off permanately, and I would advise against switching it off permanently.

 

Switching it off temporarily and then switching it straight back on, after rectifing a problem, is good pratice as it eliminates any infections hiding in restore points.

 

 

Also Vidster if you are scanning your computer with AntiSpyware or AntiTrojan software it is always best to scan in "Safe Mode", as this means everything is scanned, If you scan in "normal mode" not everything will be scanned.

[vidster]

 

Also Vidster if you are scanning your computer with AntiSpyware or AntiTrojan software it is always best to scan in "Safe Mode", as this means everything is scanned, If you scan in "normal mode" not everything will be scanned.

 

True.

Having novices booting in to safe mode and cataloguing every manufacturers safe boot procedure in a post would be a pretty big job though. The guide above would normally clear any and all malware that i know of and i've never known malware infect any file thats in use as it would be in normal mode.

[Bruno]

All in all top advice given here, well done guys

[Asquarius]

MalwareBytes is without doubt the BEST Malware remover I have come across - has cleared everything that I have thrown at it so far when other more well known products have cried enough! Best thing is that the scanner and remover is free.

 

Of course, the best way to get rid of Malware full stop is to migrate to Linux, but that's a completety different story...

[Dave650]

You don't need to switch it off permanately, and I would advise against switching it off permanently.

 

Switching it off temporarily and then switching it straight back on, after rectifing a problem, is good pratice as it eliminates any infections hiding in restore points.

 

 

Also Vidster if you are scanning your computer with AntiSpyware or AntiTrojan software it is always best to scan in "Safe Mode", as this means everything is scanned, If you scan in "normal mode" not everything will be scanned.

 

Quite right , sorry I thought you meant turn it off in general!

[keli666]

I dont know if im ment to write it in here but please can someone help me. i have something on my laptop that i didnt put there its called Anitmalware Doctor and i can't get rid of it, it pops up telling me ive got viruese on my LP and telling me to download there full program and when i click no it freezes everything.. I've downloaded Malwarebytes and tryed that and it didnt work, i've tryed the Norton fix thing that norton told me to try but that didnt work.. help please iif you can