Remove viruses and clean up your Windows computer
Last updated on October 12th, 2020 at 12:09 pm
There are all types of malware and getting a virus can disrupt your day and workflow. Try these 3 easy steps to remove viruses and malware. Cleaning up your computer will also help it run smoother. Then clean up your desktop to help you become more productive.
Uninstall software
Start by removing unwanted software, most user computers we’ve looked at have excess software. Once completed, we can concentrate on removing any viruses. Excess software may have already installed from the factory (this is knows as bloatware). Some software was installed automatically as part of a software package. This is common when you download and install free software, the vendor is being paid by an affiliate of partner to include their software as well. Others were installed by the user and isn’t really used anymore.
- Open the control panel and click uninstall programs.
- Go through the list, select and uninstall unwanted programs.
- If you are unsure what the program is you can Google the name and get some information about it. Anything related to Microsoft you might want to leave installed as well as anything you’re unsure about.
CCleaner
Download and install CCleaner from their website. CCleaner helps to find and remove unnecessary temporary files.
Run CCleaner and click analyze, then click Clean all to remove junk it found on your computer.
Once we’ve cleaned up the computer from unwanted junk, and programs it’s time to remove any virus your computer may have.
Malwarebytes
Download and install Malwarebytes, for years now it’s been a go-to for many IT and computer repair companies. Malwarebytes is great for removing viruses your anti-virus may have missed and will run alongside it without issues. The free version is great alone, however, the paid version offers full-time protection from malware, viruses, fake or malicious websites and more. Once installed, run Malwarebytes and scan your computer. Select all detected threats, then select the quarantine option. You may be prompted to reboot the computer after the process completes.
Once this is complete you can uninstall both CCleaner and Malwarebytes. I recommend you install a good anti-virus to protect against future infections. Here’s an article to help you find the right anti-virus.
