A computer virus can slow your machine down, cause crashes, or steal your personal information. The majority of individuals safeguard their PC with antivirus programming. But what if you have no antivirus installed or, even worse, your antivirus is the problem? Don’t panic; there are still methods to remove the computer virus without using an antivirus. Today’s article will lead you to some ways through which you can manually remove viruses.
Identify Symptoms of a Virus
You need to confirm that your computer is infected, and that is before removing a virus. Common symptoms include:
- Slow computer performance
- Strange pop-up ads
- Unexplained system crashes
- Like programs crashing for no good reason.
- That, or files disappearing or becoming corrupted.
If you’re having these problems, your computer could be affected by a virus. Now, let’s look at how to get rid of it.
Restart in Safe Mode
Safe Mode is a diagnostics mode that boots your computer with minimum drivers. In this way, help in getting rid of viruses that may be running in the background.
How to start Safe Mode:
Windows:
- On boot, press F8 (Shift + F8 on some models).
- Select the Safe Mode with Networking option from the boot options menu.
Mac:
- Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
- As soon as you see the Apple logo, you can let go of the key, and your Mac will start in Safe Mode.
Safe Mode runs only essential programs, so it is easier to remove the virus.
Delete Suspicious Files Manually
Viruses often lie in wait disguised as files with odd names or extensions. If you can detect these files, you can go ahead and delete them yourself.
How to find suspicious files:
Windows:
- Open the File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files and C:\Users\.[Your Name].
- Identify an unfamiliar file or suspicious-looking files.
Mac:
- Use Finder to navigate to Applications and Library.
- Look for files or apps you don’t recognise or don’t recall installing.
When you find files that seem suspicious, delete them. Exercise caution while deleting files yourself, as removing vital system files can corrupt your operating system.
Launch Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac).
Viruses tend to operate in the background, making them hard to detect. If you did this, you can use Task Manager (on Windows) or Activity Monitor (on Mac) to see processes hogging up your system resources.
For Windows:
- Hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open up Task Manager.
- Check for unfamiliar or suspicious processes.
- Right-click on the unwanted process and choose End Task.
For Mac:
- Look in the Applications > Utilities folder for Activity Monitor.
- Look for processes that are unnecessary or seem foreign to you.
- Choose the process and press Quit.
A process for the virus can be terminated using enable to make it easier to remove.
Clear Your Browser Cache
Web browsers are often affected by viruses that redirect you to an unsafe website. Clearing your browser cache deletes any of the malicious scripts that may have been cached.
How to clear your browser’s cache:
Google Chrome:
- Click the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Choose More Tools > Clear Browsing Data.
- In the Time Range field, choose All Time and check Cached images and files.
- Click Clear Data.
Mozilla Firefox:
- The three lines in the top right corner.
- Choose Options > Privacy & Security.
- Scroll to Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Data.
Safari:
- Select Preferences under Safari.
- Select the Privacy tab.
- Click on Manage Website Data and then Remove All.
Clearing your browser cache deletes stored data that might contain elements of the virus, preventing scripts from running them.
Use Built-in System Tools
Built-in system tools on both Windows and macOS can help you remove a virus.
Windows:
On Windows, it is called Windows Defender. It is a pre-installed antivirus program that is capable of detecting viruses and removing them. Its effectiveness extends even if you don’t have a third-party antivirus.
- Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security
- Click Virus & threat protection → Quick scan.
- If needed, run a full scan.
Mac:
One built-in macOS security feature is XProtect. It does so automatically, checking all files and apps for known threats. You can even reset your Mac’s settings by reinstalling macOS using macOS Recovery.
Update Your Operating System
On occasion, viruses take advantage of weaknesses in old operating systems. Updating your OS means you are not vulnerable to the exploits that are patched in target applications. Thus, updating your OS makes it harder for any malware to break into your PC.
For Windows:
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Click Check for Updates.
For Mac:
- Go to System Preferences > Software Update.
- Download and install any that are available.
Updating your operating system helps to seal up security holes and prevent future infections.
Verify and Uninstall Browser Extensions
Some viruses or malware can set up browser extensions to track your online behaviour. These extensions can redirect and steal your data.
To check browser extensions:
Google Chrome:
- Click the three dots in the top-right corner and choose More Tools > Extensions.
- Check for any suspicious extensions and click on Remove.
Mozilla Firefox:
- Tap the three lines in the top right corner and select Add-ons.
- Unsure if extensions should be disabled or removed.
Safari:
- Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
- Disable any suspicious extensions.
Uninstalling Unwanted Browser Extensions—With malicious code, your web browser is free of.
Reset Your Internet Router
Some viruses or malware propagate through your network. Restoring your router can remove infected devices from your network and stop further harm.
To reset your router:
- Turn off the router by cutting the power.
- Give it 10 to 15 seconds, then plug that back in.
- After the router reboot, change your Wi-Fi password to avoid new infections.
Resetting your router will end any virus’s access to your network so it can’t spread.
Use a Bootable Antivirus Tool
If you’re unable to remove the virus with the operating system running, you can make a bootable antivirus tool. These tools let you boot your computer from an external drive or USB stick and scan for viruses without having the OS running.
- Get a bootable antivirus utility such as Kaspersky Rescue Disc or Bitdefender Rescue CD.
- Create a bootable USB drive.
- When you boot your computer from this USB, it will load up the antivirus software and give you on-screen instructions to scan and get rid of the virus.
Useful when dealing with advanced malware or if the virus prevents you from booting your system in a regular way.
Perform a system restore.
It removes all viruses when everything else fails—do this only if the virus is still there after everything else, and run a system restore. This will bring your computer back to a time before the virus existed.
For Windows:
- Now type System Restore in the search bar and click on Create a restore point.
- Select System Restore, then follow the prompts.
For Mac:
- Power down your Mac and restart while holding Command + R.
- Choose Restore from Time Machine Backup and pick a date before the virus hit.
Keep in mind that the system restore will restore your system to its original clean state, meaning that any viruses or malware present will also be removed.
Consider a factory reset.
If your computer remains infected, a factory reset is a last resort that will erase all data from your device and return it to its original condition. This gets rid of all the files, including the virus.
For Windows:
- Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Select Reset this PC and decide whether to keep your files or erase everything.
For Mac:
- Reboot your Mac while holding Command + R.
- Erase your drive with Disc Utility and reinstall macOS.
Doing a factory reset will delete everything, so back up any important files first.
Conclusion
A computer virus can be a major hassle, but with these tips, you’ll be able to remove the virus even without virus-fighting software. These methods provide practical steps to clean up your computer, from restarting in Safe Mode to system restore or factory reset. Routine upkeep, like updating your OS and scanning for malware, will help prevent your computer from being infected in the future.