Malware Virus Removal Guide Tools for Windows. Windows being the most popular OS in the world, malware writers want to target it. As a result, a lot of malware and malicious software are written for it. This makes people wrongly comment that Windows is not secure when the fact is actually otherwiseMalware could be a virus, adware, spyware, ransomware, scareware, BOT, Backdoor, Exploits Trojan, Rootkit, Dialer, Trojan, Worms, Fileless malware and even Potentially Unwanted Programs. You can read more about the differences here. These malware typically spread through attachments in email messages or by instant messaging messages. You could even catch it while surfing dangerous websites or even reputed but compromised websites. Vista Open Command Window Here Windows. You could end up downloading it to your computer unknowingly or even knowingly or you could catch it if you were to connect your friends infected USB drive to your PC. They can be funny images, greeting cards, audio and video files or hide in pirated software, scareware or rogue software. The typical symptoms that your computer may have been compromised are many, and there are ways to tell if your computer has a virus. Latest trending topics being covered on ZDNet including Reviews, Tech Industry, Security, Hardware, Apple, and Windows. Can A Windows Phone Get Virus' title='Can A Windows Phone Get Virus' />Starting with Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced many security features in the operating system which were further improved upon in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Nevertheless, should your computer get infected with malware, there are ways to remove malware infections, and they succeed in most cases But before trying out anything, do back up all your important data to an external device, because, in the event of a system failure, you will be able to at least use that data. Read Windows files and folders you may exclude from Antivirus scans. Make sure that your Windows OS is fully updated with the latest Windows Updates installed. Run a Junk Cleaner to clear your PC junk and temporary files  including your Cookies, Flash Cookies, and Java Cache folder. CCleaner is a good freeware The Temporary Internet Files folder used to be a typical place for Trojan Downloaders and other malware downloaded from the internet. However, since the Cache is now considered as a virtual folder with the low privileges  to mitigate against these threats. Removing all junk will also reduce the scan time. Update your anti virus and run a full in depth system scan. A safe mode or a boot time scan is always the preferred way in case of a severe malware attack. So if your anti virus has the option to run scans at boot time, best to do so. Else try to run the scans in safe mode. Its easier for the antivirus to catch and delete the virus in Safe Mode. To enter Safe Mode, you keep pressing the F8 Key when your computer is booting. People swear Facebook listens to their conversations and fighting back in strange ways 10 Amazon Echo commands. Some antivirus may not run in Safe Mode  In such a case you have no choice, but to run in normal mode. Remove all found infections when found. If your anti virus is unable to delete the virus or infected file, use some freeware to delete the sticky infected file on reboot. This useful utility will delete the virus on reboot before it gets a chance to load in the memory. You may need to Show hidden files via your Folder Options. Reboot. You need to do this so that files locked for deletion on reboot, will be deleted. Now you should again run CCleaner, to clear residual Registry keys and other junk. This basic usually solves most cases of virus infections. But if it doesnt, here are a few more additional tips for special scenarios. Online File Scanners. If your anti virus does not detect a file to be a virus, but you suspect that it may be so, or if you want a second opinion on whether a file is a virus, then I suggest that you get that particular file scanned with Online Scanners with multiple anti virus engines like Jotti or Virus. Total. On demand Scanners. Even though most of us may have an antivirus software installed on our Windows computer, there may be times of doubt, where you might want a second opinion. While one can always visit online antivirus scanners from well known security software to scan ones PC or get a particular file scanned with an online malware scanner using multiple antivirus engines, some prefer to have a standalone on demand antivirus scanner installed locally. At such times you may use these on demand antivirus scanners. Check identity of doubtful files. Malware can be named anything, and in fact, virus writers love naming them after some legitimate Microsoft processes or popular software. Check which folder it is located in. If the familiar sounding process is located in the System. MS folder. But if it situated in some other folder, it may well be malware trying to pass itself as a Windows process. So do a search for the file, right click on it and check its Properties and details. Fix Internet issues. Some variants of malware will turn on an Internet proxy server and hijack Windows DNS cache, which can prevent you from accessing the Internet or downloading tools required for malware removal. So, download a tool that is capable of fixing issues related to the Internet. Try Mini. Tool Box. Reset IE Proxy settings. Malicious software may change Windows Internet Explorer proxy settings, and these changes can prevent you from accessing Windows Update or any Microsoft Security sites. Reset the Internet Explorer proxy settings back to defaults using a Microsoft Fix It. You may also want to run the IE Troubleshooter to reset all security settings to its defaults. Restore Windows features. If you find that your important Windows features like Task Manager, Registry Editor, Control Panel, Command Prompt, etc. Fix. Win to enable them. Reset Windows Security settings to default. Reset Windows Firewall settings to default values. Rootkits and removal. A Rootkit is a form of malware that prevents itself from getting detected by detectionremoval software. So, install an effective Rootkit removal tool that is easy to use. Kaspersky TDSSKiller is reliable in this regard, but you can also try Malwarebytes Anti. Rootkit Tool. You can use Sticky Keys Backdoor Scanner to detect Sticky Key Backdoors. Browser Hijacking removal. Browser hijacking occurs when you find that your web browsers settings have been changed without your permission. Read more here about Browser Hijacking and Free Browser Hijacker Removal Tool. Ransomware removal. Ransomware virus locks access to a file or your computer and demands that a ransom be paid to the creator for regaining access, usually allowed via either an anonymous pre paid cash voucher or Bitcoin. This post on how to prevent Ransomware will suggest steps to take to stay protected and offer links to free anti ransomware tools. Here is a List of free Ransomware Decryptor Tools that can help you unlock files. And if you do get infected, then this post will show you what to do after a Ransomware attack. Macro Virus removal. If the file icon for Word or Excel has changed, or you are unable to save a document, or new macros appear in your list of macros, then you may presume that your documents have been infected with a macro virus. In such a case you need to take urgent steps to remove the macro virus. Vulnerability Exploit protection. A computer Vulnerability is a hole in any software, operating system or service that can be exploited by web criminals for their own benefits. Exploits follow vulnerabilities. If a web criminal detects a vulnerability in any of the products on the Internet or elsewhere, she or he may attack the system containing the vulnerability to gain something or to deprive authorized users from using the product properly. Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit,Secunia Personal Software Inspector, Sec. Pod Saner Free, Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, Protector Plus Windows Vulnerability Scanner,Malwarebytes Anti Exploit Tool and Exploit. Shield are some of the better known free tools available for Windows., that can offer you protection against such threats.