{"id":441449,"date":"2022-05-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/"},"modified":"2022-05-04T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T21:00:00","slug":"how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/","title":{"rendered":"#How to Remove Viruses and Malware on Your Windows PC"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2840f89c963\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2840f89c963\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#%E2%80%9CHow_to_Remove_Viruses_and_Malware_on_Your_Windows_PC%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;How to Remove Viruses and Malware on Your Windows PC&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#Did_Your_Antivirus_Say_a_Virus_Was_Detected\" >Did Your Antivirus Say a Virus Was Detected?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#How_to_Scan_for_Malware_Spyware_Ransomware_Adware_and_Other_Threats\" >How to Scan for Malware, Spyware, Ransomware, Adware, and Other Threats<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#How_to_Scan_for_Regular_Viruses\" >How to Scan\u00a0for Regular Viruses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#If_Malwarebytes_and_Microsoft_Defender_Werent_Able_to_Get_Rid_of_the_Malware\" >If Malwarebytes and Microsoft Defender Weren\u2019t Able to Get Rid of the Malware<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#Use_Safe_Mode_for_Stubborn_Malware\" >Use Safe Mode for Stubborn Malware<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#Use_a_Bootable_Antivirus_Tool_as_a_Last_Resort\" >Use a Bootable Antivirus Tool as a Last Resort<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#How_to_Get_a_Second_Opinion_From_Microsoft_Defender\" >How to Get a Second Opinion From Microsoft Defender<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#You_Should_Also_Install_Malwarebytes_to_Deal_With_Adware_and_Other_Junk\" >You Should Also Install Malwarebytes\u00a0to Deal With Adware and Other Junk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-remove-viruses-and-malware-on-your-windows-pc\/#How_to_Wipe_Your_Computer_and_Verify_Your_Backups\" >How to Wipe Your Computer (and Verify Your Backups)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CHow_to_Remove_Viruses_and_Malware_on_Your_Windows_PC%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;How to Remove Viruses and Malware on Your Windows PC&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-800138 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/shutterstock_2052791837.png?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/shutterstock_2052791837.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/shutterstock_2052791837.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Malware header.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-vector\/global-network-vulnerability-virus-malware-ransomware-2052791837\" data-credittext=\"Jozsef Bagota\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-vector\/global-network-vulnerability-virus-malware-ransomware-2052791837\">Jozsef Bagota\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Whether you saw a message saying a virus was detected, or your computer just seems slow and unreliable, you\u2019ll want to scan for malware on your PC and remove any you find. Here\u2019s how to clean your PC of viruses and malware.<\/p>\n<p>While many viruses and other types of malware are designed simply to cause chaos, more and more malware is created\u00a0by organized crime to steal credit card numbers, online banking credentials, and other sensitive data. The typical old-school viruses aren\u2019t a real problem. The problem now is ransomware and spyware, and that requires new tools\u2014and new techniques.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Did_Your_Antivirus_Say_a_Virus_Was_Detected\"><\/span>Did Your Antivirus Say a Virus Was Detected?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you saw a message from your antivirus pop up that says a virus was detected, that\u2019s a good thing. Your antivirus noticed a virus and likely removed it without prompting you.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_warning\"><p><strong>Warning:<\/strong> Be sure any pop-ups you see warning you about a virus are legitimate. It is a common tactic for malicious websites to <em>pretend <\/em>to be antivirus software. When in doubt, don\u2019t trust pop-ups from your browser about malware, and always check the security logs of your antivirus.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This sort of message doesn\u2019t mean that you ever had a virus running on your computer. You could have <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">download<\/a>ed a file that contained a virus and your antivirus removed the file before it could ever cause a problem. Or, a malicious file on an infected web page could have been noticed and dealt with before it caused any problems.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, a \u201cvirus detected\u201d message that occurs during normal use of your computer doesn\u2019t mean the virus actually\u00a0<em>did<\/em> anything. If you see a message like this, you\u2019re likely visiting an infected web page or downloading a harmful file. Try to avoid doing that in the future, but don\u2019t worry too much.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What&#8217;s the Best Antivirus for Windows 10? (Is Windows Defender Good Enough?)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You can also open\u00a0your antivirus program and check its quarantine or its virus detection logs. This will show you more information about\u00a0what virus was detected and what the antivirus did with it. Of course, if you aren\u2019t sure, go ahead and run a scan\u2013it couldn\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Scan_for_Malware_Spyware_Ransomware_Adware_and_Other_Threats\"><\/span>How to Scan for Malware, Spyware, Ransomware, Adware, and Other Threats<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If your computer is behaving badly \u2014 whether it\u2019s running extremely slow, web pages are acting weird, or you\u2019re seeing ads showing up in places that you normally wouldn\u2019t, you probably have some kind of new malware on your computer.\u00a0Spyware will track everything that you\u2019re doing or redirect your search and home pages to places you don\u2019t want to go. Adware will infect your browser and even Windows, and ransomware will try to lock your PC.