{"id":496293,"date":"2022-09-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses\/"},"modified":"2022-09-27T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-26T21:00:00","slug":"does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses\/","title":{"rendered":"#Does a Factory Reset Remove Viruses?"},"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-6a2d5c99beda0\" 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-6a2d5c99beda0\" 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\/does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses\/#%E2%80%9CDoes_a_Factory_Reset_Remove_Viruses%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Does a Factory Reset Remove Viruses?&#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\/does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses\/#What_Is_a_Factory_Reset\" >What Is a Factory Reset?<\/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\/does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses\/#Is_a_Factory_Reset_Helpful_in_Removing_Viruses\" >Is a Factory Reset Helpful in Removing Viruses?<\/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\/does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses\/#What_If_the_Virus_Returns_After_Factory_Reset\" >What If the Virus Returns After Factory Reset?<\/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\/does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses\/#How_to_Avoid_Getting_Viruses_Again\" >How to Avoid Getting Viruses Again<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses\/#The_Last_Resort\" >The Last Resort<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CDoes_a_Factory_Reset_Remove_Viruses%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Does a Factory Reset Remove Viruses?&#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 size-full wp-image-829803\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/virus-malware-skull-crossbones-digital.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-illustration\/virus-134284163\">Pavel Ignatov\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Viruses and other malware are an unfortunate reality of the modern age. If your phone or computer has fallen prey to them, one of the recommended solutions is doing a factory reset. But will it make your device safe again?<\/p>\n<p>Before we discuss whether a factory reset is helpful in case of a malware infection, it\u2019s a good idea to understand what a factory reset entails on a device.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Factory_Reset\"><\/span>What Is a Factory Reset?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-762177\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/4-keep-or-delete-files.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Select an option on the &quot;Reset this PC&quot; window in Windows 11.\" width=\"650\" height=\"434\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A factory reset is an option found in many modern electronic devices, including computers and smartphones, that allows you to revert the device\u2019s operating system (OS) and drivers to their original state. It also returns all settings to their default state and removes any programs or files that didn\u2019t come with the device. That said, in the case of computers, you get the option to keep the files. But if you are resetting your system to remove viruses, you should delete everything after backing up any critical files.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, the factory reset moniker suggests your device will return to the same state when it was shipped to you or when you bought it. But that isn\u2019t always technically true, particularly in the case of phones and tablets that have gotten an upgraded operating system.<\/p>\n<p>For example, suppose you attempt to use the factory reset option on a phone or tablet that has received an upgraded OS. In that case, your device will return to a fresh install of the current OS on the device, not its original operating system. But it\u2019ll work the same way for any malware infection as an actual factory reset would work.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Does Your Computer Have a Virus? Here&#8217;s How to Check<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_a_Factory_Reset_Helpful_in_Removing_Viruses\"><\/span>Is a Factory Reset Helpful in Removing Viruses?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You can get rid of pretty much all viruses and other malware by doing a factory reset. By returning the OS to its original state, the factory reset option unwittingly removes any infected programs or files on your device. It\u2019s the nuclear option, but it works, except in some very rare cases.<\/p>\n<p>Each year, viruses become more sophisticated, and cybercriminals are finding new ways to infect unsuspecting devices. So, you may encounter trojans and rootkits that can survive a factory reset, but it\u2019s relatively rare. One such trojan\u2014xHelper\u2013<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/links\/3607085\/type\/am\/sid\/829066-xid-{xid}\/https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/links\/3607085\/type\/am\/sid\/829066-xid-{xid}\/https:\/\/www.malwarebytes.com&amp;___trxnet=cj\/blog\/news\/2019\/08\/mobile-menace-monday-android-trojan-raises-xhelper&amp;___trxnet=cj\">emerged in 2019<\/a>. It targeted Android devices and was successful at surviving the factory reset. Fortunately, by 2020, the folks at MalwareBytes were able to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/links\/3607085\/type\/am\/sid\/829066-xid-{xid}\/https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/links\/3607085\/type\/am\/sid\/829066-xid-{xid}\/https:\/\/www.malwarebytes.com&amp;___trxnet=cj\/blog\/news\/2020\/02\/new-variant-of-android-trojan-xhelper-reinfects-with-help-from-google-play&amp;___trxnet=cj\">find a way to remove it<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_If_the_Virus_Returns_After_Factory_Reset\"><\/span>What If the Virus Returns After Factory Reset?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-402065\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/virus.