Methods for manually removing viruses from a computer

Perhaps safeguarding your computer from physical damage isn't enough to protect the files it contains from corruption. There are programs, called viruses, that can pose a threat to the data stored on your computer.

So, what are viruses, how can you ensure your computer's safety from them, and how do you rid your system of them if they exist? That's what we'll delve into in this article.

What are viruses?

Viruses are a type of malware consisting of fragments of code embedded in files previously installed on your system, activated when these programs run.

This malicious software infiltrates computers through various means, including email attachments containing files that activate upon opening the infected message.

The term "virus" encompasses various types of malware, some aimed at spying on users while others corrupt files stored on computers.

A virus is a harmful software downloaded and installed on a user's computer without their knowledge, executing damaging actions. It self-replicates by copying itself to other programs, spreading to executable documents or files. Its purpose is to infect computer systems, take control, and steal users' private data.

The first virus was created in the 1970s, named the "Creeper" virus. In 1981, the first virus to spread through floppy disks was produced by Apple.

According to the Information Technology Promotion Agency, the number of viruses reached 52,151 in 2004, but with the use of antivirus programs, this number decreased to around 14,000 by 2010.

How do you check for a virus?

    - Sluggish performance during operations and shutdowns.

    - Unresponsiveness to shutdown commands, necessitating a forceful power button shutdown.

    - Spontaneous pop-up windows.

    - Web browsers containing toolbars not previously installed by the user.

    - Changes to your web browser's homepage without user action, where the homepage changes automatically.

    - Inability to load specific websites or user redirection to unwanted web destinations.

    - Receipt of a notification alleging discovery of malware on your computer by a company (such as Microsoft) prompting you to contact or visit their website to pay for its removal. This notification itself could be a form of virus or malware, as companies like Microsoft or Apple do not typically send such alerts!

    - Notification implying outdated user drivers requiring the use of an external third-party application to update, from an untrusted source.

    - Sudden computer unresponsiveness.

    - Extremely slow performance of programs.

    - System behaving oddly and intermittently, resulting in keyboard or mouse usage issues.

    - Continuous high-speed operation of computer fans.

Steps for Manually Removing Viruses from a Computer

In usual cases, users can perform virus cleanup or removal manually, relying on the following steps:

        1. Open Task Manager by pressing and holding down Ctrl + Alt + Del simultaneously.

        2. Navigate to "Processes" by clicking on the Processes tab once Task Manager starts.

        3. Terminate unfamiliar processes, those programs running in the computer's processing.

        4. Review each process; if something seems unfamiliar, search the web for the file name. If it's associated with a type of virus, click on the "End Process" button adjacent to it.

        5. Run the system configuration tool and click on "Startup." This will list all programs running upon computer startup, as most viruses activate during boot.

        6. Again, terminate unfamiliar processes as described in the previous step.

        7. Delete virus files once you've identified the names of malicious programs. Simply navigate to the hard disk tool and delete the virus-infected files directly from the hard drive.

This method might succeed, or you might need specific programs to detect hidden viruses. In the worst-case scenario, reinstalling the operating system can solve the problem and eliminate the viruses.

How to protect your computer from viruses?

Here are some quick and easy things you can easily do to avoid downloading any types of viruses:

• - Keep your operating system (Windows) constantly updated to the latest version.
• - Install antivirus software on your computer.
• - Regularly back up your data.
• - Avoid clicking on pop-up messages claiming to have detected an issue with your computer.
• - Users should be cautious about opening emails from unfamiliar addresses, especially if they contain a link or attachment.