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of what the problem is, our first step is\u00a0<em>always<\/em> to download and run a scan with <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-3607085-11971602?sid=ct126911\">Malwarebytes<\/a>, the single best anti-malware tool on the planet. It\u2019s not an ordinary antivirus product, it\u2019s designed to solve modern threats. It\u2019s the only product on the market that can easily clean up crapware and spyware.<\/p>\n<p>Download, install, and then run <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-3607085-11971602?sid=ct126911\">Malwarebytes<\/a>, and then start a scan of your PC. It\u2019s going to walk you through cleaning up your system.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-800122\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/scanwmwb.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"882\" height=\"652\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t have to buy a license to clean up your PC, but if you don\u2019t want this to happen again, you probably should, because it will make sure you don\u2019t have this problem again.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Scan_for_Regular_Viruses\"><\/span>How to Scan\u00a0for Regular Viruses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To check your computer for malware and remove any malware you find, you\u2019ll need an antivirus program. Windows 8, 10, and 11 include Microsoft Defender, Microsoft\u2019s own antivirus. Windows 7 doesn\u2019t include any built-in antivirus, so you\u2019re probably going to need something else, like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avira.com\">Avira<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Microsoft Defender is non-intrusive and excellent overall, but it\u2019s not the only thing you need.\u00a0Our favorite antivirus solution\u00a0is a combination of Microsoft Defender and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-3607085-11971602?sid=ct126911\">Malwarebytes<\/a> so you have complete coverage.<\/p>\n<p>To scan for regular viruses in Microsoft Defender, open it up and start a new scan. It\u2019ll go through and fully scan your system to see if there\u2019s anything it missed. And of course, Microsoft Defender runs in the background by default too.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignnone wp-image-352351 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/img_5afa3a60765fe.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Windows Defender Security Center\" width=\"650\" height=\"379\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/>.<\/p>\n<p>The combination of Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes should get rid of the vast majority of malware that you might encounter, and if you have them both running, they should protect you going forward as well.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_Malwarebytes_and_Microsoft_Defender_Werent_Able_to_Get_Rid_of_the_Malware\"><\/span>If Malwarebytes and Microsoft Defender Weren\u2019t Able to Get Rid of the Malware<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-800115\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/scanblah.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Avira Rescue Scan\" width=\"650\" height=\"431\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Use Safe Mode to Fix Your Windows PC (and When You Should)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_Safe_Mode_for_Stubborn_Malware\"><\/span>Use Safe Mode for Stubborn Malware<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you have a very stubborn malware infection, you may need to scan for malware from outside your normal Windows system. To do that, you\u2019ll need to\u00a0Boot Windows into Safe Mode, which will keep it from\u00a0loading\u00a0normal startup applications \u2014 including, hopefully, that nasty malware. Run a Microsoft Defender scan and then a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-3607085-11971602?sid=ct126911\">Malwarebytes<\/a> scan from within Safe Mode and it may have more luck\u00a0removing malware it normally can\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>To boot into Safe Mode\u00a0on Windows 8, 10,or 11 press and hold the Shift key while clicking the \u201cRestart\u201d option and then navigate to Troubleshoot &gt; Advanced Options &gt; Windows Startup Settings &gt; Restart &gt; Safe Mode. On Windows 7, press the F8 key while your computer is starting and you\u2019ll see a boot options menu that allows you to select \u201cSafe Mode\u201d.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_a_Bootable_Antivirus_Tool_as_a_Last_Resort\"><\/span>Use a Bootable Antivirus Tool as a Last Resort<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If that doesn\u2019t work, you may need to step completely outside of Windows and use a bootable antivirus tool. This type of antivirus tool boots into a clean environment \u2014 entirely outside Windows \u2014 to find and remove stubborn malware you may not be able to see or remove from within Windows itself.<\/p>\n<p>Microsoft Defender itself can do this with the \u201cMicrosoft Defender Offline\u201d feature if you\u2019re using Windows 10. You can check out our guide to using Microsoft Defender Offline. Other antivirus software can do this too \u2014 look for antivirus \u201cboot discs\u201d like the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avira.com\/en\/download\/product\/avira-rescue-system\">Avira Rescue System<\/a>. You can check out our guide to using Avira\u2019s Rescue System here.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Find and Remove Malware With Microsoft Defender Offline<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Get_a_Second_Opinion_From_Microsoft_Defender\"><\/span>How to Get a Second Opinion From Microsoft Defender<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-800136\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/microsoft-defener.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Microsoft Defender can scan your PC.\" width=\"553\" height=\"500\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you already have an antivirus program installed, but you think you may have viruses it isn\u2019t detecting, you can get a second opinion from another antivirus product. Usually, it\u2019s a bad idea to run two antivirus programs in tandem, since their real-time scanning can conflict with one another. But if you have one running real-time scanning all the time, you can use\u00a0a second one you for occasional manual scans.