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"295\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If your device has been infected with malware that keeps coming back even after a factory reset, there is a possibility you are dealing with one of the following scenarios:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your backup is infected, and as soon as you try to restore it to your freshly reset device, the malware jumps to your device and reinfects it.<\/li>\n<li>Another possibility is that the malware has invaded your device\u2019s recovery partition. It\u2019s a space on your device storage that keeps a clean system image for the factory reset option. So if the recovery partition itself is infected, a factory reset will not do you much good.<\/li>\n<li>Rootkits and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/links\/3607085\/type\/am\/sid\/829066-xid-{xid}\/https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/links\/3607085\/type\/am\/sid\/829066-xid-{xid}\/https:\/\/www.malwarebytes.com&amp;___trxnet=cj\/blog\/detections\/bootkit&amp;___trxnet=cj\">bootkits<\/a> could also be responsible for the infection in your device. Unfortunately, these are notoriously sophisticated and can evade detection and removal by factory reset.<\/li>\n<li>Some state-of-the-art malware can sometimes also <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/eclypsium.com\/2020\/2\/18\/unsigned-peripheral-firmware\/\">take shelter in your system\u2019s peripherals<\/a>, like Wi-Fi adapters and webcams. Many modern peripherals have onboard storage to store user settings, and the malware can use it to keep a copy of itself. So even if you reset your device, they can jump back from the peripheral to your device.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thankfully, all of these are relatively rare. But if you are dealing with one such malware, there are a few things that you can try, or if you are not very technically inclined, you can reach out to an expert, like a computer technician.<\/p>\n<p>One of the first things you can try while dealing with malware that keeps on surviving factory reset is to scan the drive holding your backup. You can connect it to another machine with good antivirus software and scan it. You can also use a rescue disc to thoroughly inspect your device, including the recovery partition, to make sure nothing nefarious is hiding there.<\/p>\n<p>If both don\u2019t work, you can completely wipe your computer\u2019s SSD or HDD and do a clean install after nuking all partitions.<\/p>\n<p>While these methods are useful for computers, it\u2019s best to reach out to your device manufacturer if the malware is in your mobile device and the factory reset is not helpful. The lack of root access on mobile makes it hard to do anything beyond a factory reset. Your device manufacturer will likely be able to wipe the storage completely and flash a new OS image to eliminate the infection.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Can My iPhone or iPad Get a Virus?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Avoid_Getting_Viruses_Again\"><\/span>How to Avoid Getting Viruses Again<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-703441\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/windows-update-with-optional-update-available.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"343\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>As they say, prevention is better than cure. So if you have managed to ward off malware infection by doing a factory reset, it\u2019s a good idea to secure your device to avoid getting viruses in the future. One of the best and easiest ways to achieve this is to keep your device\u2019s operating system and <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\">app<\/a>s up-to-date with the latest updates.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also a good idea to only install applications and programs from reputed sources, preferably the official app stores. Don\u2019t fall into the trap of free <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>s or free apps and install something from an unverified source. Always remain on guard, however, because even apps from verified sources have been known to \u201csideload\u201d viruses by prompting users to download malicious updates from external sources.<\/p>\n<p>As a rule, avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or opening suspect attachments in chat messages or emails.<\/p>\n<p>While all modern operating systems have built-in protection against malware, you can also install <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-3607085-11971602?sid=ct829066\">Malwarebytes<\/a> to complement your OS\u2019s security program. It\u2019s available for all popular operating systems. Additionally, you can check our guide on the best antivirus software for more recommendations.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Last_Resort\"><\/span>The Last Resort<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The factory reset is a powerful tool and can be helpful as a nuclear option if your computer or smartphone has been infected with malware. But it should only be used as a last resort because you will have to set up everything again, which is time-consuming. In the end, good cyber hygiene and basic security precautions can go a long way in living a malware-free life.<\/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\/829066\/does-a-factory-reset-remove-viruses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Does a Factory Reset Remove Viruses?&#8221; Pavel Ignatov\/Shutterstock.com Viruses and other malware are an unfortunate reality of the modern age. If your phone or computer has fallen prey to them, one of the recommended solutions is doing a factory reset. But will it make your device safe again? Before we discuss whether a factory reset&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":496294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/virus-malware-skull-crossbones-digital.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-496293","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\/496293","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=496293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496293\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/496294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=496293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=496293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=496293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}