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Periodically Scan Your Computer With Windows Defender While Using Another Antivirus<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft Defender is perfect for this. Even if you have another antivirus program installed that\u2019s monitoring your system, Microsoft Defender can occasionally scan on a schedule \u2014 or manually scan when you choose \u2014 to see if it can find anything your current antivirus is missing. Here\u2019s a guide to enabling and using that option.<\/p>\n<p>A variety of other antivirus providers make one-time scanning tools available \u2014 for example, the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/links\/3607085\/type\/am\/sid\/126911\/http:\/\/www.eset.com\/us\/online-scanner\/\">ESET Online Scanner<\/a>. These programs will download to your computer and do a quick scan without a long installation process.<\/p>\n<p>If the scanner alerts you to a problem, you\u2019ll want to remove the malware.\u00a0If you had a virus, your current antivirus may not be up to the job. You may want to uninstall it and install another antivirus product after the process is complete.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_Should_Also_Install_Malwarebytes_to_Deal_With_Adware_and_Other_Junk\"><\/span>You Should Also Install Malwarebytes\u00a0to Deal With Adware and Other Junk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-800124\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/malwarebytes.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUPs, among other things.\" width=\"883\" height=\"651\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>As we mentioned in our guide to the best antivirus programs, antivirus isn\u2019t enough\u2013you should also have a more inclusive anti-malware\u00a0program. Not all nasty software is covered by normal antivirus scanners, which mainly\u00a0search for harmful infections. You may have\u00a0\u201cjunkware\u201d on your system, such as browser toolbars, search engine changers, Bitcoin miners, and other types of obnoxious programs that just exist to make their creator money. Watch out when downloading programs from the web, so your PC isn\u2019t filled with obnoxious toolbars and other junkware.<\/p>\n<p>But if you have junkware\u00a0on your system already, you\u2019ll want to remove it.<\/p>\n<p>Most antivirus programs won\u2019t bother touching junkware. To deal with junkware, we recommend getting <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-3607085-11971602?sid=ct126911\">MalwareBytes Anti-Malware<\/a>. As long as you occasionally use it\u00a0it to scan your system, you\u2019ll be able to keep yourself free of obnoxious software that isn\u2019t detected or removed by your average antivirus program. And since it includes anti-exploit protection, it can keep you safe going forward as well.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Wipe_Your_Computer_and_Verify_Your_Backups\"><\/span>How to Wipe Your Computer (and Verify Your Backups)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignnone wp-image-277426 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/img_580982cfb6ff3.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Reset This PC options on Windows 10.\" width=\"650\" height=\"415\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Everything You Need to Know About &#8220;Reset This PC&#8221; in Windows 8 and 10<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If nothing can remove the viruses properly \u2014 or if the malware so damaged your system that Windows still isn\u2019t working properly after removing\u00a0the viruses \u2014 you can go for the \u201cnuclear option\u201d: Reverting your computer to its factory state. You\u2019ll keep any personal files, but any programs you installed will be removed and your computer\u2019s system settings will be reset to their default state.<\/p>\n<p>On Windows 8, 10, and 11, this is much easier \u2014 you can just use the \u201cReset This\u00a0PC\u201d feature\u00a0to reset Windows to its factory default settings. The process is basically the same on Windows 8 and Windows 10, but the menu to reset your PC changed in Windows 11. If you\u2019re using a Windows 7 PC, your manufacturer probably provides a restore partition you can access\u00a0by pressing a certain key during the boot process. Consult your computer\u2019s manual for the exact key you need to press for this.<\/p>\n<p>You can also reinstall Windows on your computer by downloading Windows installation <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> for your computer from Microsoft.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_warning\"><p><strong>Warning:<\/strong> Just be sure you have a backup of any important files before wiping your hard drive and reinstalling Windows!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr\/>\n<p>If you\u2019ve had to battle with malware once, try to do everything you can to make this the last time. Install\u00a0a good antivirus program, keep your computer updated, and avoid running potentially dangerous software. Follow our tips to stay safe online to keep your computer\u2013and personal information\u2013secure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/126911\/what-to-do-if-you-get-a-virus-on-your-computer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;How to Remove Viruses and Malware on Your Windows PC&#8221; Jozsef Bagota\/Shutterstock.com Whether you saw a message saying a virus was detected, or your computer just seems slow and unreliable, you\u2019ll want to scan for malware on your PC and remove any you find. Here\u2019s how to clean your PC of viruses and malware. While&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":441450,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/shutterstock_2052791837.png?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-441449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441449"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441449\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/441450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=441449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=441449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}